ICELAND

Iceland's economic meltdown opens door for tourists

The collapse of Iceland's bank industry has brought on a full-blown recession, and airfares and hotel rates have plunged.

BUDGET TRAVEL

Going to the Big Apple can be a really big deal

When you hear the term budget travel, we know what you think: cheap hotels, C-list attractions and meal portions that wouldn't satisfy your average toddler.

Travel tips: Save money on car rentals

Travelers have been seeing sales on airfares and hotel rooms, but the same can't be said of car rentals, where rates have been going up. Here are our tips for using alternate locations to get a more reasonable rate on your next rental.

BUDGET TRAVEL

Gloomy outlook has its bright spots

A famous radio announcer used to start his broadcasts by shouting, here's good news tonight!'' In these days of economic slowdown, there are many instances of good travel news, as travel suppliers urgently try to increase their business.

ORLANDO

Disney on the cheap? Yes, you can do it

If the economic meltdown has a silver lining, it's evident in the deals to be found in resort areas like Orlando.

BUDGET TRAVEL

Tips for booking that last-minute getaway

Finding last-minute flight and hotel deals can be tricky, but with some flexibility, creativity and maybe even a bit of gambling, you can find what you need. Just do a little Web surfing and follow these tips:

CAMPING

Go ahead, you can promise them the moon and the stars

With nine children, my parents didn't have many options when it came to family vacations. They figured take us camping or stay home and watch us tear down the house.

FAMILY TRAVEL

Rest easy with affordable lodging for all

Families with children see double when it comes to lodging: two rooms, two baths, two desks, two closets. And when they get hit with the bill, they may see red.

CAMPING

Go ahead, you can promise them the moon and the stars

With nine children, my parents didn't have many options when it came to family vacations. They figured take us camping or stay home and watch us tear down the house.

BUDGET TRAVEL

Save money, make friends through global websites

When Will Bradwell and his friends were planning a cross-country road trip three years ago, the idea of paying for hotels, gas and food seemed impossible for their college-student budgets.

Nature's playgrounds: Family-friendly, budget-friendly stops in the American West

Flames of light flickered through the camper window. Squinting one eye open, I found myself engulfed in blazing color. The eastern heavens, ignited by the dawn, burned in a conflagration of fiery crimsons and glowing yellows. It was the four-alarm wake-up call of an Arizona sunrise.

Florida's top spots for family camping

To reserve campsites at state parks, see www.reserveamerica.com. Fort De Soto Park, Pinellas County: County park with 238-site, full-service campground that seems to have been created with families in mind. Amenities include picnic tables, grills, fresh water, electricity, washers, dryers, sanitary disposal stations, modern restrooms, showers, play areas and a camp store. The park has more than 7 miles of waterfront recreation, including two fishing piers, nature trails, paved bike trail and a canoe...

ROAD TRIP

We're on a roll with the two boys in tow

Moving from Chicago to Miami turns out to be a vacation in disguise.

BUDGET TRAVEL

You can go a long way with a little planning

We've found nine hot values for family vacations this summer.

AIRLINES

Fares to Europe: The price will be right -- eventually

Talk to just about any travel expert, and you'll hear about inexpensive airfares to Europe this summer. So where are all these cheap seats hiding?

WHAT'S HAPPENING: DENVER

Denver, Rockies a frugal favorite

Denver and the Rocky Mountains are tailor-made for frugal vacations. Scenic campsites, decent fishing, hunting, rock climbing, rafting and hiking are all within an hour's drive. And depending on the time of year, you can find free skiing, hotel rooms at deeply discounted prices, and breaks on meals at the Mile High City's finest dining establishments.

TRAVEL TIPS

Deals pose dilemma: Buy now or later?

Anyone who's shopped for an airfare or a hotel recently knows travel is on sale, whether the destination is as far as London or as close as Orlando.

ON A BUDGET

In your dreams: Bargain hotels in the big city

Here's a sampling of a half dozen places to stay with prices that won't keep you up at night.

ENTERTAINMENT

The price is right for these cultural events

From orchestra and jazz to stage and screen, summer entertainment in New York City is on the house.

BUDGET TRAVEL

Weak euro, pound puts continent in reach

for the jump If there are any silver linings in today's global economy, travel to Europe may be one of them. In the wake of the economic downturn, the dollar is buying more in Europe, airfares are tumbling and tour operators and hotels are offering attractive travel deals. All of which adds up to tempting incentives for Americans thinking of taking a vacation in Europe.

What's new in Europe this year

Here is a sampling of the many special events and developments taking place in Europe this year.

Deals: Repositioning cruises include the air

You gaze at the price of a lengthy''repositioning'' cruise -- say, starting in the Caribbean and ending in the Mediterranean -- and you're attracted by what appears to be a sensationally low price (often as little as $50 a day, on a glamorous ship). But at the same time, you realize that you'll need to fly back from the Mediterranean or London to the U.S. at the end of the cruise. Since the cost of that round-trip airfare is an unknown figure, you sigh with despair and look for another vacation.

Hotel alternatives that could save you big bucks

There's probably no better way of pinching your vacation pennies than sleeping on a friend's sofa or camping out. But you don't have to rough it to afford your next getaway.

Renting a home away from home

The worst thing about being a tourist in Paris is feeling like one. No matter how proud you are to be an American, you'd still rather sashay down the Parisian boulevards feeling you possess a touch of that uniquely French je ne sais whatever.

Europe lodging bargains

travel Although some of the trans-Atlantic airlines have eliminated their fuel surcharges (at least for the moment), and though our dollar has recovered a bit against the euro and more against the British pound, a European vacation remains a pricey thing for Americans of average income. In response to that concern, many of our smartest fellow citizens will opt for unusual low-cost accommodations when they visit the Old World this coming year.

Deals in Florida, Caribbean, China

The week's best travel bargains around the globe: The new Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino, which opened Feb. 1, is offering a Sneak Peak special until April 15. Rate is $199 a night, plus $46 taxes and service fee; after promotion ends, base rate will start at $339 a night. The 237-room waterfront resort offers a freshwater infinity pool, a 15,000-square-foot casino and a six-screen cinema. Info: 800-468-3571, www.renaissancecuracao.com.

Recession-beating strategies help you vacation without breaking the bank

The economic downturn has a welcome upside for travelers. The U.S. dollar is surging, gas is cheap and hotel rates are dipping. Resorts are throwing in free entertainment, airlines are advertising recession sales, and cruise lines are offering discounts of up to 75 percent. Deals are out there, and this is the time to grab them.

INDONESIA

Exotic Bali offers bargains at all levels

With travel warnings lifted and a strengthening of the U.S. dollar, resorts and attractions are dealing to lure tourists back to Bali.

ARIZONA

Pricey Phoenix can be kind to budgets

Budget travelers might want to check out the city's new rail line, take a hike or play golf.