More Bang for Your Buck: Cheap Travel

WSVN -- Fashion Week in the Big Apple is less than two weeks away, and everyone who's anyone has already booked a flight and hotel.

Cece Feinberg: "I will be going to do two fashion shows there I'll be leaving on Feb. 4, and I'll be there through the ninth, actually."

But Cece Feinberg, a PR agent for a fashion company just found out she had to go. Meaning she had to book at the last minute.

Cece Feinberg: "Because an editor decided she wanted to see the collection, and I have to go and show it."

Something she has to do all the time.

So she's learned to save money by using the internet for deals.

And lately she's been using a site called Lastminute.com.

Cece Feinberg: "If you're booking something within a week, it's great. You just go on, and you can do everything. You can book the hotel, you can book a package -- whatever you need."

Last Minute -- and other sites like Kayak.com and Sidestep -- work just like any other online site. You enter your destination and when you want to travel.

At the click of a mouse you get packages ideal for those looking to pinch pennies while watching the clock.

"I found a flight."

These sites can offer such steals because they are taking seats the airlines have been unable to fill.

Roberta Schwartz: "Generally you'll find that the suppliers are willing to let that inventory go at the last minute for a lower price, just to get some kind of revenue."

Travel and Tourism professor Roberta Schwartz says there is a downside.

Roberta Schwartz: "I think, like everything with the web, you get sucked in. You look up, it's an hour later, and you haven't made any decision yet."

Instead, save time by knowing where you want to go before you log on.

For busy execs like Cece, the online sites are a perfect solution.

Cece Feinberg: "It's just under $400 to stay at the W in NY and that includes flight and hotel package. That's a really good deal, actually."

Tom Haynes: "And another tip: If you're just looking for a getaway for the weekend, the sites offer specials leaving from where you live -- you can just pick one based on the price.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Last Minute
www.lastminute.com 

Kayak
www.kayak.com

Sidestep
www.sidestep.com