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The Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino, British Columbia.
(Photo: Adrian Dorst/Courtesy of Wickaninnish Inn) |
Vacation? Now? Amid the grim economic headlines, vertiginous Dow drops, and shrinking 401(k) balances? On second thought, maybe now is exactly when you need to get away. Here, we have assembled a roster of doom-and-gloom-escaping trips—some dirt cheap, some relatively so, but all great values. There are warm trips, cold trips, and city trips; long trips and short trips; nearby trips and faraway trips. And here’s a silver lining to the financial climate: Hotel discounts abound; gas prices are dropping; and although airfares still tend to be high, there are deals online. If you really can’t take time away, we’ve included an itinerary of foreign-cultural immersion accessible to any MetroCard owner (“Pretend You’re in South America”). At the very least, you can create the illusion of escape.
- Get Some Sun
- Where to find the wildest beach bars and the finest surf breaks from Florida to Nicaragua.
- Wintering in Summerland
- Curl up by a fireplace and spend a third less than you would in July.
- Let It Snow? Absolutely.
- Embrace the season by strapping on skis or just cozying up to a very large fire.
- Blue Ice, Whale Steaks, and Kleinur
- Iceland’s economy may be flailing, but visiting there is more affordable than ever.
- Sample Another City
- The best of what is new, artsy, and delicious in competing concrete jungles.
- European Values
- The Big Three capitals, on a relatively tight budget.
- Pretend You’re in South America…
- Tap into the hip-swaying spirit in one day without leaving town.
- Budget-Travel Tips
- How to save on hotels, flights, and more.