A Little Tax Relief

It is hard to believe that April is nearly upon us. But, with Easter just around the corner it can mean only one thing: tax time.

If your family is anything like mine, you may be hoping for some kind of tax refund this year. And, if you are, there is a chance you may have already earmarked this money for some kind of upcoming expense – perhaps even a vacation?

This was certainly one of the suggestions that David Bakke, from Money Crashers Personal Finance, made in the “7 Thrifty Strategies to Save on Your Family Vacation” article that we published earlier this year. His argument went a little something like this: if you can manage the rest of the year on just your take-home pay, then why not use what is coming from the tax man to help fund your next vacation?

It is clearly a philosophy that is shared by others – especially those in the tourism industry. In fact, one of my colleagues recently flagged a “1040 De-Stresser” promotion that the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort & Casino is running in honor of National Tax Day. For a one-time rate of $1040 for a four night stay between April 5th and April 30th, guests can enjoy a guaranteed upgrade to an ocean view room with a Sweet Sleeper™ bed. Plus they also receive a half-day “Dolphin Encounter” for two. Better yet, a quick search on Fly.com shows flights to the Bahamas as low as $347 (from New York) right now – so, all in all, a pretty sweet deal.

This got me to thinking about the other travel deals that are out there for folks looking to blow their tax refund on a vacation. For my answer, I turned to Travelzoo. Here is a rundown of three of my favorites.

Galapagos Islands

If you read my Huffington Post article last year about Unusual Places to Stay in 2013 you will know that the Galapagos Islands have long been on my hit list for places to visit. However, instead of a catamaran, why not save nearly $700 by booking a special seven-night land package instead? The only catch is you have to book by March 22.

Jamaica

While I have been to the Caribbean (by way of the Bahamas), I have yet to visit Jamaica. And at just $599 per person, including airfare, I’m particularly drawn to the 3-night Jewel Runaway Beach & Golf Resort deal that is available between now and March 29.

Dominican Republic

In the interest of saving the best for last, it is the Wyndham Resorts’ all-inclusive Dominican Republic deal that made me put in a call to my husband. For just $469 (a 50% savings) you can be sipping Mai Tai’s on the beach, while congratulating yourself on having scored airfare, accommodation and all meals/drinks at a fraction of the cost, compared to the guests around you. (Note this deal also expires March 22).

Feeling inspired, check out some of the other deals on Travelzoo. Or why not roll the dice and just pick a destination based on the cheapest flights from your city?

Featured Image: Accountant Filling Forms Out (Shutterstock.com)

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