Late August is all about enjoying the last lazy days of summer.  Brunching on the terrace, late afternoon sunbathing in the park, and one last quick getaway is the perfect antidote to the reality of cooler days and longer nights.

The embattled economy works in our favor, at least.  Airlines and hotels are slashing rates to rock bottom levels, so if you have the cash to spare now is the best time to travel!  We saw some hot offers we just had to pass along... but don't forget some spare change for the in-flight potty break ;)

Caribbean & Mexico



* New York to Puerto Rico round trip flights from $105; Delta has similar offers to several other Caribbean destinations for under $200 from NYC!

* Los Angelinos relax at a 4-star resort in either Cancún or Puerto Vallarta for under $500 including flight and 4 nights!

* Toronto to Cancún, flight + 5 nights from $482 (Cdn) per person; upgrade to a luxury hotel for about $75 more!


Island hopping in the Caribbean (photos: Robin Mitchell)

North America

* Explore one of America's most haunted cities!  Savannah, Georgia has survived wars, epidemics, pirates, fires, and every sort of scoundrel the East Coast has seen.  A 4-star hotel in the middle of historic downtown is a screaming deal (pardon the pun) at around $90 per night. 


Spanish moss hangs like ghostly shrouds from the huge oaks shading Savannah's streets (photo: Claire Rahn)

Europe

* Have you seen Barcelona yet?  When British Airways offers $612 for flight + 4 nights, you should! Amsterdam, London, Paris, Milan and Frankfurt are other possible destinations for under $800 per person for flights and hotel from 8 major US departure cities.


Looking down on the city of Grenada from the Alhambra palace in southern Spain (photo: Ali de Bold)

* Toronto departures under $800 include Geneva, Warsaw, and Cannes, but not all packages include hotel stays.


Bright flowers adorning the balcony or windowsill is a charming yet common site in Tuscany, Italy (photo: Ali de Bold)

Southeast Asia

* Vancouver to Bangkok includes your flight plus a 7 night stay for under $1300.


The Prince Palace hotel in Bangkok starts at $47 (Cdn) per night

* If Hong Kong is more to your liking, you will find similar deals also departing from Vancouver.

Cruises

* Fancy a 4-day cruise to the Bahamas?  You can board for as little as $159 from Florida departure points.

* 7 days around the Aegean or Mediterranean sounds pretty nice, too.  Sign us up for $499, departing from Venice, Barcelona, Genoa, and Livorno.

If any of these deals interest you, act fast as they will sell quickly.  Most of these featured packages must be purchased by August 31/09 for travel dates through autumn.

Have you tried a last-minute vacation deal? What was your experience?

by Claire Rahn