Are you thinking about taking a fall vacation -- maybe with your girlfriends to Europe or someplace in the Caribbean? If so, here are four money-saving strategies that can help you and your pals find great fall travel bargains.

Consider Fall Cruise Deals
The weak economy and the weak dollar don't have to slow your vacation roll. Instead, stretch your money by being a smart traveler. For starters, consider a cruise. They're priced in U.S. dollars (even for overseas trips) and cruises are much cheaper in the fall as opposed to "high season" – summertime and holidays, when tourists dominate the scene. Cruises are also great values because they're all-inclusive deals, with your food, lodging and entertainment all packaged into one price. Plus, cruise costs are fixed, so you can lock in a rate today – without worrying about currency fluctuations and prices rising in the future.

Do a Home Swap for a Fall Travel Bargain
If a cruise doesn't float your boat and you and your girlfriends would prefer a land-based adventure, consider couchsurfing.com or a house/apartment swap with someone who lives in the destination you plan to visit. Here's how it works. Say you live in New York and you want to go to England. Visit an online home-trading service, such as houseswap.com or homexchange.com, and find a resident overseas who wants to come to the Big Apple.


You and the other person agree to switch homes for a vacation, eliminating the cost of a hotel for both parties. For the deal to work, both sides have to trust that the other party -- yes, a complete stranger -- won't trash the place or steal anything.

Reduce that risk by using a professional home-swapping service, such as Homeexchange.com. Also, ask a lot of questions via email of a potential home swapper (about their neighborhood, location and home amenities), and be sure to view photos of their place online to make sure you'll like it.

You should also Google the person, check out their Facebook page, and definitely talk over the telephone. This way, you can get more comfortable with him or her and obtain other information – like the 411 on where they work, whether they have pets or family nearby, etc. Just keep the conversation light and casual; don't give them the third degree!

Leverage the Internet for Fall Travel Deals
If you bypass the low-cost home-swapping alternative and opt instead for a traditional hotel, you can still get a great fall travel deal by using Internet sites that specialize in cheap vacations. I'm a huge fan of Priceline.com for hotel deals of up to 50% off. Also try cheapoair.com and eurocheapo.com to get steals and deals on airfare and budget hotels. October and November flights from from the U.S. to Europe are relative bargains right now (in the $400 to $650 range, excluding taxes), and fares to warmer climates, like Mexico or Antigua, are even cheaper.

Snag that Free Uprgrade at Your Fall Travel Destination
Once you've reached your chosen destination, seek upgrades and negotiate for everything, including hotels and car rentals. Always ask: is that the best rate you can offer? Those magic words frequently get you a lower price, discounts, upgrades or better deals upon arrival.

For example, if you booked a standard room, ask whether a premium room or suite is available upon your arrival. If a hotel has high vacancies, a manager or desk clerk may upgrade you free of charge – or for a drastically reduced rate since the fancier room would otherwise just go empty. Also, many car rental companies offer limited-time promotions and special deals to drum up business when demand is off. So even though you may have previously locked in a certain rate, there may be a better deal currently being offered.

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Finally, inventory at car rental companies is constantly changing, due to cancellations, people turning in vehicles earlier than expected, and so on. Therefore, if you paid for a compact or midsize car but want something larger, ask if a premium car is available. If it is, you can likely get it for a bargain rate – or possibly at the same exact price as your original rate.

Take these tips to enjoy a great vacation on a budget. Happy travels!

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Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, an award-winning financial news journalist and former Wall Street Journal reporter for CNBC, has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, and the New York Times, as well as magazines ranging from Essence and Redbook to Black Enterprise and Smart Money. Check out her New York Times best seller 'Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom.'