A grand won't buy you your own island. But it will pay for a long weekend on an island not too far away -- Bermuda, 600 miles east of North Carolina's Outer Banks.
Fall and winter on this British isle are shoulder and off-season, so deals abound.
To find the best offers, Anne Banas of SmarterTravel.com recommends checking GotoBermuda.com. One recent highlight: an "endless summer" special running through the end of October that offers third, fourth, or fifth nights free at participating hotels.
Three nights at the three-star Coco Reef Resort: $378. Flying from Boston? Take a $308 JetBlue flight, for a total of just under $1,000 for a couple.
If you have an extra $10,000, options abound for you to boost the value of your home, give to charity or take off on a cheap European vacation.
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