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With so many tools at the traveler's disposal today, planning last-minute vacations is almost an art. It used to be that making numerous phone calls to far-flung places or going to a travel agent were the only options for those planning a last-minute trip. But now online travel aggregators and company web searches put more information at our fingertips than ever. How does the last-minute traveler best take advantage of this technology and skillfully plan a vacation at the last second?

Booking a last minute cruise requires balancing spontaneity with preparation. Scenes from 1950s screwball comedies notwithstanding, you won't be running up to the cruise ship's gangplank just as it's about to be pulled up and getting aboard, no matter how urgent your reason. But with a little research, you might be embarking Saturday on a cruise, even though you just thought about it on Monday, and you could save money as well.

Here are a few tips on how to find last minute cruises:

So you're thinking about going to South Padre Island for some summer fun, but you made the decision at the last minute? Families, college students, and adventure seekers all may get sucked into the fun that is South Padre Island with little advance notice. AOL Travel knows this and is here to help you find last minute travel deals to South Padre Island.

Planning a last minute trip to Cancun, Mexico, requires flexibility, spontaneity and a willingness to compromise, but the end result will be a fun-filled trip to the storied resort town that features sun-dappled beaches on the Yucatan Peninsula and loads of other great adventures.