Think you're a savvy traveler? Well, here's a pop quiz. Which is the best hotel deal: One that delivers (A) 50% off your second night, (B) your fourth night free, or (C) 30% off your nightly rate? Go ahead and get a pen and paper. Or a calculator. Or a fifth grader. We'll wait.

For travelers in this dismal economy, there's been a silver lining: Super hotel deals, and lots of 'em. But those deals are dreamed up by hotel marketing teams who crunch numbers and write catchy headlines for a living. And that's exactly why you need to do the math before reaching for your credit card. Sometimes you won't save quite as much as you'd think.

Take the "Better Tomorrow" promotion that's on the table until March 31, 2009, at  Starwood Resorts (which includes W, Westin, St. Regis and Sheraton hotels). For every night you book, you get 50% off the next night's rate. Wow, 50% off! That sounds unbeatable, right? You can put your calculator away now. Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, the very wise travel editor at the Baltimore Sun, has done the due diligence for us.

"But here's a problem that I did find when I eagerly began plotting my holiday stay at Starwood's new Resort at Singer Island in Palm Beach. (Yes, as usual, I'm headed to Florida for Christmas. Why? Because I have a mother who knows how to use a cell phone and guilt.) I found three different rates for three different specials for four nights during the same week.

Starwood's "Better Tomorrows" special would cost me $867. Their "Winter Sale" offers a 30% discount and would cost $688. They also have a "4th Night Free" special - the word "free" is so enticing - which would cost $1,067. The last two specials I checked for the very same dates. So you would have two guests staying the same nights, with one paying $400 more and both thinking they got a deal."

So the correct answer is C.  A 30% discount trumps "fourth night free" (which is essentially a 25% discount) and it also beats "second night at 50% off." And in both cases, the difference can be substantial. That's not to say that the "Better Tomorrow" promo isn't a great deal. It's just that you can probably do better—maybe even with a different deal at the same hotel.

Got a kid who's potty training? Got a vacation coming up? Then it's safe to say you're a wee bit stressed. We know, because we were sure as hell stressed when we were in your shoes.

Of course you should follow the same commonsense cardinal rules we all did.  Time your bathroom breaks, monitor beverage intake, and always, ALWAYS, know where the closest bathroom is. Yadda yadda. The only difference between us and you? You get to thank your lucky stars because the great Mother of Invention (cue trumpets) has smiled down upon your plight.

Designed for children 12 months to 5 years old, the Pottyflip is a portable, disposable, hygienic, biodegradable, paper pop-up potty that's small enough to carry in your purse. The manufacturer says it can support a child up to 75 pounds. After Junior has done his business (applause!), you just fold the potty up, tie the interior bag, and throw the whole thing out. We're so stinking jealous that this wasn't around when our little angels were in this beloved phase.

You can order them online for $24 a dozen, plus $5.99 shipping and handling. They're pricey enough that you'll want to save them for emergencies. But, then again, it seems a small price to pay for peace of mind. Each order comes with an assortment of 3 designs.

Travelers who want to avoid nasty airline fees should fly Southwest. That's the bottom line from an article in the November issue of Consumer Reports’ ShopSmart that takes a hard look at which airlines are nickel and diming us to death with new fees. (Warning: If you haven't flown in a while, prepare to be appalled.) Here are five key strategies to take away from the article:

• Think twice about that second suitcase.
  All airlines except Southwest charge for a second checked bag. 
• Ask for electronic ticketing.
  Print out your electronic ticket, as the cost of choosing a paper ticket is skyrocketing—up to a whopping $75 at United.
• Bring your own food, drinks, and pillows.
  Continental is the only major U.S. carrier that serves free meals on domestic flights, though some airlines offer free snacks.  US Airways and Spirit charge for soft drinks, and United charges for coffee and tea.  JetBlue will hit you for pillows and blankets. 
• When in doubt, call the airline.
  Fees can change fast and airline web sites don’t always reveal complete listings of fees, so contact the airlines directly.
• Watch out for unavoidable fees.
  The biggest fee of all is fuel surcharges.  Most airlines impose these fees in the higher cost of your ticket, but not all airlines do, which makes comparison shopping more important than ever.

