by James Johnson

Created on: July 29, 2008   Last Updated: July 21, 2009

Is work piling up and you just need a break? Maybe you need to spend some quality time with the family or suddenly a few days space opens up in your busy schedule.It could be that your accumulative vacation leave has finally filled up so you won't get any more until you take a vacation, and everyone needs a break and it needs to be now! Time to head out of the office for a few days, so look for that last minute vacation deal and take it! Your next big deadline or job isn't for two weeks and you need to be relaxed and ready to do your best.

How do you go about finding those last minute vacation deals? How do you get the best value for dollars? After all, no need to waste that hard earned cash if you don't have to! First and foremost, start your networking by asking friends and family for ideas, most will be pleased that you are taking time off and value their opinion. They should know your likes and interests plus have been places you haven't. Then you continue by using the two things that every businessman (and virtually every child) knows about, the Internet and the telephone.

First go to the Internet and type in "Best Vacation Deals", you can get close to 500,000 options! You can narrow it down by choosing a general site such as TripAdvisor.com, Priceline.com, or vacationpackagesbest.com. Then shorten it to a few areas of the world that those acquaintances recommended, pick somewhere close unless you want to spend a lot of time traveling. Then check out the different destinations and the services offered at each place, again use your networking by asking your family or call a few friends for suggestions, they may decide to join you. You can now go sites such as Expedia or Orbitz and check out discount airfares, many airlines offer last minute specials to fill empty planes, plus you can use the air miles from previous trips.

Now it is time to use the telephone and make some calls. Many resorts and most smaller hotels will give sizable discounts to a last minute booking if they have empty rooms. This tendency for discounts is true especially if the person calls, emails aren't the same. Calling tells them you are serious and not just making general inquiries; it is the personal touch that both you as a businessman and the place you are calling can appreciate. Many properties will frequently give sizable discounts just to recover costs as they have to pay the staff any way, the hotel will hope to make it up from you on food and drinks. Angle for at least a 20% discount over Internet rates; you will probably get 10% to 15%, but well worth the price of the calls.

The problems with finding or getting last minute vacation deals? It is the last minute and they may not be there! Planes are frequently full going to the Caribbean in December and so are the hotels. You can still try, but don't be surprised if the place says it is already full, ask for their suggestions on nearby properties. If you are heading down in September, look for even better deals! Also you will possibly need to pay at the booking time.

So talk to your friends and escape from work a bit. Then check out those last minute vacation deals, they are there, worth the money and they aren't really that hard to find!

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