Q: Things like cruises, flights, trains, and even car rentals can be drastically different depending on where you book them. Check the company's website directly to look for any specials. You should also check at least 4-5 aggregate sites like Kayak.com, Booking.com, or Trivago to get an idea of potential price ranges. When traveling to a different country, local aggregate booking sites may offer better deals than the ones you find in your home country. Check local listings to see if you can grab a better deal. To get the best idea of how pricing varies, compare itineraries that are the same. Check the same dates and destinations on different sites to see where you can really find the best deals. If you're traveling as a representative of a particular company or organization, they may have an in-house travel site or travel booker that you are required to use. Check with your company's administrative department to see if that's the case. Sites like Kayak.com, Booking.com, and Trivago are great to check for deals on hotels. It's worth considering other accommodations, though, too. Sites like Airbnb and VRBO let you book rooms, houses, and apartments directly from the current occupants. These can be great if you're traveling for long periods or want amenities like a full kitchen to save on meals out. Likewise, if you're planning on staying in a hostel, hostel-booking sites usually have better offers than hotel booking sites. HostelWorld.com and HostelBookers.com are two options with extensive listings. If you're going camping, check your site well in advance. Popular campsites like Big Bend National Park in Texas can run out of permits months in advance. Don't assume you can just show up at a campsite and set up your tent. You often need to reserve a spot on site. Think about different routes you can take to get to your destination. Flights directly into Washington DC are often expensive, for example, because the DC airports are close to public transportation, hotels, and attractions. Flying into Baltimore is often more affordable, and still puts you a 20-minute train ride away from DC. If you still haven't booked your transportation or accommodations within 8 weeks of your intended departure date, you need to do so now. The longer you wait, the more expensive these will get. You also run the risk of the flight you want selling out or the hotel being fully booked. For international trips, you may need to book further in advance, especially if you are flying or taking a cruise. Try to book at least 4 months out from your intended departure date in these cases. Trips taken during popular travel times should also be booked further in advance. If you plan to go to Boston for St. Patrick's Day, for example, expect hotels to fill up months in advance. Some modes of transportation don't require you to book as far in advance as others. A train, for example, may only require a reservation the week before your departure. Check your carrier to see their suggested booking time frame. You don't need a restaurant reservation for every meal when you're gone, but you should think about meal plans before you go. Think about how often you want to eat out, and how you want to handle things like snacks. For example, if you have kids, you may want to pack some sandwich bags and get a full-sized box of their favorite snack. That way, you can take these to go instead of spending on snacks every day. Think about what meals may be included with your accommodations. Does your hotel offer free breakfast? If not, you may need to adjust your budget to include breakfasts. If you're staying at an all-inclusive resort or on a cruise, check with the resort to see if you need to book meals in advance. At some resorts and on some cruises, you have to make reservations for a certain seating time, even if the meal is included in your price. Consider your flight, too. If you have a long-haul flight where a meal is included, let the airline know about any dietary restrictions you may have at least 1 week before you depart. This way, you can ensure you get the right in-flight meal for your diet. You don't need to plan out every second of every day, but schedule time for the things you really want to see and do. Researching and planning these before you leave allows you to see and do more of what you want. It also gives you the opportunity to make reservations or book tickets and tours for things that sell out in advance. Your daily itinerary doesn't have to be elaborate. It may be as simple as "Breakfast: 9-10, Acropolis tour: 10:30-12:30, explore the city after the tour ends." Just make sure you include those things that are really important for you to see and do. If you're traveling for business, your itinerary may have to be more formal. Check with your company or client to see if you need to submit a formal itinerary for your meetings and activities. Leave some room in between activities in case things run long or you have any unexpected delays. You don't need to plan every minute of every day, just make sure you have time to fit in those things that are really important for you to see or do.
A: Shop around for deals on transportation. Check the availability for different accommodations. Book transportation and accommodations 2-5 months in advance. Make meal plans before you go. Set a daily itinerary before you leave.

Q: If you're trying to get out of an abusive situation, the first thing you should do is secure your finances. Abusers tend to seek control and often do so by taking hold of your financial security. Before making plans for a divorce, seek financial security. Open a bank account in your own name. Move finances into your account and try to have paychecks and any other personal income transferred directly into that account. Change any PIN numbers. Pick a sequence of numbers that can't be easily identified or hacked. Do not pick anything your husband might know, like birthdays or important dates. Try to obtain a credit card in case of emergencies. If you're left without money, you can charge as a last resort. You can also buy a prepaid credit card, which are available for purchase at many retail outlets. Evidence is key in a divorce trial where abuse is involved. As you formulate a plan to leave, gather as much evidence as you can. This can help you if things get ugly during trial. There are three main types of evidence you should look for in a divorce trial: Photographic evidence, which includes photos of injuries and broken property like cracks in the wall or shattered phones Documentary evidence, which includes recorded phone calls, text messages, e-mails, and letters Eyewitness testimony, which is accounts from people who have witnessed the abuse Before you physically leave your husband, report the situation to the police. If a police report has been filed you will already have the upper hand before leaving. This can also help your case if you take any children with you. Your husband's legal rights regarding any children you have may be affected by reports of abuse. This can prevent you from getting into legal trouble for removing children from an abusive situation. You should form a plan to escape from an abusive situation. Oftentimes, abusers get angry and violent if you tell them you're going to leave. Make an escape plan ahead of time. Choose a time when you know your husband will not be home. You might have to wait for him to go away on a trip or leave for work. As you'll have limited time to leave, you might have to leave behind many of your personal items. This can be emotionally difficult, especially if items have sentimental value, but keep in mind nothing is more important than your own personal safety. Try to focus on how you're working towards a safer, happier future. Find a safe place to stay. Women's shelters often offer housing and financial help for women in need. You can also ask family and friends for help in this situation if you're close to anyone if the area. You might want to keep you location a secret if you believe your husband would follow you wherever you went. Keep in mind things can get tricky, legally speaking, if children are involved. Your husband will still technically have legal rights prior to the divorce and any custody settlements if no arrests or legal action have been taken against him. If you're concerned about whether you could get in trouble for taking your kids, talk to a lawyer before making any decisions.
A:
Secure your finances. Gather evidence. Report abuse to the authorities. Form an escape plan.