Holiday travel plans are on the minds of many, with 40 million people expected to hit the road in the US.

The number of airline tickets sold for Christmas and New Year’s is already up more than 50% from a year ago, and prices for airfare and hotel rooms at peak holiday periods, including Thanksgiving, are up sharply.

When you plan a vacation, do you use online sites like Expedia, Orbitz or Travelocity?

You may not be getting the best deals out there, The Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch points out:

-      Some airlines, like Southwest, don’t work with online travel agencies.

-      Hotels often give rooms with less desirable views to guests who book through the online sites.  They save their best rooms for loyal customers who book directly with the hotel.

-      Many times, hotels don’t include freebies like Wi-Fi or bottled water if you book through discount websites.

-      Orbitz, Travelocity and TripAdvisor have each been fined by the Department of Transportation for advertising airfare lower than what you actually have to pay.  They leave out baggage fees or taxes and surcharges.

Read more about holiday travel from the Wall Street Journal and take our poll:

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