I've traveled so much during my lifetime that it's a novelty for me to remain at home for the holidays. But this year, my family is arriving at my doorstep for their end-of-year vacation. But I still book airfares and hotel rooms, because my family knows about my expertise. No matter how late in the game I enter, those airline tickets or reservations are a snap.

And, although traveling has changed over the past decade, some rules will never change. So, before you head to some online discount ticket counter or before you sulk about your airline seats, read on?after all, the only thing for certain between now and the time you travel for the holidays is that someone, somewhere, is making rum cake.

Put on your cape - Because you're about to speed through the airport. Before you even pack those bags, go to the Transportation Security Administration's Web site, which lists every security checkpoint known to mankind in every airport nationwide, including historic wait times for those checkpoints. Granted, those wait times might be affected by weather, traffic, etc., but it can give you a good idea of the amount of time you'll need to get past security.

If an airport has more than one security checkpoint, you can find the one that's least used by the general public. Don't let the long lines at the airport deter you - there are times when the masses can be dead wrong about their checkpoint choices. So, while you're online, visit your airport's home page and find a diagram for the airport's layout. As a rule of thumb, airports that are shaped like horseshoes, such as Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), contain multiple screening points, and some of those points might be filled with guards who are twiddling their thumbs.

For airports with just one screening point, you just need to be patient. The Louisville, Kentucky airport, among others, funnels everyone into one line that's directed to multiple security points by a guard. But, if you find an airport with multiple checkpoints and the terminals are connected beyond security, just find the one that's least used and breeze on through.

Find the best airline price - First, empty your cache before you search for tickets, as your short-term computer memory may provide an outdated Web page. Each browser is different, but you're looking for a tab that will allow you to 'empty cache' or even delete the history before you browse. Next, go to Kayak.com, where you can search for prices without additional booking fees. Once you've found your right price, go to that airline's Web site and search for the same flight. This last step is to ensure that you're not missing out on a deal that would be available only through the airline's Web site.

Get your ticket at home - No, don't have it mailed. Instead, sign up for e-ticket delivery to your email address. Most airlines handle tickets this way now, and it's a simple measure to print out your passes at home. The only drawback is that you need a printer at the location from which you're leaving as the passes are only good for one way - without that printer you can't print the pass and you have to wait in line at the airport.

Change that seat online - You may have forgotten to pick a seat when you ordered your tickets. Or, perhaps the choices weren't what you wanted (do you really want the emergency exit aisle?). You can log in to the airline's Web site every day up to the time you leave to change a seat.

If you still don't have luck, talk with the gate agent. Those agents can release more seats before takeoff. If you have a tight connection, then you need to try to get up front and on an aisle seat. If you keep your carry-on under the seat in front of you, it will take mere seconds for you to be in that aisle and out the door (behind first class, of course).

Book that room locally - Forget the 800 numbers for booking the hotel room. Instead, find the hotel you want online and call that facility directly. The reason behind this logic is that hotel rooms overbook much like airlines. In fact, they need to block out rooms for reservations from online resources like the one you were about to use. You often can get a room when you call directly, and this is true even if online resources state the hotel is booked. The local manager can shuffle those rooms and sell them very cheaply at the last minute. Make sure you haggle, because the hotel across the street will get your business if the manager won't give it up.

Drive a real car instead of a tin can - When you book a rental car, always book the least expensive car. Many times, if you arrive at a car rental counter well after other passengers have snatched their keys, you'll be upgraded for free. Car rental agencies often run out of the least expensive cars first, and by booking that popular cheap model you can get a better car for the same price.

If your timing is off, or if the rental agency has so many cheap models that they're falling over them, you can always upgrade for a price at the counter. That upgrade price, according to my experience, has never been more at the counter than it was on the Web site.

Finally, if the airport loses your luggage, don't bother to call the 800 numbers for recovery. File a report at the airport and get the local number of the lost-baggage office (usually at the airport) to check in - you don't want to wait for them to call, because they often won't. Bring enough clothing in a carry-on bag to last you for a day or two and you won't miss that lost luggage too much. You also might want to mail those gifts instead of lugging them in your (now lost) suitcase. You, after all, are a traveling holiday genius.

Until Next Week,
Linda Goin