"Be prepared." That's the Boy Scout motto. But it works for travelers as well.

September is here -- that means Permanent Fund Dividend travel deals are right around the corner.

The big dog in this hunt is Alaska Airlines. If the last few years are any indicator, we can look for some great deals for rural Alaskans. If you live in Fairbanks, Bethel, Kodiak, Petersburg or one of Alaska's other far-flung destinations, you'd be wise to have your calendar handy and start marking out your travel dates. Cities like Yakutat and Adak simply don't see that many super-deep discounts, since Alaska Airlines is the only carrier to serve the market.

Chances are there will be some blackouts over Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring Break. But even if the fares were available, many of the cheap seats on the best dates are gone -- since students, teachers and their families have been locking in their dates for awhile now.

Here in the big metropolis of Anchorage, we can expect some good bargains to many of Alaska Airlines' smaller destinations, like Arcata, Calif., and Klamath Falls, Ore. That's because in the past, Alaska has offered "zone" air fares for the PFD bargains. It probably will cost the same to fly to any of several cities they serve in Montana or Idaho.

It's an open question whether other airlines will participate in the PFD sale. Typically, Delta, Continental and USAir will match any fare that Alaska Airlines drops in there. But whether they will open up their international markets in an attempt to snag some PFD-related business -- we just don't know.

USTravel, a local travel agency, is hosting a one-day PFD sale on Sat., Sept. 18 at the Dimond Center Mall. They've posted several PFD deals on their website, including Hawaii deals, cruises and a trip to Costa Rica.

The special event, co-sponsored by Delta Vacations, promises some last-minute surprises and day-of-sale specials. Also, they will be award a bunch of travel prizes.

Anchorage travelers have a few more options than rural Alaskans when it comes to grabbing the latest travel deals. The competitive forces of Continental and USAirways means the PFD sale is not the only deal of the year. Witness the fall travel specials for Denver, just $335 roundtrip all-in. Or Minneapolis, just $425 roundtrip, all-in. These deals exist because of robust competition between Alaska Airlines, Continental, Delta and Frontier.

As you are planning your trip, your hotel and car rental costs can easily eclipse even the most expensive air ticket. Here are a few tricks: