DIY waffles  DIY waffles are often options in hotel breakfasts.
(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)  We long for travel,
but we long even more deeply for affordable travel.  To that
end, we asked industry experts to weigh in on budget travel:
from getting there to eating there to staying there to choosing
where to go.  Amy Chen, online editor,  Getting there: Set up
fare alerts using sites such as or  Staying there: Flash-sale
sites such as Groupon Getaways (, and constantly have tempting
hotel deals, but make sure you understand the fine print. Can
the travel dates be changed, and is the deal nonrefundable?
Would you be better off booking directly with the hotel?  Eating
there: Hotel breakfasts included in the room rate can be a good
value for families. Many hotels offer made-to-order omelet
stations and do-it-yourself waffle-makers.  Doing things and
getting around: Look into weekly transit and tourist passes. For
example, CityPass cards (available in nearly a dozen cities; can
be an easy way to cover