"It will most likely be cheaper to get from the U.S. to Latin America than Europe, " Ms. Banas says.

WSJ: Get Off the Beaten Path for This Year's Vacation Deals

"Our main aim is to preserve some elements of Jewish culture in Poland, " says prison service spokesman, Nikodem Banas.

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If you want to travel abroad this summer, SmarterTravel.com editor Anne Banas says Latin America is the place to go.

WSJ: Get Off the Beaten Path for This Year's Vacation Deals

The real trick to getting cheap fares is to travel during the so-called shoulder season, according to Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com.

WSJ: How (and When) to Snag Cheap Airfares

The upshot: You'll want to avoid traveling during busy periods, including weekends and holidays this spring and summer, says Anne Banas, executive editor at SmarterTravel.com.

WSJ: Plan for Bigger Travel Delays

The trend of ratcheting up fees began in late spring of 2008, explained Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com, an online consumer travel publication.

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Because spring break tends to spread out over a four- to six-week period in March and April, Ms. Banas says there are still deals to be found.

WSJ: How (and When) to Snag Cheap Airfares