Go to Portland, Ore. for $227 round-trip — from Chattanooga

Despite a weakened economic outlook, there’s really no reason you have to sacrifice traveling. To make trips affordable, shop, shop and shop some more for the lowest airfares and hotel stays. And if you’re headed west, be willing to jump in the car for a drive of about 2.5 hours to land rock-bottom air rates.

For instance, if you are Portland, Ore. bound, check rates from Chattanooga, Tenn. - about a 90-minute drive north from metro Atlanta. Today, round-trip rates on Delta start from $227 on departures through March 4. A 14-day advance notice of travel is required along with a three-day minimum stay. Buy through Jan. 16.

Or, consider a drive to Birmingham, Ala. - more like a 2.5-hour drive - for one-way rates of just $83 to Portland, Ore. Follow the same rules as those for Chattanooga above.

Put these rates in comparison to those from Atlanta to PDX. Round-trip rates start from $619!

Another great western destination for winter - Tucson, Ariz. - is far less expensive from Chattanooga than from Atlanta. One-way rates of $92 are valid on trips from March 1 and finished on or before March 31. A 21-day advance notice of travel is required.

From BHM, one-way prices to Tucson are $99 on trips finished on or before April 30. This Delta sale rate is valid Tuesday or Wednesday only.

Round-trip rates from ATL to TUS are typically running around $440.

Another city where it pays to shop around is Salt Lake City. From ATL round-trip rates average $500. But Delta rates from Birmingham start at $92 each way on trips finished on or before March 31. A 21-day advance notice of travel required.

One important point to know about originating from CHA or BHM. All of the above mentioned rates are on Delta. And we all know that Delta routes its passengers through Atlanta where they must stop and change aircraft to their final destination. When you originate from, let’s say CHA or BHM, you too will return to ATL for a connection.

But here’s the rule to follow: You cannot skip the BHM-ATL segment of your trip. If you are a no-show all of the remaining flight segments will be auto-canceled by a computer. You cannot show up at ATL and give a lame excuse either. Flat tires or accidents won’t work — and no excuse in the world will get you on your way unless you pay the going walk-up rate from ATL which will be pushing $1,000 one-way.

So don’t mess around with your itinerary. Drive to the originating city and maybe enjoy an extra hour or two kicking around or having a nice breakfast or lunch. Then be on your way at a great savings!

As to those hotel stays. Start shopping at Bookit.com and then shop at a few other of your favorite travel Web sites and see if you can beat their prices!