Forget the “Staycation”

Have you been reading for the second season now about why a staycation might be the ticket for summer travel? If you're looking for a real rest, one that will leave you feeling energetic and ready to tackle work, you probably know that spending time at home away from the boss is less than effective. Since there are so many great deals running for the rest of 2009, this is a smart time to book a short vacation and save. Forget the staycation and go for a “real” vacation--one that counts.

Stick Closer to Home, Not at Home
Staying nearby is a genius idea when it comes to saving money for vacations, but you don't need to stay in town. There are so many local drives for tourists to take to nearby spots (remember our Six-Figure Towns?), so you won't need to splash out on airfare if you don't want to do so. If you have a slightly larger budget, you've got to ask about last-minute airfare deals, because you might just be surprised. Nothing beats the feeling of having saved bundles on a vacation!

Canada and the Caribbean are both smart places to vacation if you need to take a short break. Montreal lends the magic and elegance of Europe to an area of closer proximity to the States, and you can find lots of old glamour hotels with beautiful rooms and great amenities for every guest. With sand and surf in the Caribbean, and the Bahamas being located extremely close to Florida, you have a chance to soak up the sun somewhere exotic—and still save money! Two great resorts on Paradise Island in Nassau include The Cove Atlantis, and One&Only Ocean Club.

Don't Forget to Look Up
When we think about saving money on vacations, we might picture budget hotels or staying at home. Did you know that luxury properties are currently slashing prices on rooms or offering added value. WhataHotel.com's features some of the best hotels & resorts on the planet, most of which offer guests who book across the site Exclusive Complimentary Perks. You certainly can't find that on any of the popular search sites.

Some of WhataHotel!'s best deals running right now can be accessed on their “Specials” page, which highlights all of their limited-time deals. You can get a third night free, for example, at the Four Seasons Hotel Miami, or you can claim a $1234 credit if you choose to stay at Four Seasons, Punta Mita, at which the Exclusive Complimentary Perks can be combined by booking across WhataHotel.com. For all the specials that beat out a staycation, just check out the luxury hotel Specials .

Forget that staycation, and go somewhere you'll never forget—for less!