The Wendy Perrin Report

15. How do you get into a sold-out hotel?
Find out when cancellation penalties set in for the date you want to arrive, then call the property on the morning of that day. You can scoop up rooms made available by people who've just canceled.

16. How do you get a better hotel room?
Make requests—say, for a specific view or floor. At properties that are architecturally distinctive—especially older European hotels where rooms in a price category can differ greatly in size and view—the best rooms go to those who make requests. Everybody else gets whatever is left over.

17. How do you score a free room upgrade?
Book for a non-peak time (over a weekend at an urban business hotel, for instance), and let the room supervisor know if you're celebrating a special occasion (e.g., an important birthday or a wedding anniversary). Hotels often go out of their way to make sure your stay is memorable so you'll return for future celebrations.

18. How about a cheap upgrade?
Ask the front-desk supervisor, "Are you running any incentives at the desk today?" At off-peak times, hotels may offer upgrades for a nominal fee that is negotiable.

19. How do you find a cheap house or apartment rental?
Can't afford a luxe villa and just want a serviceable base? Try Vacation Rentals by Owner (vrbo.com) or the New York Review of Books classifieds.

20. How do you avoid outrageous ATM surcharges when withdrawing cash overseas?
Get an ATM card from a small local bank. These tend not to levy the hefty ATM fees big banks impose. For instance, New Jersey–based Commerce Bank (which serves the mid-Atlantic region) waives surcharges worldwide (commerceonline.com).

21. How do you avoid paying credit-card fees for foreign purchases?
Use a Capital One card (which has no annual fee) and you can avoid the two percent that AmEx imposes or the three percent tacked on to Visa and MasterCard charges. But beware the drawbacks of Capital One's mileage program: It requires more miles for a free ticket than most other programs, and you can't use miles for upgrades.

22. How do you get superlative travel assistance in a foreign country?
Use the concierge at a top hotel even if you're not staying there. Most benefit from the extra business and can arrange for cars and drivers, make priceless sightseeing suggestions, and procure hard-to-get tickets. Be up front about the fact that you're not a guest, and tip if the concierge is not earning a commission.

23. How do you get the best rate when you rent a car overseas?
The conventional answer is by booking in advance in the United States, but you can often do better, even with the same rental company, as a walk-up customer once you're in the country. So, when traveling with a companion, reserve a car in advance using your companion's name. If you find something cheaper upon arrival, rent under your name and thus avoid the higher rate reserved.