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This article was written by Rick Seaney, an airline travel expert and the co-founder of FareCompare.com, and originally appeared on Fox News Travel. If you're planning on taking a vacation this summer, here or abroad, I have some advice for you: Do not procrastinate.  Here's why. 1. More are flying Not so long ago a lot of folks put vacation plans on hold, thanks to 2008's recession. Here are some passenger traffic snapshots of those days (domestic and international) for the month of August, courtesy of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. —2008: 67.7 million passengers —2009: 65.0 million passengers Now look at last year's numbers.   —2014: 69.3 million passengers Even more people will fly in 2015.  Thanks to a perfect storm of strong dollar and continuing cheap fuel prices and an economy on the upswing, airline seats will be at a premium. 2. Flights will be packed In the past few years, airlines have turned capacity-cutting into an art form; they know how many want to fly and how many seats they need to hold us all. Since more passengers are expected to fly this summer, the airlines have pricing power on their side. When demand is up, prices are too. 3. Watch for limited summer deals You may not be aware of this but since late December, Southwest Airlines sales have mostly been limited to flights on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Saturdays (prior to this, sales were good on flights any day except Friday or Sunday). Southwest isn't alone, either. JetBlue deals have long been limited to Tuesday and Wednesdays only and others have similar sale restrictions. Bottom line: Fewer days for sale flights means fewer seats at the cheapest possible prices which is another sign that the time to start planning a summer vacation is now. 4. Shop for summer now Most of the current crop of airfare sales are valid only for flights through June 3 or so. After that, watch prices jump (and jump again in late June) as more and more people vie for an increasingly small number of deals and seats. The airlines know that most of us wait to make plans within 30 days of departure, and price their fares accordingly meaning tickets will be more expensive. The sooner you move - particularly if you're going to Europe - the better your chance of getting the flight you want at the price you want, or at least coming close to a good deal. If you procrastinate, you may not get a seat on the flight you want at all. More from Fox News Travel: Secrets of a cruise ship captain Ryanair could offer $15 flights from the US to Europe As the euro tanks, European summer travel deals get sweeter Photos in flight: What you can and cannot shoot on planes Qatar Airways leader accuses Delta of flying 'crap' airplanes

At elephant-conservation organization ElephantStay in Ayutthaya, Thailand, a Danish visitor had an extremely interactive encounter with an adorable baby elephant named Double Trouble who loved being hosed off and taking a dunk (or five) in his miniature bathtub. Getting in and out of the tub is the difficult part for Double Trouble, but judging by how much the six-month-old elephant likes the water, we're guessing he'll be an old pro in no time. Want to stay overnight and care for an elephant at ElephantStay too? Rates start at about $183 per person per night for a three-day, two-night package, meals included (elephantstay.com).

Forget the selfie stick. Brand-new photo service Flytographer has recruited professional photographers in more than 130 cities worldwide to take fanciful candid or posed photos of you on your dream trip. No more tilting your smartphone's camera just right, hoping to catch your face and most of the Eiffel Tower in the background. And don't even get us started on the social awkwardness that ensues when you ask a stranger to take your picture. Instead, if you're in Paris, a local photo pro will not only know where to bring you for the least crowded shot of the Eiffel Tower (shhh...it's a nearby footbridge), but also share insider tips about the destination, like directing you to the most authentic place to get a pain au chocolat or the best little boutique to score deals on runway-worthy clothing. It's like having a built-in tour guide and, oh yeah, perfect vacation pictures too. Right now, Flytographer exists in cities ranging from Cannes to Cape Town. Philadelphia, Nashville, Auckland, and the Amalfi Coast were recently added, and coming soon are Aruba, Banff, and Calgary. Every photographer is vetted for "skill, personality, and style" and their knowledge of the region, says founder and CEO Nicole Smith. You can even scroll through a city's available photographers and pick the one you like based on their artistic philosophy, languages they speak, and where they like to shoot. New York City, for example, has 13 pros. "While selfies can be funny and easy, they don’t capture the spirit of a vacation or inspire the travel memories that a candid, documentary-style image can," Smith says. "Flytographer’s motto is that memories are the best travel souvenir." Within five business days of the shoot, you'll get an online photo gallery with high-res images you can download immediately. Personalized treatment like this doesn't come cheap, of course: Sessions start at $250 for a 30-minute shoot at a single location and 15 digital photos. More cash will buy you more time, more locations, and more photos. But we've cut a deal for you: Use the code "BudgetTraveler" for a $25 discount toward a shoot or a gift card.* Even if you're not traveling yourself, a gift card could be the perfect wedding present for newlyweds embarking on their honeymoon. *Valid until April 30th, 2015. Can be applied toward shoots or gift cards only (not prints). Cannot be combined with other commissions or offers. Cannot be applied to previously booked shoots or gift cards.

