Your Clock Is Ticking...

Um, not that clock. We're talking about your vacation clock...with less than three months left in the year, chances are, you've still got quite a few personal and vacay days to use up. Don't believe us? More than 1/3 of Americans don't end up using the full time off that they're allotted, a study from Families and Work Institute in New York City found. While one-or two-week trips usually deliver the most restorative effects, even shorter adventures can help you feel more energized and motivated once you do return to work. If you've got it in you, we highly recommend taking the whole year off.

The next time you're spacing out your beach scenes screensaver, visit these sites to start booking a real trip. C'mon...we know you're not working that hard on a Friday anyway....

1. Kayak.com: Use the "deals" tab to learn more about last-minute cruises and vacation packages, or try the new "weekend warrior" searchfunction. This feature helps travelers hone in on the cheapest Thurs-through-Monday airfares in any given month.

2. 14Trips.com: Craving a little luxury? The editors at this boutique travel site help you hone in on five-star trips at a coach-class price. Use the interactive map feature to find great deals in your favorite region of the world.

3. IgoUgo.com: Not only can you find a huge range of low-priced getaways at this Travel Channel partnered site—you can read reactions and reviews from other vacationers before you book.

4. SpaFinder.com: Easy to navigate and packed with great information, this well-designed site provides everything you need to plan a day- or destination-spa vacation. Explore their "spa specials" section to learn about the latest discounts, free upgrades and group deals at thousands of spas worldwide.