Employers everywhere are tightening their belts in response to the current financial crisis. A good deal of employers are already past cutting travel and other expenses and are looking at payroll to keep costs in check. This complicates matters for any employee who is up for a raise right now, myself included. Thankfully CNN has a list of six benefits to barter for if a pay hike is out of the question.

The benefits compiled in partnership with Careerbuilder.com include the following:

• Time off
• Relaxed dress code
• Education opportunities
• Going green bonuses
• Flexible schedules
• Wellness benefits

I found this list to be quite useful since the timing on my negotiation for a raise is what can be referred to as unfortunate to say the least, and I may have to settle for perks rather than cash. While I am a big fan of using perks such as the ability to work from home, flexible schedules and a relaxed dress code to retain employees during good economic times they are a poor substitute for cash when expenses are rising. Have you tried paying your mortgage in casual Fridays? The banks aren't that desperate....yet.

Sadly with the bailout having little positive effect on the stock market it looks like employees looking for compensation will have to make do with perks rather than payment for the time being. Then again if you work for AIG, a recipient of government funding, the perks may be worth it!

Despite the economic crunch and indicators that business travel was slowing, Orbitz for Business reported today in its quarterly report that almost two thirds of business travelers are traveling as much or more than they have in past years, an increase over last quarter. The survey also picked up on an interesting trend in business travel that shows three fourths of businessmen and women mixing business and pleasure while traveling for work.

The survey found that close to 75% of business travelers have extended their trips to accommodate a vacation when traveling for work. In response to a separate question, over 40% of business travelers have taken someone with them on the trip without extending their stay. These numbers aren't surprising to me since this is how my wife and I have had almost every vacation since our honeymoon.

I started a new job just before we got married and between adjusting to life outside a dorm room and paying student loans we didn't have much cash left over for travel. Thankfully my first working year took me to West Virginia, Chicago and South Carolina for conferences and training. My wife accompanied me on two of these trips and our only out of pocket costs were for her meals, which let us do some cheap sightseeing and catching up with friends.

It started small last month, if you consider stranding 900 people on the wrong end of the planet "small." That's when the airline Zoom, which made regular transatlantic runs to North America, zonked out unexpectedly.

The sudden death of airlines creates a ripple effect. Last week, another 2,500 English travelers were left high and dry in the Mediterranean when Seguro, a vacation packager, raised the white flag. You see, the Spanish flyer Futura suddenly folded, leaving the vacation packager that used its flights holding the bag.

The next day, Britain's third-largest vacation seller, XL, gave up the ghost, halting its self-run flights and stranding an astounding 85,000 people abroad. That's a lot of sunburned Brits pounding the counters at tropical airports. Some 10,000 of them, who booked their flights without packages, were not covered by the bond and had to pay more money to get back home. Another 200,000 people with advance reservations were also wondering where their down payments had gone.

Many of the victims of these collapses thought they were covered because they used their credit cards to buy their trips. That's just not the case.

On Monday, with Tropical Storm Fay bearing down on southern Florida, Norwegian Cruise Line decided it would avoid danger by starting a four-day cruise on the Norwegian Sky about two hours early. Instead of leaving Miami at 5 pm, it would leave at 3 pm.

Fay may have been a bust, but you can see disaster coming here. And this cruise departure was indeed a bit of a train wreck. A dozen people got left at the dock.

On its website, NCL posted an announcement of its revised sailing plan at 9:30am, less than six hours before the lines were to be cast off. But some passengers were already en route from other states by then and had no inkling of the revision. Norwegian reps also claim the company tried calling as many passengers as it could reach.

I'm not really looking for a vacation, but every so often I see a great deal and find myself contemplating a trip to someplace where the sun is brighter, the meals are included, and the pools are cool and refreshing.

If you find yourself suffering from the same syndrome and are also somewhat strapped for cash, you might want to take a peek at the Sandos Caracol Beach Resort and Spa, located in Cancun, Mexico. Throughout the fall, they are offering rooms from $69 per person, per night. These fares are based on double occupancy, so you'll probably want to take someone with you!

The resort features a wide array or restaurants, as well as a huge spa, three swimming pools, numerous fitness classes, extensive beaches, a theater, a disco, and several other things to keep you busy. Your $69 buys access to all the facilities, most equipment rentals, unlimited alcoholic beverages, and meals. The spa treatments (many of which I don't recognize) come with additional charges.

Now I can't stop thinking about Cancun. I wonder what an "Eco-massage" is...

Bruce Watson is a freelance writer, blogger, and all-around cheapskate. His last visit to Mexico was in Tijuana. Cancun sounds like a lot more fun!

Just because you have checked out of your hotel doesn't mean that you've finished paying for your stay.

CNN reports that many hotels are adding on charges after guests have checked out, for anything from breakfasts to minibar and snack items. An industry source confirmed that 75% of these charges are related to the minibar, which is chock-full of routine, but tempting, items...all priced twice to three times what they'd cost at the gas station on the corner.

Unfortunately, if the anecdotes around the web are to be believed, more than a few travelers are being hit with charges for items they didn't even use, in part due to the use of high tech sensors that can bill you as soon as you grab a pack of peanuts. Even if you were just seeing how many calories they had!

