10 great last-minute summer getaways

Haven't made your vacation plans yet? Lucky you. This year the best deals come to those who waited.

1. Maui
WHY IT'S A DEAL
The slump in high-end travel and bankruptcies of ATA and Aloha airlines hurt tourism so much that this normally pricey destination is the cheapest it's been in years. You can fly from L.A. to Maui for as little as $340 roundtrip, 30% less than last year. And at resorts, "there are discounts like I've never seen," says Judi Chaitman of Great Getaways Travel.
WHAT TO DO
As the locals say, "Maui no ka oi" - Maui is the best. Enjoying white-sand beaches and temps in the 80s, you'll see why scores of honeymooners (and second-honeymooners) agree. Take your blanket and your sweetie to see the sunrise atop Haleakala, a dormant volcanic crater.
WHERE TO STAY
Luxury hotel: Four Seasons Resort Maui (fourseasons.com). Nearly all rooms at this five-star hotel have an ocean view; rates start at $495 a night, but the fifth night is free.
Mid-range hotel: Hyatt Maui (hyatt.com). Rates at this beachfront resort start at $260 vs. $437 last year.

2. Vancouver
WHY IT'S A DEAL
A stronger U.S. buck means Canada is 20% cheaper this summer. Plus, Vancouver has a glut of pristine new hotel rooms as it readies for the 2010 Winter Olympics, says Sheri Doyle of Pacific Northwest Journeys.
WHAT TO DO
Thanks to its innovative chefs and multicultural population, Vancouver is a foodie's paradise. Pick up a picnic lunch at the Granville Island Public Market, then stroll along the Seawall Promenade for views of the Coast Mountains and Pacific Ocean. Have dinner at Tojo's one night, Lumière the next.
WHERE TO STAY
Luxury hotel: Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel (panpacific.com). This hotel on the harbor starts at $262 a night, with choice of free breakfasts or upgrade.
Mid-range hotel: Pacific Palisades (pacificpalisadeshotel.com). Rooms at this city-center boutique hotel start at $199; stay three nights and get 30% off.

3. New York City
WHY IT'S A DEAL
According to NYC & Company, the Big Apple will play host to 10% fewer visitors this year than last. Hotels have responded by reducing rates as much as 20%.
WHAT TO DO
The arts scene here is as happening as ever, and now you'll have it more to yourselves. Hit the big museums along Fifth Avenue. (Don't miss the Francis Bacon retrospective at the Met, through Aug. 16.) Then go gallery hopping in Chelsea. Check chelseaartgalleries.com for openings.
WHERE TO STAY
Luxury hotel: The Loews Regency (loewshotels.com). Blocks from Central Park and many museums, Loews has a weekender package with rates starting at $289 a night, including breakfast and parking.
Mid-range hotel: Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers (starwoodhotels.com). Stay two weekend nights and get a third free at this Midtown hotel; rates start at $195.

4. Alaska (by cruise)
WHY IT'S A DEAL
Alaska is most temperate in July and August - highs range from 60° F to 80° F - so discounts on summer cruises are rare. But a decline in bookings has led to a steep drop in prices this year, especially on the biggest ships.
WHAT TO DO
Cruises are an easy way to see Alaska's natural beauty. Explore by day - kayak in a mountain lake, hike in an ice cave, and helicopter to the top of a glacier - and return to the creature comforts of the ship at night. A popular route is the Inside Passage, where you may spot humpback whales and harbor seals.
WHICH LINES TO TAKE
Luxury hotel: Regent Seven Seas (rssc.com). On this luxury line, all cabins have balconies, and you can go two-for-one with free airfare on seven-day cruises booked by June 30; prices start at $3,295 per person based on double occupancy.*
Mid-range hotel: Celebrity (celebritycruises.com). Save up to 50% off published rates; a seven-day cruise in June costs $499 per person, down from $999.
*A previous version of this story listed incorrect prices for Regent Seven Seas cruises booked by June 30. Prices start at $3,295 per person based on double occupancy.

5. Jackson Hole, Wyomin
WHY IT'S A DEAL
"High-end ranches here normally sell out a year in advance - you'd be out of luck if you waited till now to book," says Caroline Bach Wood of Brownell Travel. With a recession on, however, there are vacancies ... and deals.
WHAT TO DO
Jackson Hole is a resort town with Western character, right down to its ranch-style resorts. These offer stunning valley or mountain vistas (the Grand Tetons are on the edge of town), plus activities like horseback riding and hiking.
WHERE TO STAY
Luxury hotel: Spring Creek Ranch (springcreekranch.com). Get a fourth night free, most of the summer, at this ranch set on a wildlife sanctuary. Rates start at $550 a night.
Mid-range hotel: Goosewing Ranch (goosewingranch.com). Stay in a cabin on a working ranch. Rates are 30% off Aug. 23 to Sept. 27; three nights for two people with meals and activities start at $612.