Prepare for an unforgettable adventure! While the name Morocco may conjure images of endless desert, or the classic film Casablanca (which was, of course, shot entirely in Hollywood), the real Morocco rolls out some of the world's most beautiful mountains, a scenic coastline that may remind you of Northern California (really!), a surprisingly easy-to-navigate Sahara, and opportunities to pamper yourself, especially when you arrive in chic Marrakech. The North African nation welcomes visitors to its ancient medinas and souks, but also to world-class restaurants, alluring (and affordable) spas, and stylish hotels. Whether you decide to see Morocco on a pre-arranged package tour or to dive into a self-guided road trip like the one photographer Michael Hanson took for this story (take a slideshow tour of his incredibly beautiful photos!), you'll delight in the cultural coming-together of Berber, Arab, and Saharawi cultures on an exotic-yet-attainable vacation of a lifetime. MARRAKECH Whether you're seeking days of adventure in the mountains and desert or just a day trip to get a taste of "wild Morocco," we recommend that you make Marrakech your base of operations. Everybody starts their exploration of the city at Djemaa el-Fna and you should too: You'll enjoy wandering through the souks, shopping for exquisite carpets and other handiworks, and you'll also be pleasantly surprised at the number of stylish boutiques in the old city. We love Cafe de France, at Place Djemaa el-Fna, perfect for strong coffee (or fresh-squeezed citrus juices) and people watching. For an indulgent night, book your lodging at a riad, such as Riad Noga (riadnoga.com, from about $100), and ask about their spa treatments. AIT BENHADDOU Many day trips or multi-day tours out of Marrakech head to this town via 4x4, and it really is a must-stop on your way to or from the big city when exploring the wilder side of Morocco. Ait Benhaddou is one of the most impeccably preserved examples of a 1,000-year-old North African caravan stopover. It actually looks like a movie set. And for a very good reason: The town has served as the location for scenes in Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Jesus of Nazareth, and has benefited from some Hollywood spruce-ups. You'll nab some of your best Morocco photos here, and enjoy an hour or two getting to know the handful of locals who call it home. You'll probably be on your way before evening, but if you do need to bunk down, Hotel la Kasbah (hotel-lakasbach.com, from $31) is reliable and very affordable. OUARZAZATE While Ait Benhaddou may resemble a movie set, nearby Ouarzazate is actually a major center of TV- and movie-making. Scenes from Game of Thrones and other film and TV projects have been filmed here and it is home to CLA Studios, which you can tour. But on a hot day, the first thing you may want to do is jump into the cool blue pool at Hotel Al Baraka Des Loisirs (hotel-albaraka-ouarzazate.com, from $30), which offers high-quality rooms at a great price. And since your next stop may very well be the Sahara Desert, Ouarzazate is a good place to relax over a tasty hot meal: Get your tagine on at Les Jardins de Ouarzazate (hotel-les-jardins-de-ouarzazate.com). The delicious staple of Moroccan cuisine is a historically Berber recipe named after the clay dish in which it is prepared with a  rich collection of spices, vegetables, and sometimes meat. SAHARA Are you ready? Camel treks to Berber tent camps are the easiest way to make your way through the wild landscape of the Sahara Desert, though a healthy hike can take you to the top of one of the many dunes in this windswept masterpiece of nature. Of course the desert is a scorcher during the day, but at sunrise and sunset it's magic, with the smooth red dunes glowing and the temperature quickly dropping. If you're on a 4x4 tour or in the hands of an experienced guide, the logistics will all be arranged in advance. If not, La Maison Rurale, in Merzouga, offers treks into the desert and can help with accommodations before and after. As beautiful as the desert is by day, the real show is at night, when you can stare at an infinite universe of stars swirling overhead as you lie on the warm sand. ATLAS MOUNTAINS Sure, tour guides will give you the opportunity to ogle the beautiful Atlas Mountains from a distance if that's what you prefer-but you can also get a little more adventurous and start hiking. A gentle trail leads you to Refuge du Toubkal les Mouflons (refugelesmouflons.com), in the ski area of Jbel Toubkal, where you can have a surprisingly comfy stay, enjoy a home-cooked meal, and meet fellow trekkers intent on conquering Toubkal Massif, at more than 10,000 feet, the highest peak in North Africa. Don't miss Dades Valley and its winding roads-one of the most stunning drives in the world, cutting through the rugged landscape for a 100-mile stretch. And you can even relax and watch the sun sink and the shadows rise as you sip mint tea at a café perched high above the valley. Whether you see the mountains for a few hours or a few days, they are a sight you'll never forget. PLAN YOUR TRIP We've suggested several reliable hotels and restaurants to help you plan your Morocco adventure. But even travelers who enjoy blazing their own trail in Europe or South America may appreciate a little of the TLC that comes from booking a package tour when visiting Morocco. Budget Travel has offered Morocco deals from such package tour companies as Gate 1 Travel, G Adventures, and Intrepid Travel, which offer a range of itineraries and price points. You'll always get great airfare and hotel rates rolled into a package deal, and the security of having an English-speaking tour guide and transportation prearranged. Whether youj're looking for a romantic getaway that's heavy on the spa treatments, shopping, and fine dining, or a let's-get-lost adventure that lets you snap selfies atop the highest peak in North Africa, riding a camel to a Berber camp in the Sahara, or haggling over the price of a carpet in a souk, Morocco has something for every taste and every budget.