The cost of airline tickets can easily be the most expensive part of your vacation. Even though airfares will take a large portion of your travel budget there are several ways to help keep those expenses under control and we will discus some of the best tricks we have found in the next few paragraphs.

The first thing that you should keep in mind is the fact that it is usually cheaper to fly out of the major international airports. The smaller regional airports will have less competition and as a result the fares tend to be a little higher. The smaller airports may be more convenient because of size or location but you have to consider the increase in the cost of the fares at the smaller facility against the prices which are available at the larger international airports. Keep in mind though that the earlier you are able to make you vacation plans the more likely you are to find reduced prices on tickets to your destination. There will always be seasonal promotions with a few tickets at greatly reduced prices. If your travel dates are flexible and you are searching well in advance of the date you are traveling the chances are very good that you may find some big savings even at the smaller regional airports.

The emergence of the smaller low cost airlines has ushered in a revolution in flying. One of the results of the presence of the low cost carriers is the pressure to drive down the prices of major airlines. If you are traveling out of an airport that is serviced by one of the newer low cost airlines you will normally see the prices of the other airlines are trending downward and it is often possible to get a great price from one of the major airlines at the same airport. Along with a decrease in fares there has been a decrease in the service offered by the airlines. You will now be expected to pay for your meals and at boarding time you are faced with open seating but if you don't mind these changes then you will be able to find the best travel deals at airports that are serviced by the low cost carriers such as Southwest, Jet Blue and several others that service various regions around the U.S.

One of the problems of flying out of a major airport may be the location. In some cases it may be several hours of driving time to the closest major facility and then it's time to start making comparisons. Check the best price of flying out of the local airport and compare that against the cost of getting to the larger airport and the cost of the possibly reduced price tickets that may be available at the larger facility. If you have to drive for more than a couple of hours then you may have to include the cost of a place to sleep before you actually leave on your flight. All things considered you may get the best deal on airfare by traveling out of the regional airport if it is close by and more convenient.

If it is necessary to stay over night by the airport that you will fly out of then a great trick is booking a stay at an airport hotel. This is an especially good idea if you have an early morning flight and don't want to drive half the night to arrive on time. The airport hotel will usually have a shuttle service ready to take you to the airport and as an added bonus these hotels will normally allow their customers to leave their cars at the hotel for the duration of the vacation. The hotel will usually have a safe and secure lot in which you can park you car until you return. This can save you as much as $10 or $15 per day over parking at the airport.

Many of the airport hotels will also include a breakfast in the cost of an overnight stay.

If you can get a breakfast to get started on the first day and a convenient place to park your car while you are gone then this will probably help you get the best deal on airfare for your vacation.

Jere Moline has been a life long traveler and has enjoyed the cultures of many countries throughout the world. He has experienced several different types of travel both on his own and on planned excursions. He has recently built a web site where travelers can come together and discuss their experiences and ask questions about the next places they plan to visit.