Michigan winters can be long, cold and down right dreary so about the time January rolls around I’m feeling the winter blows. I’ve tried growing indoor gardens but it just can’t take the place of a warm breeze and sunshine. So every February or March we take off for Florida.  In order to afford this, I plan our vacation in advance and try to find the best deals possible.

A really great source for legitimate no-fuss savings is  Florida Vacation Auction, an official partner of Visit Florida. They provide an opportunity to bid on Florida Vacation offers for up to 80% off rack rate. For the lookey loos out there, don’t worry, it’s free to register and bid too.

They offer name brand chain and independent places to stay like:

• beach resorts
• vacation homes
• theme park hotels
• golf and spa retreats
• city hotels and more

As well as attractions like theme parks, shows, museums, tours, golf, and kayaking.

New auctions appear every week, with the auctions for that week ending at 10 p.m. on Sunday evening.  Plus, from 8-10PM EST on Sunday they host a special live chat to answer any questions you may have. As I was perusing the site I found that it was easy to navigate, and everything was laid out in clear descriptions - not hidden in fine print. While I was dissapointed to see a ton of attraction tickets going for way less than what I paid on our last vacation, at least I know where to go now the next time I need to buy some!

PSSST!!! To make a great deal even better, Florida Vacation Auction is offering a free $15 credit to use towards any auction won their site through August 15, 2012! Just use promo code SurfAndSunshine725 at checkout! This code is good for both new and existing users – yippeee!

For instance this week they have the following available to bid and win:

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Now, I like the appeal of auctions but sometimes I just want it now (something my husband just loves about me.) Fortunately, the site offers a “Buy Direct” option, which offers flash-sale type savings at 20% or more off retail without having to participate in the auction.

What’s unique about Florida Vacation Auction is that it provides deals as part of a direct partnership with the offering company. There are no middlemen! There are no additional costs or handling fees added to the price of the winning bid and all reservations are made directly with the hotel or resort. This gives me such peace of mind. Booking a vacation is stressful enough without dealing with hidden fees or middle men. Plus, Florida Vacation Auction is rated A+ accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

I love that planning my vacation can be as stress free as being on vacation.

You can also follow Florida Vacation Auction on Facebook and Twitter - it’s a great way to be alerted of hot deals.

This post brought to you by our friends at Florida Vacation Auctions. All opinions are mine.