Five types of Thrifty deals are on offer heading into the fall. You can rent a minivan or SUV starting at $38 per day, find three ways to save with your AmEx card, as well as take advantage of regional deals.

The dealsFor pick-up through December 12, you can save $25 on weekly rentals if you pay with your American Express card. 24-hour advance booking is required. Use promo code “AXWK” when making a reservation.Through December 31, you can save 10-percent off when you use your American Express card.Low rates are available on premium, SUV, and minivan rentals. Through December 12, you can rent a premium car for $44 per day or $220 per week; an SUV for $38 per day or $190 per week; or a minivan for $42 per day or $210 per week. Some blackout dates apply. Use promo code “722M” when booking.American Express card user can get an even better minivan deal. Through December 12, cardholders can rent minivans for $38 per day or $190 per week. 24-advance booking is required. Some blackout dates apply. Use promo code “AX37″ when booking.For time-sensitive deals, check out Thrifty’s regional specials. Current offers include discounts such as $37 per weekend day SUVs in Nashville, and much more.

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Popularity: 2% [?]

Holland America is offering spring cruises to Alaska at discounted rates. Fares start at $649 for seven-night cruises ($93 per night) and $949 for 14-night cruises ($68 per night). Plus, third and fourth guests in a cabin sail for free, $99, or $199 on select May departures.

The deal

When I checked, sample per-person prices for 2008 Alaska cruises included:

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Popularity: 2% [?]

With skyrocketing airfares, you may not be able to afford both the Europe cruise you want and the airfare to your embarkation port. However, Oceania is offering free airfare from select gateways and up to 45 percent off brochure rates. You must book by December 31, 2007, to be eligible for this promotion.

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Popularity: 1% [?]

I compared several providers’ offerings for six-night vacations to Rome in autumn, testing departures from Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York, though other departure cities are available. Packages include airfare, accommodations, and hotel taxes. Except for Air France Holidays, packages include all additional taxes and fees for airfare.

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Popularity: 2% [?]

Flights to Mexico are on sale from Frontier. Fares start at $168 round-trip, and destinations include Cancun, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta.

Frontier’s best deals among the routes I checked were for the Albuquerque/Puerto Vallarta and Los Angeles/Los Cabos routes. Continental topped Frontier for the Dallas/Mazatlan, Indianapolis/ Cancun, and Nashville/Cancun routes, while Mexicana had a better price for travel between Denver and Guadalajara. Frontier may have a competitive fare for your itinerary, but you’ll have to compare prices before booking to be sure.

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Anyone can take advantage of Carnival’s low rates for cruises departing from Florida to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. However, if you live in or near Florida, you can also save on the cost of transportation to the departure port by driving rather than flying. Prices for Florida homeport cruises start at $219 per person.

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Not only has Norwegian recently debuted a gleaming new ship, but you can cruise on the Norwegian Gem for next to nothing. Fares start at $179 for a one-night cruise to nowhere, but you can get a great deal on a nine-night transatlantic sailing with fares starting at $299 ($33 per night). The new ship has all the bells and whistles of the Jewel-class vessels, including a bowling alley, rock-climbing wall, and a wide selection of restaurants and bars.

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Continental is offering a sale featuring beach destinations in the U.S. and abroad. Fares start at $118 round-trip, and destinations include Miami, Honolulu, Puerto Vallarta, and Belize.

The best deals I found were for the Newark/Aguadilla and Newark/Miami routes. American, United, US Airways, Taca, and Continental itself beat the sale prices for the remaining routes I compared. Since these fares are available indefinitely, you may find that they are competitive for your itinerary, but you’ll have to shop around to be sure.

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Popularity: 8% [?]

Spirit has announced round-trip sale fares starting at $16. Destinations include Orlando, San Juan, and Cancun.

Act quickly if you plan to take advantage of Spirit’s deal. When I checked shortly after the sale was announced, I easily found availability on each of the sample routes, but you may not be so lucky if you delay. Even with taxes and fees of $16 to $90, these fares will be the best around, and they’re available to everyone, not just $9 Fare Club members.

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Popularity: 3% [?]

If you book your Princess cruise through Expedia, you’ll get extra value from your purchase. In addition to low rates, you’ll receive free shipboard credit, a complimentary bottle of wine, and/or a photo voucher.

The deal

When I checked, sample per-person prices for 2007 and 2008 sailings included:

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Popularity: 2% [?]