Web Sites for Thrifty Cyber-Travelers

As most of the reading and cyber-surfing public knows by now, do-it-yourselfers and deal-seekers have a bewildering overload of options when tracking travel on the Internet. But in hopes of narrowing them down a bit, here are some Web sites worth a click of your mouse:

* 1Travel.Com (https://www.onetravel.com). A clearinghouse for many money-savers, from discount hotel rates to cruise deals. 1Travel Savings Alert sends you weekly e-mails listing last-minute air fare deals.

* The Internet Guide to Hostelling (https://www.hostels.com). Thousands of hostels worldwide are included, as is information on hosteling and various related issues.

* Tom Parsons’ Best Fares (https://www.bestfares.com). Hundreds of low-cost deals on flights, hotels and car rentals, plus a roundup of Internet-only specials.

* Click-It! Weekends (https://www.travelweb.com/TravelWeb/clickit .html). Hundreds of bargain rates for weekend lodgings, especially at major chains.

* MasterCard/Cirrus ATM Locator (https://www.mastercard.com/atm). For the best foreign currency exchange rate abroad, find an ATM.

* Priceline.Com (https://www.priceline.com). A new and intriguing concept: You decide how much you want to pay for your next flight, and see if an airline will meet your price.

* Expedia Travel News (https://expedia.msn.com/daily/news). The daily Bargain Watch has excellent deals, and the Travel Wise section offers insightful advice and analysis.

* Travelocity Travel News (https://www.travelocity.com/news/newfares.html). Breaking travel deals that can be booked online with just a couple of clicks.

* Air-Tech (https://www.airtech.com). Here, the best savings go to the most flexible (such as those willing to travel on a space-available basis within a two- to four-day window).

* Worldwide Courier Assn. (https://www.massiveweb.com). Incredibly low air fares (mostly to overseas destinations) can be found by those willing to travel without luggage. There’s an $88 annual fee.

* Road Trip USA (https://www.moon.com/road_trip/index.html). This site helps make car travel even more economical (as well as interesting, thanks to the quirky roadside attractions highlighted).

* Great Outdoor Recreation Pages (https://www.gorp.com). Camping is another very economical way to go, and GORP helps by offering searches by activity or state.

* Webflyer (https://www.insideflyer.com). Helps travelers make the most of frequent-flier miles by charting special offers, mileage bonuses and other insider information. Plus Deal Watch offers last-minute bargains.

* Internet Travel Network’s Fare Mail (https://www.itn.net). Let them know your destination and price ceiling, and they’ll alert you by e-mail when a matching flight comes up.

* Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory (https://www.towd.com). Help make your vacation research more cost-effective by getting free information from the tourist boards listed here.

* Preview Travel (https://www.previewtravel.com). “Farefinder” makes it easy to find the most affordable flights to cities around the world, and “Carfinder” helps out with rental-car deals.

* RailEurope (https://www.raileurope.com/us/). Find timetables and fares, special offers and packages, and good deals on Eurail passes; purchase tickets too.