Take these tips as you plan your holiday travel

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Web sites for walking tours

Q: We are looking for a walking-tour company for March 2010 in Sardinia, Crete or both. We want to do a self-guided walk (i.e. not walk with a group) but would like help with itinerary planning, carrying bags and perhaps some ground-transportation arrangements. Not all hiking areas will be accessible at that time of year and that is one reason for going on a more organized trip than we are usually accustomed to. -- P., Seattle

Walking trips are popular on both those European islands, and there are quite a few British companies -- since the Brits love walking holidays -- that will help you arrange a self-guided weeklong walking tour of either island. They set up hotels, give you route maps and often will take your luggage to your next destination.

However, March is early in the season for a walking holiday on either Sardinia or Crete -- you could run into some chilly or rainy weather. Guided trips generally run from May into October for better weather.

Survival tips for mall warriors

Headed to the mall?

Here are some tips to help you navigate your day:

Just park already . Don't spend hours circling the parking lot. With the number of people shopping, it is highly unlikely that the perfect, right-in-front-of-the-door space will materialize. Look around the department stores and lesser-used mall entrances for a chance at a better spot. But just park where you see an available spot and get a little exercise.

Cut your waste for the holidays

Holiday decorating, entertaining and gift wrapping is in full swing now for many of us, and with it comes loads of trash. Did you know that in 2007, Raleigh residents produced about 3,000 tons of garbage each week? That number jumped to 3,750 tons between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

How will you help to reduce the amount of waste that comes out of your household? The city of Raleigh and Wake County want you to recycle.

There are many ways to reduce waste, ranging from how you decorate your home to how you clean up after a party. Yes, those disposable plates and cups you're thinking of buying for your party add to tonnage, so why not use your "real" dishes and ask for volunteers to assist you with cleaning after the party?

Snap out of your photo funk: Make sense of pics with our 4-week strategy

Let's agree from the outset that we're not going to "organize" your photos.

"Organize" is a chore. "Organize" is a buzz kill. "Organize" is for Tupperware. Photos, on the other hand, are for sharing, cherishing, showcasing.

Still, yours are a mess. Thousands of images jumbled together on your hard drive. Vacations bumping into holidays bumping into birthday parties. Envelopes of prints sitting unframed, unmailed, un-albumed.

Tips for flying a little cheaper

Unfortunately for many travelers, last-minute plans and holiday bookings can yield sky-high tickets, costing thousands of dollars. But savvy passengers can touch down on fares as low as $9 a ticket, excluding tax and fees. Here are a few strategies for booking cheap airline tickets.

Online services: SmarterTravel.com and other alert services provide e-mail notifications about low fares and last-minute specials based on your preferences. SkyAuction.com offers travel specials with an e-Bay style bidding that begins at $1. Search engines include Bookingbuddy.com , Priceline.com , Travelocity.com and Cheaptickets.com . Use multiple sites; compare prices because fares constantly shift.

Carrier clubs: There's a secret to scoring flights for $1, $9 and $13 from Spirit Airlines, according to a Miami Beach resident who travels around the country for less than a tank of gas. Her secret: She's joined the $9 Fare Club at Spirit. For $40 a year, she has access to high-profile, low-cost flights that elude