One day you're happily sledding down snowy hills. The next day, you can't shake a vision of yourself on a beach sipping a drink from a coconut shell. Suddenly, you need to get away, and fast.

Chances are, with some cash -- and crafty searching -- you can. Here are places to look for your warm-weather escape:

SunCountry.com sells cheap, last-minute flights on Tuesdays from 8 p.m. to midnight. The airline also sends out a monthly e-newsletter highlighting deals and fare sales and alerts subscribers to sales as they occur. To get on the list, go to the site and click on "news and promotions," then "e-mail specials."

Find bargain getaways at DeltaVacations.com; click on "deals" to get to the "top trips" link on the right side of the page. The list is updated every Tuesday. Last week, I found a three-night stay on Mexico's Riviera Maya for $461.

Each Wednesday, travel deal website Travelzoo.com compiles a list of the best vacation bargains of the week, called the "Top 20." Find a link to the list all week long -- and sign up to receive it by e-mail -- at the website.

While popular websites Priceline.com, Orbitz.com and Travelocity.com have links to deals, LastMinuteTravel.com caters specifically to those who want a quick escape. At the opaque site -- you have to pay before the name of the hotel is revealed -- you can sign up to receive e-mail alerts by scrolling down to "the best deals -- delivered" on the left-hand side.

Go to SmarterTravel.com. for a mind-boggling array of travel tips and info, including last-minute airfares by departure city and a host of "editor's picks" deals on flights, hotels, car rentals and vacation packages.

Even with temps falling, these websites warm the heart.