When it comes to spending our hard-earned vacation time, many of us have a clear picture of where we’d like to go. That could be a sandy beach, a secluded cabin in the woods, city lights with a bustling nightlife, or many other creative places to visit. Whatever choice we make, there really is a benefit to being flexible with your destinations. There are so many great travel websites out there that can provide you with inspiration AND great deals. This is especially true if you have not found that ideal spot yet and do not have a specific plan. That is the perfect time to start considering your options and dreaming the dream.

Getting You Started

Airbnb is a fabulous way to hunt for unique places to stay throughout the world. Their website boasts accommodations in 34,000 cities, 1,400 castles, 191 countries, and over 2,000,000 listings. One feature that sets Airbnb apart from the competition is that there are places to stay in every price range. Recently, there was a caravan guest room in France for $37 per night! In addition to some great prices, there is the opportunity to live in a way that is authentic to the particular destination, so those who love to experience local culture can soak it in and truly experience it.

The Flyertalk forums are a fabulous way to score super-cheap flights, hotel rooms, and more. You don’t actually book your trip from Flyertalk, but there are a myriad of folks, from those working in the industry to those who scour the internet for the deals, posting consistently in the forums. If you don’t have a specific destination in mind, it’s a great way to find some last-minute deals or bargain-basement prices.

Kayak is another helpful site. It is pretty well known, and there is a good reason for that. First of all, it’s a simple way to book flights, hotels, and automobiles all in one place. Secondly, the site is incredibly easy to use. However, there’s a feature that’s a personal favorite for many, and that is the “packages” section. If you have a region or city to which you’d like to travel, Kayak can give you some spectacular package deals. If you are really flexible, scroll down and scan through some of the great options featured in this section.

Another excellent site is the site that you are on right now, DirJournal.com! There are many local businesses and places of interest listed right here, ready for you to navigate and choose.

Some Places You May Not Have Considered Before Today

In a recent search, I found great deals for many unique places. Some may come to mind right away and some help with the suggestion to visit the exotic places that hadn’t crossed your mind before this.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas keeps it new and exciting by always offering something for everyone and also by recycling their buildings. Seriously. After a certain number of years (or decades) you will hear that such-and-such a casino is gone, and a new, bigger, and better one has been built. It is not hard to see how the lights and floorshows can excite anyone, from any age. Las Vegas is one of the easier places from which to find package deals. So, if time is limited, but you are still looking for that deal, Las Vegas may be one to add to your list.

Pakistan

Pakistan includes many beautiful countryside visits. There are so many beautiful places that are almost unknown to the local tourist. It is a good idea to find a local guide who can help you put together the perfect itinerary to visit Pakistan and all of its beauty.

Dubai

Dubai is another one of those destinations that may not have thought of, originally, but you can tell, even looking at the photo, above, that it has a lot to offer in exotic experiences. There is a web site dedicated to just that, a listing of the fun things to do in Dubai.

Iceland

We can’t forget about the music festivals and intriguing Icelandic horses of Iceland. They are a creature in and of themselves and while in the “horse family,” deserve respect on their own merits. However, there are many other reasons that Iceland deserves to be checked out and added to the list, as shown in this DirJournal article.

Final Thoughts

The bottom line is that having flexible vacation plans can lead to big savings and fun vacation options. More than that, it can lead to meaningful memories. At the time, it may just seem like an exiting vacation, but picture yourself a couple of decades down the road recalling this and that and especially the romantic or comedic moments on that dream vacation. That is what makes it truly priceless, in a forever sort of way.