Courtesy of istockphoto

It’s no secret: I’m addicted to travel porn. Every day I get emails regaling the virtues of another exotic location or a brand new hotel. My inbox bulges (virtually, of course) with flash sales, newsletters and updates, brimming with tempting photography and shocking deals.

Of course, if you have a bit of flexibility in your schedule and you’re willing to make a quick decision, this lascivious lifestyle can really pay off: it’s how I ended up adding a trip to Grenada to stay at Mount Cinnamon to my St. Lucia visit and picked Ceiba del Mar Spa Resort in Puerto Morales for a dive trip.

If nothing else, it’s a great way to add destinations to your “precognitive travel” list or simply an excuse to daydream a bit each day.

Here are some of my favorite flash sales, deal sites and travel newsletters:

Flash Sales

• Jetsetter: The first in the “travel flash sale” arena, Jetsetter remains a curator of great adventures and locations.
• SniqueAway: TripAdvisor’s “flash sale” site; I appreciate the fact that the reviews actually drawbacks to destinations.
• Vacationist: Another flash sale site, this one features reviews by Travel + Leisure.
• TripAlertz: With lots of reasonable options in the US and Caribbean, this flash sale site also throws out some curve-balls like the trip to space (a $20,000 deposit is required).

Reviews and Points Programs

• Tablet: A review site and booking engine, Tablet also features great roundups of destinations and hotels.
• Stash: A points program for hotel stays, Stash is a great reference for indie hotels and independent finds.
• Bloomspot: Featuring local and national deals, Bloomspot also has a travel component that features some aspirational  luxury deals.
  

  Just another gorgeous day in Puerto Morales, Mexico. Booked through SniqueAway.

Newsletters

• Afar: A companion to the magazine, Afar’s website has additional travel guides to whet your appetite.
• Fathom: With tips, stories and plenty of lusty locales to explore, Fathom is one of my favorite sites to peruse for inspiration.
• BootsNAll: With articles geared towards budget travelers, this is the site I turn to for down-and-dirty tips and locales.

By no means a comprehensive list, these are just a few of my favorite sources for travel fantasizing. Some of the flash sale sites require an “invitation” to join; if you’d like one, let me know.

What are your favorite sites for titillating travel tales and tips?