Recently, Travelocity reported that airfare was 12 percent higher for summer travel than it was last year. At the same time, the president of the Air Transport Association (ATA) told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that a rise in airfare was "inevitable." What's a traveler to do? Stay home this summer?

No way, I say.

For me, the thought of not taking a summer trip is too depressing to imagine. If the same goes for you, you're likely looking for a way to save money on your next flight. Here are my five favorite tricks to saving money on airfare:

1. Buy in advance -- way in advance. We see savvy travelers booking further and further in advance to secure the cheapest seats. I just purchased airfare for the end of September. Next on my list? Thanksgiving.

2. Alternate airport search. Flying to Miami? Don't forget to check Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Headed to San Francisco? Don't forget to see if you can get a cheaper airfare to Oakland. It's as simple as checking the "alternate airport search" box.

3. Flexible date search. Just check the box when you look for a flight and you'll see prices up to three days before and after your departure and return. Sometimes just adjusting your flight by a day or two can save you big bucks.

4. Off-peak travel dates. I wanted to take my trip to Croatia in September over Labor Day weekend. Seems that everyone else did too. I checked the prices for two weeks later and guess what? Four hundred dollars cheaper. So the end of September it is!

5. Fly mid-week. I've found the lowest airfares tend to be for flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.