Go Away (to Europe)

Travel is something that’s perceived as a luxury. It costs thousands of dollars and we can only afford this privilege when our vacation days at work happen to spell out a week or two and our bank accounts concur with the evidence. However, for the last three months, I’ve been interning at a travel magazine, watching more amazing deals swim across my computer screen than the number of times Lindsey Lohan’s been to rehab.

Ironically, a product of human nature, I never stopped to think that any of these could ever apply to me. Work is work, right? A few days ago, I saw a flight-and-hotel package to Las Vegas for $450 (round-trip from New York and three-night stay at the MGM Grand). I was floored. I spread the word around my circle of friends and boom—we’re going to Vegas.

The thing is, many of these deals come from websites that I would’ve never known about unless I specifically worked with an organization that specialized in and marketed hard-to-find, low-priced travel deals. So, I thought I’d let a few more people in on the secret. Maybe I’ll see you in Vegas?

CheapCaribbean.com—Vacation deals to Mexico, Caribbean islands, Brazil, Panama, the Bahamas, and more. Airfare is usually included in these packages and you stay at classy resorts. This is a vacation outlet with perks like resort credit and all-inclusive deals.

VacationsToGo.com—The best cruise outlet. If you want to go on a cruise, they have it, and probably at a fairly cheap price. Perks include hundreds of dollars off on small groups, interesting cruise itineraries, famous cruise ships, and fairly cheap prices. You have to create a log-in to see the deals, but that’s free and easy to do. You can choose your port, organize by destination, and view the savings.

DiscountVacations.com—Another vacation outlet where you can find an all-inclusive trip with airfare to your choice tropical destination for under $500. Maybe it’s just me, but that sounds like a steal. Airfare alone can cost $500 round-trip to Dominican Republic, Riviera Maya, or Aruba.

SolarTours.com—This wonderful vacation wholesaler offers trips to Latin America, Europe, Caribbean, and Asia-Pacific destinations. We’re talking three- or four-city itineraries including airfare and hotels (and sometimes meals) for around $1,000. They also allow you to build your own trip. They have adventure tours for people wanting to hike through Brazil and city and cultural tours through Paris and St. Petersburg.