Luxury Getaway Ideas on a Budget

Maybe you've got a special occasion looming and you weren't able to make plans ahead of time. Maybe you've decided there's something in your life worth splurging on, but you didn't exactly win the lottery. Whatever the reason, now is the time to seek out a good deal on a great trip. Here are some tips to help you book a luxurious last minute weekend getaway.

Virtual Travel Agents

These services were once a well kept secret, but now thanks to prominent advertising, everyone knows about trip planning services such as Hotwire, Expedia, Travelocity, Priceline and more. These services are still extremely useful tools especially for last minute plans. In case you don't already know, they work by making deals with airlines, hotels and rental car businesses. These businesses turn to these services in an effort to fill their hotel rooms and seats to capacity, ensuring they don't lose any money.

What this means is you get hotel room, planet tickets, and rental cars for a lower price than if you went straight to the companies. It is a win-win situation. The best thing about these services is that you can get everything you need in one place, instead of having to juggle all of your travel needs at the last minute. It also helps you plan financially by showing you the closest thing you'll get to a trip's grand total, versus if you were making several small purchases. It's like having a virtual travel agent without the pressure of having them try to up sale you. I've used several of these services multiple times and I'll always been happy with the results.

If it's a luxurious getaway you are looking for you have control on the star ratings of your hotel and of course the location of your getaway. You may have to make a sacrifice in the quality of plane tickets, but it will be worth it in the end. In other words, you'll be saving money in the right place and reaping all of the benefits in the places where it really counts, your hotel and destination. Do make sure to book two days ahead of time.

Theme Park Resorts

Theme parks may not be the first thing to spring to mind when you hear the word, "luxury," but the times have changed. Many parks offer 5 star experiences, from spas to hotels to restaurants to personalized once-in-a-lifetime service in an effort to draw more adults.

Many theme park resorts have all inclusive stay options and they are almost never booked to capacity. So you can get deals, for example at Walt Disney Luxury hotels or even afford to upgrade from the value level if you book a last minute vacation with them. The same principle applies here they want to fill up their hotels to capacity and are willing to offer you a deal to make that happen.

Because they are all inclusive you can afford a higher level of luxury than you could otherwise. They will even pick up at the airport and take care of your luggage for you. Just make sure to call on the phone and ask them about what kinds of deals and special they have going on.

Spas and Salons

This one can be a little more tricky, but there are still deals to be had. In this case you want to deal directly with the spa you want to stay at, and you'll want to look for another all inclusive experience. Just start googling luxury spas in your area, or choose a couple of ideals destinations that you would want to find a spa, for example Arizona, Nevada, and California have a high population of spa resorts to choose from. Research these spas and if you want to get any even better deal find out when their off season is and make a reservation for that time.

The trick to finding a good deal for a luxurious vacation is to put some work into it. Come up with several possibilities and start making phone calls. There are always deals and discounts, no matter how high end the hotels or experience. This is especially true in this current economy, where many luxury hotels are trying to stay booked to capacity. The trick is to hunt until you find the best deal.

If you could never afford a luxury experience before, now is the time when you can get one for your normal vacation budget. Take advantage of that opportunity while you can.

*As a special note, travel to Hawaii is currently down and many vacations packages including the all inclusive ones are a steal so if you've always wanted to go to Hawaii, now is the time.