Discount spa vacation

I'll pass on the Manolos and the Fendi bags. Travel is my addiction, and eleventh-hour vacations are my favorite way to relax and unwind, especially at this time of year when I want to hold on to summer.

AS EASY AS ONE, TWO, THREE

It's a cinch to take off at a moment's notice. Last spring, for example, I took a spur-of-the-moment trip to Philadelphia, city of sisterly love. A brutal winter in New York had left me with a bad cold and an even worse case of SAD (seasonal affective disorder or, in my case, sister with angry disposition). I knew it was time to either break out or break down.

Motivated by an article about flower shows, I surfed the Internet using the links listed and in minutes found information about one in Philly that sounded interesting. All the hotel packages connected with the show were sold out, but I found a two-nights-for-one deal by calling the hotel's toll-free reservation number. Then I took advantage of a 25-percent discount from Amtrak by making a train reservation on-line just three days in advance. Finally, I logged on to site59.com, which specializes in last-minute deals, to find more information about what to see, where to be seen and where to eat. Bottom line: In just over an hour, I had booked a two-day trip for around $350, all from the comfort of home.

IT CAN PAY TO WAIT

"Procrastination used to mean paying premium prices," says Pamela Johnston, a spokeswoman for site59.com. "But now it can actually pay to wait. Merchants would prefer a full-priced reservation but will release their unsold inventory to on-line discounters to avoid vacancies."

The slumping economy and an anxious travel climate have taken a toll on the travel industry. That means that airlines and hotels have even more seats and rooms they need to fill at the last minute.

BOOKING ON-LINE--THE WAY TO GO

New technology has also made planning easier for spontaneous travelers. You can search for deals by category (beach, cruise, spa), by interest (bird-watching, hiking, gallery hopping), even by desired level of activity (relaxed pace, light adventure).

Using the Internet is the easiest way to compare options quickly. In fact, some of the deals there can only be booked on-line. If you're not connected at borne, you can get access to the World Wide Web at your local library, a cyber cafe or a friend's computer.

Alicia Villarosa is a writer and fitness instructor in Brooklyn.

THE SITES

site59.com: For last-minute traveling (as in fifty-ninth minute), it offers tips on what to do when you get to your destination. Book as far ahead as 14 days of as little as three hours in advance for travel to 76 U.S. cities, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe.

orbitz.com ([888] 656-4546): You'll find unbeatable airfares at this site, which started as a partnership of five airlines and now includes more than 450.

expedia.com ([800] EXPEDIA): A recent partnership with Ticketmaster also allows you to buy tickets to sporting events, concerts and special events.

Other sites to check out; travelnow.com; 11thhour vacations.com ([864] 331-1140); lastminutetravel.com; travelzoo.com.

GENERAL TIPS

* Don't underestimate the amount of information you can find by reading the "frequently asked questions" page.

* Review booking rules. There may be penalties for cancellations.

* If a central location is important, find out where the hotel is before making reservations.

* Most packages are based on double occupancy, so expect to pay slightly more if you're traveling alone.

* Maintain a travel fund so you can jump on great deals. If you save $20 a week, can probably afford two or three trips a year.