A trip to the big city for a little holiday shopping is traditional for many families. It fits between the Thanksgiving turkey and the office Christmas party.

Sometimes, the intent is to search for holiday bargains. For others, it's a chance to make that big splurge while considering as many varieties and prices as possible. A few go in search of major shopping. Most of us: merely a larger selection of malls, outlet stores or downtown store fronts.

In any event, you'll want to practice good budget travel technique, saving your money for that breathtaking jewelry rather than giving it to a greedy innkeeper or airline.

Here are a few links to whet your appetite for such planning:

Expedia Canada has posted a page filled with shopping trip options for the U.S., Canada and Europe. Remember that price quotes here are in Canadian dollars.

Go-today.com Go-today.com still offers its four-night London package from $549 USD plus tax.

Travelocity offers a New York holiday shopping vacations with hotel-only and flight+hotels offers. Stays are for four nights at Manhattan, Newark and Outerborough properties.

Perhaps all of this is beyond your scope this year. Maybe you'll be traveling to a medium-sized city near your hometown for a Saturday/Sunday stay. This is a good year to find bargains on those trips, too! Click "next" to the right and read about it.