it's time for the great escape.

Float Your Troubles Away

You can visit several places but only unpack once when you choose a weekend cruise. The blend of ocean-blue waters, beautiful shorelines, and exotic-land excursions may be just what you need for stress therapy. There is much to consider when choosing the cruise that's right for you. Each cruise line has several different ships with different atmospheres and features, as well as destinations. From moderate to luxurious, cruise lines usually offer a wide range of preferences for active singles, couples, families, first-timers. They specialize in grand performances, feasts, adventure, or romance. If you want to party, Carnival Cruises are a popular choice; If you want peace, try Renaissance Cruises which touts a kid-free environment. If you want to take the kids along, Disney Cruises are packed with fun-filled activities and wide-eyed wonderment. From theme cruises to those with an educational twist, you can groove as you move with jazz and blues or learn a new skill such as golf, cooking, or even French. Before booking your trip you might want to check out cruise-opinion.com for travelers' ratings on categories such as food, cabin comfort, entertainment, ports of call, and much more.

First Resorts

Spa connoisseurs know the difference between a shiatsu and a swedish massage. Most of us don't care. We just want to be pampered and soothed. Across the United States and throughout the Caribbean Islands, health and fitness spa resorts are growing in popularity and sophistication. If you enjoy relaxing body wraps, baths, facials, and other healthy therapeutic treatments, weekend getaway specials abound in some very aesthetic locales. Miami's Doral Golf Resort & Spa, The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Charlie's Spa at the Sans Souci in Ocho Rios, Jamaica are examples of exceptional world-class spas that are easy to get to and that offer a full menu of services. Spamagazine.com lists spa reviews and a host of current information on special deals to help you find the best spa nearest you.

If you'd rather make strokes than be stroked, maybe it's time for your first golf or tennis lesson, or to take your game to a new level, or at least to a better place. At tee time, wouldn't you rather be swinging on the green of your dreams? Tee time specials at warm and sunny locales often include: accommodations, green fees, breakfast, club storage, and extras such as golf visors and a daily bucket of balls. Visit golfpacinc.com for course recommendations based on your skill level, for men and women, as well as current travel specials. Tennisresortsonline.com matches your game and budget with the resort that best fits all of your criteria, and the site includes reviews and travel details.

Staying Inn

If a local destination is the draw, a cozy Bed & Breakfast is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the cultural flavor and to get first hand information about the best the location has to offer. Findabnb.com provides a state by state listing of B&Bs with links to home pages so you can see pictures and get detailed information. Be sure to ask the innkeeper for information about interesting places, events, tours, and restaurants to visit to help you with your travel planning before you go. They may even be able to help you get tickets to special events. If your B&B destination begins with a scenic drive, go to falconoutdoors.com for road maps, highlights, and accommodations.

Tips For The Great Escape

If you're making a break for it, be sure to be prepared for a clean getaway.

Here are a few important considerations:

* Take a weather check at weather.com to be sure conditions are ideal for your getaway of choice.

* You want to get there quick so you don't spend most of your brief but valuable time arriving and departing to your dream destination. Especially if driving, unless it is part of your adventure, make sure you don't have to go too far.

* If you can't book your travel in advance, visit one of these Websites which offer last-minute savings on select destinations: continental.com, [e-mail], findabnb.com, previewtravel.com.

* Be sure to make all necessary arrangements and reservations before you go so you don't waste a moment of your leisure time once you get there.

You know what time it is when

* You have asked that question several times in the last hour.

* You are easily distracted from the task at hand.

* You begin sounding like a hypochondriac, self-diagnosing aches and pains as fatal diseases.

* You see an unused block of time on the horizon.

We all talk about how we need to take a break, to relieve stress -- to get away from it all. If you try to plan for it, it's never a good time, like when to start a family, go back to school, or workout. Well, now it's time to stop talking about it and just do it. We're here to help you book the ideal weekend escape for romance, adventure, or pure relaxation. Either way, breaking out of your routine and getting into a new scene is what a getaway is all about.