Achieving bargain rates for your next vacation.

• Position: YOUR LIFE

The U.S. economy may be recovering, but spenders at all levels are hanging onto their wallets--and travel specialists say the vacation deals available last year still are going to be around for stingy travelers this year. Here's why: a Gallup study reports that upper-income spending (households making more than $90,000 annually) dropped to a new low earlier this year. That is meaningful for everyone since wealthy travelers tend to support higher prices on virtually all types of goods and services. Moreover, the marketing research firm Mintel reports that, while slightly more people will be vacationing in 2010 than 2009, most tourist spots will not be raising prices and, in some cases, will be offering bigger deals.

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With that in mind, here are some ways--provided by the Financial Planning Association, Denver, Colo.--to save on travel this summer:

Go online. Visit comparison to get the best rates across hotel and transportation choices--and if there is an airline, rental car, or hotel chain you frequent, make sure you are a member of their points clubs and social networking sites.

Go all-inclusive. If they exist where you are going, head for the all-inclusive air/hotel/rental car packages whenever possible because making reservations a la carte almost always is more expensive.

Go where summer is the off-season. In fact, start traveling out-of-season all the time, as it is cheaper and less crowded. If the kids' schedule proves a problem, check prices on the edges of summer when schools are still letting out or going back into...