As the recessed (depressed? repressed?) economy doesn't seem likely to bounce back any time soon and the cost of oil remains high, vacation is the last thing on most people's minds. With the summer nearing its end, hotels and resorts are starting to get a little desperate, offering customers everything from free gas cards to free meals, room upgrades to discount tickets. If you have a little money to spend and feel like getting the hell out of Dodge, this might be the perfect time to do it.

Endless Vacation Rentals is a particularly good site for finding travel deals. Basically a portal for Wyndham, a luxury hotel/resort chain, the site is currently offering some incredible prices for a wide variety of vacation destinations. If you feel like hitting the sand, Endless Vacation will rent you a studio apartment in Daytona that sleeps four and is right on the beach. The price for a week is roughly $350. If your tastes tend to the more exotic, Wyndham offers everything from villas in Italy to cottages in the Cotswolds, all at prices that are surprisingly reasonable. Alternately, if you're in the mood for something a little less expensive and a lot closer to home, Endless Vacations has deals across the country.

While I'm not rolling in the dough, I have to admit that $439 for a week in the Bahamas sounds pretty good...

Bruce Watson is a freelance writer, blogger, and all-around cheapskate. His last vacation, which took place on beautiful, sunny Long Island, left something to be desired.