My husband and I have an anniversary coming up the end of March. We want to take a 3-4 day "mini vacation" (Thursday afternoon/evening to Sun night or monring moring return).

We have $350 voucher from American that we need to use and would prefer a warm climate. (We just returned in December from London so we've had our fill of cold/rainy palces.) Not Disney or Florida (grew up every summer there).

We can't book until after March 15 in case my job status changes. So, looks like a last minute type package is our best bet. We live in Austin, so we could fly out of here, DFW or SAT easily.

We'd like a place to relax, unwind, spend time together, try new things, new foods, new drinks, maybe go out dancing, etc. Very low key...

We've even thought about a cruise...leaving from Galveston, TX.

We need to keep total expenses to less than $750-1,000 provided we can use the voucher.

Suggestions? Which websites/places have the best last minute deep discounted deals? Are the "package" deals actually better or can you find discounts booking air/hotel separately? (I think though to use the voucher, I can't book an AA Vacation..it has to be straight air only. Does anyone know?)

Please help with any thoughts you may have. Thanks!

How about Phoenix? It should be pretty warm and there are lots of wonderful resorts and hotels. Just a thought.

You've got lots of questions that I can't answer. Once when we were low on cash, we headed to Jamaica. Cheap, fun, sunny. Lots of bargains. Book a place on the cliffs of Negril. Relax.

Is Mexico too close to home? Mexico City can be a lot of fun. Just like Jamaica, it's cheap once you get there.

Thanks for your thoughts. Mexico is not too close. We've thought about Cancun, but I can't find any airfare for less than $375 each and hotels are running over $100 per person.

Jamaica...hmmm. What airports would we fly into? Do you remember the name of the place you stayed?

Oh, yes...how to forget. I stayed in Xtabi (http://www.resorts-jamaica.com/resorts/xtabi/). We had an octagon-shaped apartment overlooking the cliffs -- climb down a ladder and snorkel right there. The hotel would bring us meals that local women made. We'd walk down to "the village" and eat, shop, go to market. You can stay either on the cliffs of Negril, or the beaches. We have beaches in Florida so I've always liked the cliffs. Take a gypsy taxi to the beach area if you like.

I've only flown into Montego Bay via Miami. But I suppose there's other airports, definitely try Kingston.

Always check what's going on there politically. Sometimes things get a little rowdy down there, but most of the time it's "no worry".

If you want more info on Jamaica, post on "Caribbean" where Jamaica fans will see it.

Melissa, there is a really cool motel in Acapulco that sits on a cliff 600 feet over the Pacific Ocean. The pool is situated near the edge so can you imagine the views? All the rooms face the ocean.

It is the Las Flamingos and was the home of Johnny Weissmuler (sp?) the original Tarzan. It was also home to John Wayne and that bunch during the 1940s. It is unbelievably charming and goes for around $60 per night in season!

I had lunch there one afternoon with a good friend who is from Acapulco. He was nice enough to give me and my friends a tour of his hometown. He said it is one of Acapulcos hidden gems most tourists miss.

I would stay there in a heartbeat.

First, think about Priceline as a way of getting good hotels for very cheap rates. New Orleans comes to mind if, again, that's not too close. Save on the hotel, splurge on restaurants. AA has a zillion flights out of DFW, probably easy hops from Austin.

San Juan Puerto Rico is also an easy AA hop and, again, Priceline might get you a good place cheaply.

Other choices that come to mind are Washington DC (might be spring weather), San Diego, Phoenix (a mini-slump after spring training ends), Charleston or Savannah. A mini-cruise out of Galveston or New Orleans is indeed a good idea.

Well, if you want to be really spontaneous, you could always just sign up for the weekly e-mail of American internet specials and watch until there's a good fare to a spot you're interested in & book last minute. I usually see specials from DFW in the e-mail (I think there's a special fare to New Orleans right now)and your Thurs-Sun travel dates fall in line with their date restrictions. If you'd rather pick a place beforehand, I'd vote for Mexico or the Caribbean (Dominican Republic is nice & inexpensive).

