$1 Hotel Packages

I have a confession: I was once addicted to online auctions. I would stay up late bidding on items, regardless of what they were, just to feel the rush of being the ultimate winner. The matchbook collection—without any actual matches—that sits in my home office stands as a stark reminder of these dark days.

So, you can understand my initial trepidation when I learned of LuxuryLink.com and FamilyGetaway.com, both sites dedicated to online hotel auctions. However, I was happy to learn that not only are the auctions extremely reasonable (most end with quite a bit of savings over the actual cost of the package), but you might only end up spending $1 for the auction you bid on.

For the next three months, the two sites will be running eight Mystery Vacation Auctions per month, where the resort and destination (except possibly the continent) are kept secret. Hints are revealed through the community forum, so you can work with others and try to deduce where you might be going. LuxuryLink is currently running two mystery auctions: one in the U.S. and one in Greece; starting bids for both are just $1. And the clock is ticking. Auctions can last from 24 hours to up to five days, and you can bid on as many as you like.  

Once a month, one winner will be chosen randomly and receive a package for just $1, regardless of the final bid price.

This is a perfect match for those with a sense of adventure, but it's going once, going twice…