By: Amanda Bloye, FW Writer

With the most frightening of holidays around the corner, the
only thing scarier is being stuck here in the cold or paying full
price for a mediocre getaway. Yes, there is no better time than
the present to plan your escape for a fall vacation.

Haunting Finds
Across the US are destinations not for the
faint of heart. For the thrill seeker in all of us,
there are haunted destinations at eerily low
prices. For example, in New Orleans at the Hotel
Monteleone, guests have reported ghost sightings
and chills while walking through the halls at
night. For $565 guests are treated to the Haunted
Weekend package, which includes two nights
deluxe adult accommodation, meals, cocktails
and a murder mystery. For more information visit
www.hotelmonteleone.com/haunted08.htm.

Another great stop sure to scare is Salem,
Massachusetts. Home of the executions of the
1692 Salem witch trials, the town is teeming with
spirits and eerie vibes. Come Halloween, Salem
plays host to haunted house tours, pumpkin
festivals and movie screenings. For more
information on events, history and lodging visit
www.hauntedsalem.com.

Last Minute Luxury
Some of the most alluring of vacations lie in
the heart of the Caribbean. Offering up a platter
of sun, sand and fun, all-inclusive trips are the
quintessential go-to travel destination. Although
October is one of the most expensive times to
travel south, if you are patient enough to wait
for a last minute deal you won’t be disappointed.
First, pick your range of days that you want to
leave. Then, with flexibility in mind, keep your
eyes on the travel section in your local paper and
online travel sites. When considering last minute
travel, the best time to book is one to two weeks
before you plan to leave. Any closer and you run
the risk of limited options and an increased price.
Great sites to check out are www.selloffvacations.
com, www.expedia.ca, www.travelzoo.com and
www.itravel2000.com. Another option is to
search “travel deals” in Google or Yahoo and
choose from thousands of website options.