I would go on a cruise. Your $350 voucher would cover a ticket to Miami ($298 from DFW) from where you can take a 3 night cruise (departing 3/19 or 3/26) on either Carnival's Fascination or Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas to the Bahamas. Don't know if your $350 coupon can apply to more than one ticket, but if so, that would pay $50+ of the $298 ticket you would have to purchase. The cruise should be no more than $750, with taxes and port charges. That was the price I got online for the Fascination, and I've been told that Carnival is always higher priced than Royal Caribbean, after all the fees are added up. Royal Caribbean's price including port charges is $324 per person, but I could not get a final price online, with all fees included. Leaving about $50 for cabs between the airport and cruise ship dock, that makes the maximum total cost $1,050-1,100, which is slightly over your budget. Of the two, the Majesty of the Seas is probably the nicer ship. I know someone who took this cruise a year ago and said the ship was lovely. Cruise411.com advertises a lowest price guarantee, but I'd also check with Hotwire and other discount sites. There are also 3 day cruises from Los Angeles (to Mexico) and from Port Canaveral (to Bahamas), but the ground transportation costs would be much higher.

Agree with Gabriele's idea to Miami & then a cruise ship. Your meals are paid, entertainment included, not too far away by plane. I don't think RCCL's Majesty is doable as sailing dates are Mon-Fri(4nt) and Fri-Mon(3nt). But it sure is a great ship. Was our 1st cruise and now we try to do 1 per yr. Not sure about Carnival. Good luck.

Or you could even do Miami alone, you can get Miami downtown 4* hotels for $35 via Priceline, south beach will be higher with spring break. www.biddingfortravel.com

How about Vegas? So many different places to stay. Many different budgets. You can choose Mandalay Bay, like the beach, Paris, Venetian, Bellagio, or stay at a reasonable place (MOnte Carlo) and go to all of the different hotels.

The food there is awesome. Lots to do. Great walking town. Shows. Stars, celebrities, shopping. It is a fun place for 3 or 4 days. You don't even need to rent a car so you can get away pretty cheaply if you don't gamble a lot.

I was going to suggest the same idea as the above poster. What about Vegas? You can go there on a tight budget as long as you are not a heavy gambler. I know we've spent under $1,000 on air/hotel to Vegas. That would be a nice weekend getaway vacation. There are lots of hotels to choose from. Vegas always runs specials too.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. Some very good ideas! Hadn't even thought about Miami or Puerto Rico.

Thanks for the thoughts on Vegas, but we've been twice. We've also been to New Orleans. But...how's Reno or Lake Tahoe around the end of March? Still cold or bearable? What is there to do?

Keep the thoughts coming! I'm doing lots of seraching

Have you checked travelzoo . com. I am on their mailing list. They have really good specials, but I have to admit I've never purchased through them...timing was never good, otherwise I would.

I guess you found Jamaica and Mexico to be over the top.

If you're thinking about Miami (good choice) then maybe you would also consider Key West. The other suggestion I have is New Orleans.

Tandoori - Jamaica from here is more than we can afford, but Mexico is still a possibility. I've seen $79 airfare on worryfreevacations.com on a last minute deal the last couple of weeks. Anyone ever book thru them?

The hotel in Acapulco suggested by GoTravel sounds like what we'd like, but I can't find their website or #. I can only find thru travelhero, etc. I've posted on the Latin America board, but know one's biting...

Latin American board is the right one but your post is a bit diffused. Get to the point or no one will open it up. Try this: MEXICO ACAPULCO HOTEL RECs???

Keep trying. I know you'll get what you need -- it's definitely out there. Mexico has a lot to offer -- great money value. Good luck.

I used to have the website for the Hotel Los Flamingos and I tried for an hour the other night to find the thing.

Have you read the reports on TripAdvisor.com? They are all glowing. I wish I even had photos to send you.

Let me look and I'll try and post.

Mellissa, if you want to cruise, you can go to Mexico out of Galveston. RCCL or Carnival. I think vacationstogo.com has last minute "countdowns" on cruises... The closer you get to the departure, the lower the prices get on cabins. You can just drive to Galveston and take a 3 day cruise.

Also, where on earth have you found airfare to Mexico for $375??? Last year I couldn't find anything uncer $600!

Another thought would be phoenix. On SW it's just a short (non-stop) flight.