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    How to Plan a Last-Minute Vacation

    By | Work + Money – Fri, May 27, 2011 5:17 PM EDT

    by Chantal Martineau, REDBOOK

    Everyone's buzzing about the summer plans they made... in February. You remain silent (and scream inside). But it's okay - just pretend you held off on purpose, because planning a trip late is the best way to find deals!

    First, Think Beyond Disney
    Remember, it's summertime not only for your family but for every family in America, which means the classic popular spots will be packed. "Brainstorm destinations that aren't on everyone else's list," says Jaime Samuels, publisher of the Travelzoo Top 20 newsletter and Newsflash email alerts. Cancún is always a hot spot, but the nearby Riviera Maya is quieter, with lots of great deals on family-friendly and all-inclusive resorts, many of which offer promotions allowing up to two kids to stay for free. Paris and other major European cities can be expensive in peak summer months, but prices tend to drop in late August and early September. "Ski destinations in summer are also a fun, less expensive twist," says Angela Lyda, senior editor of travel-ticker.com. "You can go hiking with the kids in Aspen or do water sports in Lake Tahoe."

    Related: Stress-Free Summer Getaway Guide

    Check Your Networks
    Social media is a great down-to-the-wire tool. "From discounts and giveaways to real-time travel deals, it's becoming easier to have other people bring information to you via Facebook or Twitter," Lyda says. On Facebook, you can "like" or "friend" travel sale aggregators such as Airfarewatchdog or Best Travel Deals. And if you needed a good reason to join Twitter, now you have it: The site is loaded with discounts and last-minute bargains. Follow travel experts, websites, even hotels and airlines (@traveldeals and @JetBlueCheeps are two great resources). Also, search for popular hash tags like #TravelTuesday to find the latest offers.

    Related: 5 Easy Tricks for Sexy Summer Hair

    Remember Travel Agents? Use One
    If you don't have time to trawl websites, travel expert Mark Murphy recommends enlisting an agent to do the heavy lifting and help you weed out hidden charges, like resort fees for "complimentary" newspapers and gym access. If surrendering all control freaks you out, check out Murphy's website, traveltribe.com, where you can post questions to agents and other experts who'll respond (for free) within 24 hours.


    Read more: The Best Last Minute Vacation Deals

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