6. Smoky Mountains
WHY IT'S A DEAL
The real estate meltdown has put more rentals on the market in this scenic region on the Tennessee/North Carolina border. Discounts will deepen as the summer goes on, says Christine Karpinski, author of How to Rent Vacation Properties by Owner. (So you don't undo your savings in airfare, price out flying to Atlanta or Nashville - and driving the three-odd hours - vs. flying to closer but smaller McGhee Tyson or Asheville airports.)
WHAT TO DO
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has 800 miles of trails, which you can explore on foot, bike, or horseback. Discover waterfalls; enjoy the wildflowers; catch a glimpse of deer, elk, and bear. Don't miss the white-water rafting in Bryson City, N.C.
WHERE TO STAY
House rental: Find listings at bearlyrustic.com. For $834 a week you can get a two-bedroom house that sleeps six, with a hot tub and a waterfall.

7. Rockland, Maine
WHY IT'S A DEAL
Less touristy than other coastal Maine towns, Rockland has long been a better value - and recession discounts make it even more attractive this summer. If you plan to fly, your most economical option is to land in Portland and drive the two hours.
WHAT TO DO
Rockland is the perfect spot to launch an exploration of Penobscot Bay. Take a windjammer cruise. Or ferry over to Monhegan Island, the sea cliffs of which were famously painted by Edward Hopper. Visit the island's wildlife sanctuary, which boasts more than 600 kinds of wildflowers and 200 species of birds.
WHERE TO STAY
Luxury hotel: Samoset Resort (samosetresort.com). Surrounded by a golf course and offering ocean views from most rooms, the Samoset has reduced room rates to as low as $129 a night this June vs. $269 normally.
Mid-range hotel: Captain Lindsey House Inn (lindseyhouse.com). Two nights with champagne and a $50 meal voucher start at $332, and you're only a block from the water

8. Las Vegas
WHY IT'S A DEAL
With businesses canceling Vegas junkets en masse, hotel rates are down 35% from last year, reports Hotwire.
WHAT TO DO
Sin City is surprisingly family-friendly (and well air-conditioned). Kids will love the free circus acts at Circus Circus Hotel, the elaborate hotel pools, the Adventuredome amusement park, and shows like Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil.
WHERE TO STAY
Luxury hotel: Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas (fourseasons.com). Stay two nights in this kid-friendly hotel - no casino - get a third free; $279 a night and up.
Mid-range hotel: Luxor (luxor.com). Rooms in this pyramid-shaped hotel start at $65 a night and come with a $20 spa credit and $30 dining credit.

9. Disneyland Anaheim
WHY IT'S A DEAL
If you want to do Disney, Anaheim - not Orlando - is where the real bargains are right now. Proof: an unprecedented "buy three nights, get two free" offer, which includes park tickets. Book by Aug. 11.
WHAT TO DO
The rides. Duh, Dad.
WHERE TO STAY
Luxury hotel: Disneyland's Paradise Pier Hotel (disneyland.com). With the promo, a five-night stay for four at this hotel overlooking Disney's California Adventure Park is $1,738 with park tickets.
Mid-range hotel: Embassy Suites Anaheim South (embassysuites.com) A mile from Disneyland, this suite-style hotel has a four-night rate for two adults and two kids of $1,438, with park tickets.

10. Michigan's Upper Peninsula
WHY IT'S A DEAL
Demand for rentals on the UP is lower than in past years, says vacation-home expert Karpinski. The towns of Houghton, Drummond Island, Munising, and St. Ignace offer some of the best deals, she adds.
WHAT TO DO
Refreshingly untouristy, the UP is a perfect place to bond with family while bunking together in a waterfront cabin. Rentals are spacious. And there's plenty of shoreline to choose from: This 320-mile-long landmass is bordered by Lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan. Fish off your dock and hope to catch dinner.
WHERE TO STAY
House rental: Find rentals at homeaway.com. For $1,795 a week, you can get a three-bedroom 1,600-square-foot cabin on Lake Superior that sleeps 10.
- Money Magazine May 20 2009