As hotel rates continue to jump from grossly overpriced to outright robbery,  many savvy seniors look for other options when they roam. There’s airbnb.com, where you can find private city and beachside homes that rent out to traveling families for $100 a night. They include several bedrooms, kitchens, pools and other comforts that would cost a family of four $600 nightly and more.

Along with Airbnb’s growing success, a similar service is now available, named TrustedHousesitters, It requires guest travelers to take care of the homeowner’s pets during their stay. There’s no charge by the homeowner, but it involves an annual, one-time membership fee. It’s $119 each for the homeowner and the visitor.  For $148, you can sign up as both homeowner and visitor.

According to SmarterTravel, the savings could be surprisingly good. For example, the average taxi fare from Heathrow to downtown London is $85 vs $39 on Uber. From Las Vegas it’s $43 vs $19, and Miami $39 vs $18. Almost makes you think of old times when rates were reasonable.

So, before you jump into a taxi when leaving home and after landing at the airport, plan ahead to contact Uber for an economic ride. And if you speak a bit of German, say billige Fahrt über alles. Despite what you may think, it actually means: Cheap taxi ride above all!

It’s about time. While friendly dogs are doing great in soothing the nerves of anxious airport passengers, purring cats can also serve in the same capacity. The first feline joins Denver’s CATS: Canine Airport Therapy Squad.

Brown with black tiger stripes and white muzzle is Xeli, pronounced zellee. The soothing cat is available for stroking, hugging and sharing selfies with passengers and families of all ages.

According to news reports, this holiday season will involve a record 51 million people coming in and out of U.S. airports. And it will seem that most of them are in line ahead of you at check-in.

Also, before you head for the airport, be sure you’re up on all in-force regulations about security, including what’s OK and what’s not allowed in your carry-ons. Therefore, when waiting for your flight to be called, the best attitude is to grin and bear it. Even if you have to bare something personal in the check-in security line.