"No Destination" Vacation
 

My husband and I are contemplating not making advance vacation plans and "winging it." Our vacation is last week in August. We live on the east coast and there are many destinations we have never seen. Last minute airfares seem very inexpensive. Would like to take advantage. Would be interested hearing from anyone who has traveled "at the last minute" with success. <BR>In addition, any good websites for airfare, etc. is appreciated. Eight or nine days is maximum for this vacation.

There are a number of different resources for airfare, and the intra-Europe carriers versus the trans-atlantic are generally not the same (though there are exceptions, of course, like SpanAir, for example). What countries do you have in mind?

Rex, <BR> <BR>We have no particular countries as favorites. Prefer to fly out of Phila. or Newark (round trip). Am looking for good web resource or any endorsement from Fodorites who have had success with 'last minute' travel.

I, for one, think this is the most exhilirating type of travel!! For cheap airfare, you may want to look at some of the discount travel brokers you see in the Travel section of your Sunday paper...I usually purchase my tickets through them. As far as places to go, we usually decide on the fly; jump in a train and go to Italy; or to Barcelona, etc. It is really exciting. Never have had a problem finding cheap accomodations in any of the places either. My favorites in Europe are Paris, Prague, Cinque Terre, Eger (Hun) and all of Spain.

I had success with www.go-today.com. It includes air, hotel and hotel shuttle, however it may limit you to one city. You do have the option to stay extra days at not much of an extra cost, and you can extend your hotel stay as well. I would also visit smarterliving.com and sign up to receive its weekly last minute deals via email.