Surprise: Department stores can help fill your travel needs

By Aimee Heckel

When you think of shopping at Sears, you probably think of washing machines and power drills.

But department stores, like Sears, can also be a great resource for travel goodies. Including (get ready for it) tickets.

Last year, Sears launched Sears Vacations, where you can buy cruises, book hotels, rent cars — even find golf and ski vacations. Here’s where things get real interesting: You can actually put your vacations on layaway here. This might sound appealing if you can’t get (or don’t want to get) a credit card, but still would like a budget-way to purchase your vacation during the touch economy.

Layaway vacation packages start at $49 per month, for more than 3,000 cruises and 5,000  land-based vacations.

Note: You have to sign up online — including your phone number and email address — to see the deals (“they’re that good,” the website claims).

Here are some of the deals that caught our eyes:

Last-minute: A six-day Carnival Caribbean cruise, starting at $50 per day.

Flash deals: This week only — 65 percent off the Westgate Blue Tree Resort in Orlando ($51 per night).

Save even more: Get 20 percent off Sears Vacations hotels by clicking here.

In addition to scoring some good travel deals through Sears Vacations, you can find great travel goodies at this department store. 

There’s something ruggedly sexy about this Vagabond Traveler Leather Travel Tote, $330.74 — down from $565. (Can’t you just see with this tied to the back of an old motorcycle on a cross-country trip through the desert? Or is that just our personal fantasy?) Save big by buying this online and using this coupon code for $5 off $50 or more, plus 4 percent cash back from ShopAtHome.com.

Beyond Sears, we love the Vera Bradley bag line at Dillard’s. Especially the colors and patterns of the Vera Bradley large duffel bag, $85. Beyond being adorable, this bag is carry-on compliant and folds flat for easy storing.

While you’re on the Vera train, don’t miss her travel hanging organizer, also available at Dillard’s, $48.

Save money by purchasing through ShopAtHome.com, where you can get 4 percent cash back on your Dillard’s purchases.

And when talking about department stores with the best deals, you can’t forget Kohl’s.  Always check the clearance section, such as the marked-down handbags. Kohl’s is currently having a gold star clearance special, with items up to 80 percent off, plus 4 percent cash back from ShopAtHome.com (up from 3 percent).

Looking to save big? Here’s how to save hundreds on airfare, rental car and lodging on your next trip.