Michael Martin
8) Gites and Villas
It may sound provincial, but renting a French Gites during the holiday season is surprisingly affordable, utterly charming, and quite convenient given the travel time from New York. For those looking for more sun or something more glamorous, villa rentals in the South of France are deeply discounted during the off-season, with last-minute availability that's surprisingly affordable.
Sites such as Ownerdirect.com and VRBO.com offer premium vacation rentals with low fees and surprisingly good selections of luxury homes. With a variety of destinations and options, be studious about looking at photos and coordinating details with the owner, as many of these fees are paid in advance and nonrefundable. 10) Just Use Them
After accumulating all those impossible-to-use American Express(AXP Quote - Cramer on AXP - Stock Picks) and Delta(DAL Quote - Cramer on DAL - Stock Picks) miles, perhaps a more practical alternative would be to redeem the miles for hotel stays. With fewer blackout dates, a weak dollar and sky-high holiday rates, a one-night stay at a Park Hyatt or a Starwood(HOT Quote - Cramer on HOT - Stock Picks) Luxury Collection property may be a better value than that elusive round-trip airline ticket.
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