By Carissa Bluestone

With the holiday season upon us, prices for flights, car rentals and hotel rooms are climbing steadily by the day. But it’s not too late to book last-minute getaways at a reasonable cost.

In fact, the New York Times’ In Transit blog notes that in the weeks before the Christmas rush last December, car rental rates were 23 per cent lower than average summer prices. These so-called travel “dead zones”—lulls when everyone is busy with school and work before or after major holidays—occur in early December and the first few weeks after New Year’s.

So, although your family may not be keen on seeing you the week before Christmas, you might find an outright bargain on a holiday recovery trip the weekend after New Year’s.

Photo by Q u e n t i n²