From Faith Middleton: There are last minute winter vacation getaways. You can find great hotel rooms in major cities. And locate cheap ski lift tickets.
Travel + Leisure magazine's Trip Doctor, Amy Farley, is a tipster to follow for cheap flights, seat changes, and the best online sources for all kinds of travel deals.
Farley's Trip Doctor advice is valuable because the magazine says it refuses to take freebies from the travel industry and its associated services.
In the latest Trip Doctor column there is advice on where to go for a quick island getaway: Antigua, Providenciales of Turks and Caicos, Aruba, Florida's Sanibel Island, and Kauai.
How far in advance should you book a flight for the best deal? The Trip Doctor says three months out until three weeks before your departure.
What sites will watch fares for you? Amy Farley says Airfarewatchdog, CheapAir, and FareCompare.
Need a pet-friendly cruise? The Trip Doctor recommends Cunard's Queen Mary 2, which takes dogs and cats on some transatlantic crossings, supervised by a full-time kennel master and offering liberal visiting hours.
Are you seeking affordable ski lift tickets? The Trip Doctor says go to a resort's website first, which can yield up to forty percent off window prices. To comparison shop, Doc says, go to Liftopia. If you're up for a flight to Colorado, Keystone lets kids ski for free if you spend just two or more nights at any of its resorts.
For hotel room availability, the site Hipmunk compiles last-minute deals and rock-bottom prices for unsold rooms up to seventy-two hours ahead of arrival, says Amy Farley.
Join the conversation by email, on Twitter, or on Facebook.
GUEST:
- Amy Farley is Travel + Leisure magazine's Trip Doctor.
MUSIC:
- “Gne Gne,” Montefiori Cocktail
- “Are You Gonna Go My Way?” Lenny Kravitz
- “Where the Streets Have No Name,” U2
- “Yellow Bridges,” El Ten Eleven