While many people will see this as another corporate entity trying to steal from the consumer on a massive scale, it seems that abuse of late billing is the work of a few bad apples or a breakdown in command. The article points out that the number of late billings has doubled in the past year, which sounds extraordinary, but if you do the math, it has only changed from one in 200, to one in 100 bills being changed after checkout. This makes sense to me, since the number if things for which you can be charged appears to have quadrupled in the last year.

Whenever I travel I do my best to avoid any chance for late billing by bringing along a small snack or stopping at a convenience store on my way to the hotel. Not only do I pay less, I have a better selection. I also opt to skip the express checkout. That way I can easily dispute a charge while the stay is fresh in my mind...and where I can make a scene in the lobby if they try to charge me for a Snickers bar and Pay Per View I didn't order. Even with all of these precautions, it is still a good idea to check for any odd charges after any hotel stay.

Are you sick of spending your summer vacation cramped up in a hotel while the rides at Disneyland sit idly by, cementing the thought that you just blew the down payment on a small house to watch reruns on HBO? To combat the fickle nature of well nature, Priceline.com is offering a "Sunshine Guarantee" which will provide a refund to you in the event that your vacation is rained out. Like all good offers though, there are a few qualifications to the refund.

A light drizzle as you arrive for check in at the hotel won't be enough to get a refund on your vacation. In order to get your money back it will need to rain at least a half an inch on half of the days you are on vacation, with the rainfall amount being recorded at your destination's airport. Even though it should go without saying the "Sunshine Guarantee" only covers those services you book through Priceline.

I wouldn't recommend spending extra to purchase weather insurance for your next trip, but if you can get it for free by booking through Priceline and still get competitive prices on your vacation you may as well take advantage of the extra protection. Even though the offer will refund your money it can't refund those vacation days you burnt to get away so be sure to check out DryDay.com which will help you find the best day to have an outdoor event. Then again, if you vacation for museums and culinary delights rather than outdoor activities you might be able to use DryDay.com to figure out which dates would most likely net you a free trip!

Earlier this month we covered 25 ways to raise cash quick with ideas ranging from medical testing and gambling to renting out your extra parking space. If for some reason pimping out your bod for science doesn't sound like a sound method for raising some extra dough, and you already have a day job, then I have the answer for you! Instead of taking a stay-cation and exploring your local town for your 2-3 week vacation, take a workcation. That's right; you can use this short period to do some temping, or work at one of many random jobs while still collecting pay from your regular employer.

For example, if you already have some kind of part-time or freelance gig, see if you can use your vacation to tackle a new project or get some extra work done. I've been using my vacation days to write posts here at WalletPop, but even if you aren't a blogger, there are many possibilities for taking a workcation.

If you've already tried a temp agency, then your next stop for finding short-term employment should be with small businesses. Hit up any small businesses you frequent or whose owners you know to see if you can do any odd jobs that have been sitting on their corporate "honey-do" list for ages. Your own company may be the source of some workcation money. If they have extra tasks which need completed, see if you can take your vacation days and still come in to work at full pay even if you are doing something else in another department. If your company is weathering the recession, they might be up for it.

The Daily Deal for Sunday, June 7, 2008

Are you ready with your Father's Day presents yet? If not, I have the perfect Daily Deal for you from Hammocks.com. Who can deny that every father's fondest desire is to have an occasional day to himself to do absolutely nothing? What better way is there to spend a day of nothing than to be laying back in a breezy hammock with a cold beverage and the ball game on the radio? Is there anything as enjoyable as a shady snooze?

Hammocks.com is offering the Island Bay, quilted hammock with included stand for a 32% discount. For just $189.98, you get the hammock, a button attached pillow, the powder coated stand and all hanging hardware. This is a two person sized hammock with a 450 pound capacity, so it'll hold just about anyone's dad. For a limited time, shipping to the continental U.S. is just $15. The company claims next day shipping, so you should still be able to get one delivered before dad's big day arrives.

Over the weekend, Consumerist posted a story about a family that got "kicked off" a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. It cost the Cortes family $3,000 to get home afterward. Shame on the ship, right? Wrong.

The ship did the right thing, and some of the details are here. The situation was simple: Zoie Cortes, seven months old, got sick on the ship and was vomiting and had diarrhea. The family took her to the ship's doctor, who said she was dehydrated and should receive treatment at a hospital.

The ship was leaving port in 10 minutes, so they had to move quickly to get their things and get off the ship to go to the hospital. The Cortes family went to a hospital in Nassau, and the staff diagnosed the baby with a cold. Not serious at all. The family was then in a position where they had to get themselves to the next port to meet the ship or go home. Had they purchased travel insurance, those costs would have been covered. They did not purchase travel insurance, so the cost is their own.

I'm trying to live a slower life, and years ago I cancelled all my family's credit cards and we've now gone for almost two years without a car. A big problem with this sort of lifestyle is that it's truly hard to take a vacation -- it turns out that all of our vacations had been financed through credit.

