By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ, ABC NEWS, NOV. 13, 2007

Hotel Rooms

The bad news for travelers this year is that the average hotel room now costs more than $100 a night, McGinnis said.

But savvy travelers can take advantage of a lull in business travel and snag some deals on hotels. They just need to know where to look.

The key is to think like a business traveler. Hotels in financial districts, near convention centers and in suburban office parks cut their rates 30 to 60 percent during the holidays.

“Hotel rates, especially in central business districts and satellite city office parks, their rates plummet around the holidays because they are typically full of business travelers,” McGinnis said.

Think a hotel room is too impersonal for the holidays? Well don’t. According to a Harris Interactive poll done for Expedia, 40 percent of those questioned said they would rather stay at a hotel than with relatives.

Have You Flown Lately?

What Was Your Worst Experience? Have You Ever Lost Luggage? Traveled To Chicago? Been To Los Angeles? “They enjoy their own space,” McGinnis said. “They feel that staying with family can be stressful.”

The feeling goes both ways. Twenty-three percent of hosts said they wanted family members other than parents to stay at a hotel, and 15 percent said they wanted their parents to stay at a hotel.

Making Your Flight

We all know about long lines for checking baggage and security. But during the holidays, parking at many airports can pose an even bigger challenge.

Airport parking lots tend to fill up during the holidays, forcing travelers to find alternative parking and possibly causing them to miss their flights.

“If you miss your flight for any reason, it’s very unlikely during peak winter travel season that you’ll be accommodated on another flight in a reasonable period of time,” McGinnis said. “So you cannot miss your flight. It’s very important to give yourself a huge time cushion.”

Have You Traveled Here?

Atlanta Chicago Cleveland Dallas Denver Detroit Fort Worth Houston Las Vegas Los Angeles Miami Minneapolis / St. Paul New York City Newark Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix San Francisco St. Louis Seattle Do some research by calling the airport or checking its Web site. Consider making a reservation at an off-site lot, and look into limo and public transportation options.

As for those nasty check in and security lines, always check with your airline, the TSA and the airport.

Other Web sites offer new tools to help travelers this year. Orbitz just launched a new service for fellow travelers to post firsthand reports of their experiences at various airports with security, check-in and other hassles of travel.

Also consider flying into smaller regional airports. Fares there can be cheaper, and they tend to avoid the nightmarish delays that major hubs such as O’Hare, JFK and Philadelphia often have.

Travelocity’s editor-at-large Amy Ziff suggests allotting more time between connecting flights and to stay with the same airline for both legs of your journey.

Be sure to pick a seat during the booking process or check in early from home. Ziff suggests carrying snacks and some beverages — purchased after you’ve gone through security — before boarding your plane.

And bring extra medication with you — in your carry-on — because you never know how long you might be stranded somewhere or when you will see your bags next.

Finally, if you are looking for a vacation and don’t need to travel during the holidays, consider traveling between Nov. 28 and Dec. 15, a quiet travel time when prices are dramatically lower in many tourist destinations.

Copyright 2007 ABCNEWS.com