Find Out With Family Vacation Critic's Travel-Savings Checklist
Pennington, NJ – July 7, 2011 – As the cost of travel continues to rise, Family Vacation Critic® (http://www.familyvacationcritic.com) -- a TripAdvisor® Media Group Web site featuring family vacation ideas, hotel reviews and travel advice -- warns travelers not to leave money on the table, and offers a travel-savings checklist to help parents keep vacation costs down.

"It's been a tough few years for the travel industry, so everyone -- hotels, restaurants and attractions -- are fighting for a share of your vacation dollars and they're willing to offer enticing deals to get you through the door," said Lissa Poirot, editor of Family Vacation Critic. "There's certainly no shame in hunting for deals or asking for a better price; in fact, arriving with coupons in hand -- or on your smartphone -- simply shows you are a savvy traveler."

Travel-Savings Checklist from Family Vacation Critic

Sign-Up for Savings

[  ]  Join free hotel loyalty programs. Perks may include: free Internet service, bottled water, newspapers, spa access, complimentary breakfast and room upgrades. Discounts and special rates may be available, as well as early check-in and late check-out -- a great perk for families.

[  ] Sign-up for the new wave of group deals. Sites such as Living Social (www.livingsocial.com) and Groupon (www.groupon.com) offer great savings and we've seen discounts on everything from ice cream to kids' yoga classes.

Check Online

[  ] Compare rates and fees. Probably the one thing everyone does, but pay attention to additional booking fees and taxes, not just the basic room rate.

[  ]  Don't rely on booking engines, check directly with a hotel's own site before you book. Occasionally it can be cheaper to book direct, but more often you will find special promotions and last-minute deals. Look for free nights, resort credit, activity packages and "Kids Eat and Stay Free" deals.  See Family Vacation Critic deals for a round-up of current offers (http://www.familyvacationcritic.com/deals/)

[  ]  Keep an eye out for gas card packages. Many hotels are now offering guests free gas cards available with certain packages. Guests who make reservations...