When I saw Zac Bissonnette's post on a bank offering "vacation loans," I shook my head right along with him. (And no, vacation loans are not a solution for a family living without credit cards!) My solution has been something far more practical and with both financial and psychological benefits: I vacation in my own backyard.

Last year, I took a week off in early April to slay blackberry vines that had taken over my yard and dig up the dirt, make raised beds, and build a big sandbox for my boys. This year, my week's spring break will feature the transplanting of several varieties of tomato and pepper, the aggressive creation of an herb garden, the planting of an experiment with four new types of beans, and the digging out of a garden on the other side of my yard, to be used as a several-years rotation.

I've recently become enamored with gardening, so my upfront cost for my vacation this year is about $400 in various gardening books, fencing, plants, and a splurge on some very expensive fertilizer (kelp meal, recommended by a favorite local author; I plan to share with my neighbors). Instead of researching attractions and finding the best price for a hotel, I'll be building a pergola and trying to figure out which are the best grapes for our soil. Instead of expensive dinners at roadside restaurants, I'll go all out and buy two new blueberry bushes.

I was my local bank -- TD BankNorth -- the other day, depositing a check and looking at mortgage information. I read the brochure and saw that this "financial services institution" was offering "vacation loans."

I know that most banks offer vacation loans and loans for installing pools or getting breast implants, but I'm still amazed that they advertise a product that is so dangerous to the financial health of their customers. I was talking to the loan officer while I waited for the computer to process my mortgage application, and I asked her about the vacation loans. She said that she felt that they were a valuable service to consumers because they were preferable to putting recreational travel expenses on a credit card.

I guess that's true. But it's also kind of like hearing a coke dealer defend his trade by saying that crack is bad for your teeth.

This post is part of our series on people, places and things finding new life in 2008.

Travel agent may seem like an occupation of the past, like elevator operators and milkmen, but they're not only hanging on, some of them are thriving.

In fact, the February/March issue of ShopSmart magazine, published by Consumer Reports, has a story on travel agents, saying that they're often better than online travel services, especially in three areas:

When you can't find exactly what you want. Think about it. Sometimes, you can spend hours clicking on every little link, and whatever you have in mind, just can't be found. Travel agents have more resources than you, the good ones, anyway, and so you can either keep clicking or contact someone who is in the travel trenches every day of the year.

When everything has to be perfect. Whether you work for a company that will be sending its CEO off to Burma, or you're paying for your very particular Aunt Sylvia to fly in, a travel agent can come in handy. Or maybe this is your first honeymoon, and you're planning a very elaborate European cross-country trip. Travel agents don't just book a few flights and rooms -- they can map out an entire itinerary.

When you need flexibility. Traveling, especially air travel, never goes perfectly. If you fear you'll need to change planes or plans at the last minute, a travel agent may be able to talk to an airline directly and keep you away from those headache hassles.

Perhaps it's a bit early for some of us to get out on the links, but that's no reason why golfers can't start thinking about gearing up for the coming turf chunking season. Do you need a new driver to replace the one you wrapped around that tree? Should you stock up on balls to replace the ones still at the bottom of that pond? How about your shoes? Is this the year you'll buy real golf shoes to improve your game or are you going to go out putting in that same old, worn out pair of cross-trainers?

I found a great closeout deal on Etonic G>SOK GT, golf shoes at DiscountGolfShoes.com . DGS is asking just $60 plus about $15 shipping for these golf shoes. These Etonic golf shoes regularly sell in the $100 price range. They feature classic styling in high grade, soft leather uppers, high density foot support and an in-shoe moisture control system. The shoes stand firm on high quality Goodyear rubber outsoles which provide turf grip for the athlete without the use of cleats.

For shopping comparison, I located the same shoes being sold at innovativeGOLFgear.com . IGG is currently selling the same shoes for $109.95. IGG is only charging a base shipping rate of $5.95 for the shoes which closes the price gap a little but roughly speaking, these shoes from DGS will cost $75, while they'll cost $115.90 from IGG.

Take note that this is a closeout offer from DiscountGolfShoes.com, so your individual size may not be available. Note also that although these are advertised as men's shoes, I'd say some of the ladies might find these golf shoes quite suitable for wearing while whacking some golf balls around.

If you happen to have money left over from the holidays and like to travel, good news! According (subscription required)to the Wall Street Journal, "Travelers desperate to escape the winter weather are in luck: Hotel rooms and good deals are in strong supply in sunny spots."

Low travel volume and a weakening economy have led to reduced airfares and special promotions at some low- and moderately-price hotels in the Caribbean. The Journal adds that:

Celebrity Cruises Inc. has several promotions for Caribbean cruises, including a five-night cruise that starts at $349 per person for an inside room, $449 for an ocean-view room. The cruise departs from Miami on Feb. 9 and visits Jamaica and Grand Cayman. A seven-night southern Caribbean cruise departing Feb. 2 from San Juan, Puerto Rico, starts at $699 for an inside room, $849 for an ocean-view.

Of course, none of that helps if you can't afford it -- If you have any credit card debt, WalletPop admonishes you to not even dream of going on a cruise until it's all paid off. The time at work that you may miss also adds to the cost of the vacation.

However, if you need a break and have some savings, Budget Travel's website is a good resource.