• US Airways:  Charges $25-$50 to redeem “free” trips from your frequent flyer program.
• Northwest, United, US Airways:  Charge $2 or so per bag at some airports for a curbside bag check.
• American:  Charges $100 for a ticket change and $15 for the first checked bag.
• Spirit:  Charges for the first checked bag, booking by phone, seat confirmation, soft drinks, and snacks.
• AirTran and Spirit: Charge extra for calling to confirm a seat assignment or to request a seat location.

For families that value space and privacy when they travel, getting a second hotel room for the kids can be an attractive option. At select Hyatt properties through December 30, there's a special offer on the table called Time for Family, which includes a connecting room at half price for kids 12 and under. The 99 participating Hyatt properties are scattered throughout the world. These 10 are in North America.

Tip: If you book online, go through the portal for the Awaken B&B package, which snags you free breakfast for your family. Then use booking code HYFMPL to get 50% off your second room.

Nowadays even busy CEOs have blogs, and at least one of them has some welcome news. Bill Marriott, Chairman and CEO of Marriott International, posted yesterday about the brand new "rejuveNATION" offer: Book a weekend stay (defined as at least two consecutive nights, Thursday to Sunday)  in any of 2,500 Marriott hotels (which include Marriott, Renaissance, JW Marriott, Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, TownePlace Suites and Fairfield Inn properties) and you'll get 20% off the normal weekend rate. The offer is good at most properties in the continental US, Canada, Caribbean, Latin America, the United Kingdom (that's England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) and Ireland.

Just don't mull it over too long: you need to book by September 22 and travel by December 21. Use the promo code F5X.

So. Many. Decisions. Finding the right cruise for your family can be a very complicated process. Which cruise line? Which itinerary? Which ship? Which cabin? Which shore excursions? And where in heaven's name can you snag a deal?

Point your browser to Cruise Critic, the most comprehensive one-stop resource for cruise information on the web. The site is packed to the brim with intelligent advice, from planning articles and expert reviews to cruise ship stats and information about ports of call. We are mad about the easy-peasy Find a Cruise tool, which helps you whittle down the field of a gazillion possibilities in just a few clicks.

Founded in 1995, Cruise Critic has built an extraordinarily active community of knowledgeable cruise lovers. The site's word-of-mouth reviews are a goldmine of insider pointers, like when this veteran cruiser dishes about her experience on Disney Wonder, or when this father of five describes the highs and lows of his family's very first cruise, aboard Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas.

Passport? Check. Credit cards? Got 'em. Consent forms? These days, there are dozens of scenarios where you might need them. Like if Gram and Granddad bring your kids with them on vacation.  Or if you're a single parent traveling out of the country with your children. Or if you leave your children at home with relatives while you take a business trip. 

Forms4Parents.com is a web site that lets parents customize legal consent forms to their particular family situation. You can specify travel authority, temporary custodial authority, or medical authority with important information about your child, along with emergency contacts and necessary insurance information.  Forms can be purchased individually or as packages ("traveling with relatives," "babysitter or relatives caring for children" ).

Individual forms cost $16.95 and packages are $34.95. Now through September 1, you'll nab a 25% discount if you enter the promotional code "SUMMERTRAVEL."  

You know all about Disney's theme parks. You've surely heard of Disney Cruise Line, and you're probably even familiar with the spacious villas available through Disney Vacation Club. But you may not be aware that Disney is also a tour operator.  Adventures by Disney are upscale guided tours to a variety of destinations all over the world. These tours are known for their VIP behind-the-scenes excursions and the same impeccable attention to detail for which Disney is famous. There is a fantastic deal available right now for families who can travel this summer. Book by May 31, and you can save up to $650 per adult and up to $600 per child on select dates for six itineraries in the US, Europe, and Costa Rica. That's a savings of up to $2,500 for a family of four!