Bee T r avel
Book winter getaways now
CHRISTINE HICKS- USTA
Fall is - or was - my favorite time of year. There are lots of reasons why. For example,

when I was younger (with hair more petulant) I despised the frizz summer weather brought to my tresses, so fall's cooler temperatures were a momentary relief from the relentless strain of maintaining my "do." There was also the shift to clothing I liked so much, the uniform of that day being plaid, wool shorts, knee socks, an oxford and cardigan, plus loafers. I always felt comfortable in them, and they ideally suited fall walks through piles of multi-colored leaves. Fall also spelled the beginning of holiday season, meaning days away either from school or work, and get-togethers with family and friends. I appreciated early that holidays in general bunched in-between Memorial Day and New Years, then took a serious hiatus for the first five months of the year. So fall, peppered as it is with holidays throughout its months, was a welcome respite.

Fall is still a favorite season, though the past few years have brought some rough storms that have tempered my enthusiasm. In any event, from a travel perspective, it means looking ahead to the new year, and planning how to use up a whole new bank of vacation time. It's time to do your research.

Winter catalogs for warm weather destinations are naturally available now. But so are catalogs for summer beach rentals. A few keystrokes or calls will have you planning your Carolina, Georgia or California beach vacation in plenty of time to take advantage of greatest choice and discounts offered. Reservation books are open to the campground and inns of the National Parks. These sought-after places book early, so a head start is mandatory if you hope to secure a spot.

Also available now are the 2007 tour brochures for European tours. Variety alone ought to have you beginning now to winnowing through likely prospective European vacations. There are often savings offered, too, for booking early, though that window of opportunity can be short. The same is true of touring vacations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Now is also a great time to dust off languishing dreams of places you've always wanted to go. Train trip across Canada, or a Camel Trek in Australia? Maybe it's a trip of your own making. Fall is perhaps the best time to take step one toward making that dream a reality. With months to go before you must pack, months to save and plan, fall is an opportunity to organize and investigate your options. A little research now will get the process off the starting block, the most critical step. Target your tax refund or your year-end bonus towards that trip of a lifetime, and get rolling.

Fall weather propels thoughts of travel, whether imminent or later. We've all already had a taste of cabin fever this fall. A couple more winter months and a viewing of "The Shining" will be all it takes to remind you how much you need to get away. Don't wait. Get your plan together now.

(Christine Hicks-Usta has enjoyed more than 30 years of globetrotting as a member of the travel industry in various capacities. Direct questions to her at Bee Group Newspapers, P.O. Box 150, Buffalo, N.Y. 14231-0150.)