Guide To Last-Minute Planning Trips

If you happened to be stuck with a rush planning for a trip, the following tips might help:

• Go check hotwire.com's Tripstarter and check the best and least expensive months to visit.
• Download tripstalker.com or subscribe to farealert.net. This way, you can track prices for a specific flight and alert you to fare movements.
• If you have various itineraries, try itasoftware.com that combines cities with airlines. Take note: You can't book tickets through the site, so take your search results to a travel agent.
• When reserving a last-minute ski holiday, be prepared to pa upfront. Most ski resorts consider booking within 90 days to be "close in" which means they require more than a deposit.
• Going for a cruise? Better book with a travel agent, not online - to access blocked off staterooms, or sit tight for "wave season" between January and April. This season are when cruise lines offer early booking rates off up to 50% off.