December is a good time of year to get a deal on a beach vacation -- in some places for as much as 50 percent off, says Jason Clampet, senior online editor for Frommers.com.
"The period from Thanksgiving to about the 20th of December is always a cheaper time to travel because no one's really traveling at that time," he says. "There are always real bargains, especially to the Caribbean."
One recent Caribbean deal he reviewed was $345 per person for three nights through Dec. 24 -- about half of what it will be 30 days later. Clampet says, "You can't do that in January."