Read the fine print. Web sites are not all equally secure or foolproof. If you're uneasy, book by phone instead. But either way, your credit-card info is stored in potentially accessible databases. Talk to me.
Chat rooms offer tons of advice from fellow travelers.
Moab, a mecca for mountain bikers and hikers in southeastern Utah, has no commercial airport, complicating long- distance travel. Grab a bus or car rental there. Sandy and Bill Zurkey of Avon Lake, Ohio, used a combo of sources to plan a vacation with their kids. Chicago has two major airports, served by dozens of airlines, so finding a competitive fare is easy. But city hotel costs can be steep.