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Want to get a break on your spring break trip? Consider the Travel Diva's top 10 cost-cutting tips:

1. Grab student perks: Look for deals for those who are matriculating. STATravel.com offers five nights in a London hotel for $206 or a trip to Egypt for $949, excluding airfare. StudentUniverse.com offers deals to 12 or more students traveling together.

2. Get the group discount: Airlines like Delta cut ticket discounts for groups of 10 or more travelers flying together (call group sales at 800-337-4777). Hotels also have group rates. If planning a whole vacation with a group, a travel agent is your best friend.

3. Don't pay retail for car rental: Always use a coupon or discount code from the Entertainment Book or other source to book a rental car. And watch out for car rental firms that charge spouses extra to drive.

4. Negotiate hotel rooms: When booking hotels and resorts, call the hotel directly, not the 800 number. You can sometimes negotiate better rates and rooms than you find online.

5. Try Europe: February to April is low season. Fares that can be $1,500 in the summer can be as low as $800 round-trip this time of year. Check www.farecompare.com/maps to get a quick picture of flight prices.

6. Rent a place: Don't be afraid to try a spring vacation rental through a reputable company like www.greatrentals.com or www.homeaway.com. Rent from an owner based in the U.S. to make payment easier.

7. Count your miles: Have the family sit down and do an inventory of everyone's frequent-flier miles and companion certificates on all airlines and credit cards, then figure out if they can get you anywhere. Yes, you can book a flight for someone else using your frequent-flier miles.

8. Be flexible in your destination: Chicago, Tampa, Atlanta, Baltimore, New York LaGuardia and Denver are good spots for Detroiters. Why? Competition on most of these routes has cut airfares, though flights to many other cities routinely top $400.

9. Get on the deal lists: Yes, they are annoying, but while searching for spring break travel deals, sign up for travel coupons at www.dealchicken.com (disclosure: It's owned by Gannett, owner of the Free Press). Also sign up for deal notification at www.travelzoo.com, www.travel-ticker.com , www.lastminute.com and www.bestofhawaii.com.

10. Set up airfare alerts: This will allow you to see when the price comes down on certain routes you want to book. One choice is www.airfarewatchdog.com/fare-alerts . I also like Travelocity's low-fare alert feature.

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(c)2012 the Detroit Free Press 

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