The first weekend in August strikes fear in many a heart. The summer vacation clock is ticking down. But thanks to the Net, there’s still plenty of time to schedule that last minute vacation …

Months of planning and waiting is great for those who appreciate the anticipation, but for those who love to live for the moment, it’s tough to beat the rush of a last minute vacation.

When you book that last minute vacation, it’s ready, steady, lets go … pack half as many clothes and twice as much money, because whatever you really need you can always buy it when you get there. (Hint: Travel light and pack an extra expandable bag.)

Try leaving your laptop at home, if you can bear it. I’ve lightened my load considerably since deciding to forgo the notebook whenever its possible. A good email-capable cell phone (or better yet, a Treo, Sidekick, or Blackberry) will keep you in the loop.

Look in the right places, and you’ll find a last minute vacation package for all the hot spots … Hawaii, Las Vegas, Mexico, the Caribbean, Orlando, you name it. Many travel web sites offer a host of choices for complete packages, as well as a la carte hotels and flights.

Itching for some time at sea? If you’re a seaworthy sun worshipers, a last minute vacation cruise just might be your ticket to nirvana.

The web wipes away the memories of those bad old days, back when we were caught in the clutch of the traditional travel agent. All the info you need is just a hyper link away.

Forget waiting for those printed tickets. E-tickets are the tickets for those last minute jaunts.

[tags]last minute vacation[/tags]