If you are looking for an Independence Day getaway, you could get a better bargain by extending your trip.

This year, July Fourth falls on a Saturday, and when holidays fall on a weekend, the airfare for Friday travel goes up. Sunday and Monday flights can also be more expensive.

We looked at a number of air and hotel packages and found that if you extended your trip to depart on a Thursday and return on a Tuesday, you could purchase a five-night package for less than a four-night package.

Why not get more bang for your July Fourth vacation dollars and enjoy an extra night?

Sample air and hotel packages from Dallas, based on a family of four with two adults and two children under 17, follow:

•Travel to San Francisco with stays at the four-star Sofitel for $389 per person for four nights July 3-7, or for $369 per person for five nights July 2-7.

•Travel to Cancun, Mexico, with stays at the four-star Grand Melia Cancun for $360 per person July 3-7, or stay an extra night for only $8 more per person, with rates starting at $368 per person for travel July 2-7.

•Travel to Orlando with stays at the 4 ½-star Peabody for $290 per person July 3-7, or for just $9 more per person July 2-7 with rates starting at $299 per person. We also checked rates for July 3-5 for stays at the Peabody Orlando and found that the price was $305 per person.

The rates listed above were valid at press time, but are subject to change. They include taxes and fees.

If you just need airfare, but not a hotel, it still pays to be flexible. We looked at prices from Dallas to Chicago and found fares were $307 for travel July 3-5; $288 for travel July 3-6; $275 for travel July 3-7; $255 for travel July 2-7; and $232 for travel July 4-7. Taxes and fees were included in the fares listed above. The fares were valid at press time.

Don't forget about new land and sea-crossing passport requirements for travel in North America. Travelers need to have their passports ready if they are traveling by land or sea between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda beginning June 1.

This new requirement is part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, and other travel documents, such as a passport card, Trusted Traveler card or enhanced driver's license may be used in place of a passport. If you are traveling to or from a U.S. territory, such as Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, you will not need a passport and can use a driver's license or other state-issued ID card.

For more information on passport requirements, visit travel.state.gov/passport or call 1-877-487-2778.

Tom Parsons is publisher of BestFares.com.