Tax-rebate vacation ideas

There's a 95 percent chance Senior Editor Christine Sarkis is thinking about travel right now. Follow her on Instagram @postcartography and Twitter @ChristineSarkis.

Christine Sarkis is an SATW-award-winning journalist and executive editor at SmarterTravel. Her stories have also appeared on USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, and Business Insider. Her advice has been featured in dozens of print and online publications including The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, and People magazine. She has also shared travel tips on television and radio shows including Good Morning America, Marketplace, and Here & Now. Her work has been published in the anthologies Spain from a Backpack and The Best Women's Travel Writing 2008. She is currently working on a travel memoir.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: The Trtl Pillow. It's easy to pack and comfortable, and makes it so I can actually sleep on flights.

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Seeing the Aurora Borealis from the comfort of somewhere warm, like a glass igloo or hot spring.

Travel Motto: Curiosity is an amazing compass.

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Email Christine Sarkis at editor@smartertravel.com.

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Starting in early May, more than 130 million tax rebate checks will be sent to U.S. taxpayers. The IRS has an online calculator to help you determine if you’re eligible and how much money you can expect.

If that rebate is already burning a hole in your pocket and you’re looking for a summer vacation, now is a good time to start shopping for a destination and a deal.

USA Today has an article detailing vacations that cost less than $600 per person. Ideas include cruises, trips to the Caribbean or Mexico, weekend escapes to cities such as Las Vegas and Washington, D.C., and good old-fashioned road trips.

In recent days, I’ve come across two tax-rebate travel promotions as well. Expedia is offering $200 off air-and-hotel vacation packages of five nights or more and $1,800 or more when you book by April 21 and travel by May 31. Use coupon code TAX200 when prompted. If you’re not willing to spend that much to save $200, Expedia also lists less expensive air-and-hotel packages.

The state of New Hampshire has rallied many of its hotels, campgrounds, supermarkets, gas stations, and attractions and is offering discounts as well. Many of them are gasoline vouchers or rebate deals, though there are also reduced rates as well.

(Editor’s Note: SmarterTravel.com is a member of the TripAdvisor Media Network, an operating company of Expedia, Inc. Expedia, Inc. also owns Expedia.com.)

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