Comparison shopping is absolutely essential in determining when a travel bargain is a real deal. Whether you intend to purchase a vacation package from a travel agent, a third-party online booking site or a tour wholesaler, always price the individual components before finalizing your transaction. Check with the originating airline, hotel, cruise line, rental car firm or other providers to ensure that your bundled package doesn't cost more than the sum of its parts.

The Internet can be a terrific travel partner when used wisely. I always start my airfare search at beta.itasoftware.com to identify benchmark fares to beat, then proceed to www.kayak.com and www.farecompare.com. Then I check individual airline sites for a final comparison. I am adamant about paying the lowest available fare — not always obvious — for the itinerary and class of service I want.

Check Web sites that compile current travel bargains. My favorite for high-end destinations and cruises is www.luxurylink.com. At the top of the list for savvy, well-researched sites geared toward modest-to-bare-bones budgets are www.smartertravel.com, www.travelzoo.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.bookit.com and www.shermanstravel.com. Bonus: Sign up for free weekly e-mails with notice of new offerings.

Examine the best-known of the third-party travel sites: www.expedia.com, www.orbitz.com and www.travelocity.com. The Big Three post deals and special offers that they broker with travel providers. (And often you'll find air deals here, especially with multiple carriers, that you won't see elsewhere.) If you register, free, you can receive e-mails tailored to destinations that you designate. Also, through Expedia's Fare Alert, www.expediaguides.com/farealert, and Orbitz's Insider Deals, www.desktop.orbitz.com, you can download software that will notify you of exceptional travel bargains.

Enroll in airline and hotel loyalty/reward programs. As these companies are trying to supplant travel agents in the chain of distribution, many providers are offering exclusive deals to customers who buy directly from them. Even if you are an inactive member, you will still receive e-mailed incentives about their special offers.

Check out discount tour operators who offer very attractive prices on air-and-hotel packages. The A-List for bargain packages includes www.go-today.com, www.vacationoutlet.com, www.faredeals.com, www.applevacations.com, www.vacationexpress.com, www.tourcrafters.com www.funjet.com, www.gate1travel.com, www.ritztours.com, www.fittours.com, and www.generaltours.com.

CRUISES, TOO

Look online for cruise discounters and specialists. Although cruise lines have taken strong control of their inventories during these uncertain economic times, many discounters are fighting to attract new customers by offering "value-added" perks like complimentary shore excursions, cabin upgrades and shipboard credits. Tempting cruise deals are promoted aggressively at www.icruise.com and www.ecruises.com. If you want travel agencies to compete for your business, register your cruise requirements at www.cruisecompete.com, where members of a consortium of nearly 200 cruise travel agencies will bid on your voyage.

Don't overlook individual airline Web sites, many of which offer special seasonal fares to the destinations they wish to promote or introduce. Most carrier home pages can be linked from www.getmeticket.com/airline/tollfree.php.

And often the airline-affiliated vacation programs, such as www.nwaworldvacations.com, www.aavacations.com, www.deltavacations.com and www.unitedvacations.com, offer unbeatable air/hotel/car packages, coach and first class, to places you actually want to visit.

If price is paramount, investigate "opaque" sites like www.priceline.com and www.hotwire.com, where you garner huge savings by agreeing to make a purchase before you're advised the name of the travel provider. I don't know anyone personally who uses these sites, but they are probably fine for budgeteers who are flexible on quality and convenience.

And you will definitely want to consult a professional travel agent if you have demanding standards, expect a high level of personal service or wish to execute a complicated itinerary. When only the best will do, call an agent.

Irene Croft Jr. of Kailua, Kona, is a travel writer and 40-year veteran globetrotter. Her column is published in this section every other week.