Travel like a Brokester

I have visited every state and every Major League Baseball park, I've picked up a few travel tips along the way. Consider these as you make your plans for the holiday season.

>> Try a different airport. O'Hare and Midway? Been there, done that. Have you traveled from the Milwaukee, Rockford or South Bend airports? Amtrak trains pick up at Union Station and drop riders off at the Milwaukee airport for a $20 ticket each way. The Milwaukee airport, which is considerably less crowded than the Chicago airports, is served by many of the major airlines, and I've found tickets out of Milwaukee are cheaper, especially to Denver, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C.

>> Also cheaper: The Chicago Rockford International Airport and the South Bend Airport. Allegiant Airlines flies out of both airports and offers low-cost fares to Florida, Las Vegas and Phoenix. For $11.75 each way, South Shore trains travel the two hours (plus a time change hour) from the Millennium station at Michigan Avenue to the South Bend Airport. Meanwhile, parking is free at the Chicago Rockford International Airport, which is about 70 miles northwest of Chicago.

>> Use buses and trains to bridge the gap. By the time travelers head to O'Hare or Midway, go through security and wait for their plane to nearby destinations such as Milwaukee, St. Louis, Indianapolis or Detroit, they could have arrived using an alternative mode of transportation. Consider riding Amtrak, Megabus or Greyhound instead of flying. These options are generally cheaper than flying and drop travelers off in downtown areas instead of flying to airports on the outskirts of town. The earlier you book for Amtrak, Megabus or Greyhound, the more you save.

>> Comparison shop. Test flight prices using a few different search engines including Kayak.com, which allows users to search nearby airports, and skyscanner.com, which includes multi-part bookings that may be cheaper if you don't mind hanging out for a few hours between flights. Contrast the search engine findings with ticket prices posted on airline websites. Sign up for airline newsletters to make sure you hear about the best deals.

>> Get creative when you pack. The cost of checked bags is on the rise, so travelers need to maximize the space in their luggage. I have been known to tie running shoes onto the sides of my backpack and wear multiple layers to avoid paying a checked bag fee.

tswartz@tribune.com | @tracyswartz