It’s been a stressful past week in the Northeast. The Labor Day weekend, the unofficial end of summer beckons. You want to get away but with widespread damage from Irene, most beaches are closed and many of the usual area getaways are under water.Can you still find affordable last minute getaways? Sure can.A quick check of some of the popular travel sites reveals the following deals:

• On Expedia, air and 3 nights (Sept 1-4) at The Allerton Hotel in Chicago will set you back $533.
• Hotwire had several packages to Chicago, Washington DC, Las Vegas and New York City.
• Travelocity‘s new Dashing Deal program offers two nights at the Parador Resort & Spa in Quepos, Costa Rica for $233 (slashed from $700+).  You can sign up to get notified of future Dashing Deals by visiting the Travelocity website.

Don’t forget to also check social media sites like Groupon, which has teamed up with Expedia to offer Groupon Getaways, Living Social, which has Living Social Escapes, and members only sites like Voyage Privé and Jetsetter that offer discounted deals to US and international destinations.If these don’t appeal to you, how about taking the train to Washington DC, Philadelphia or Boston? On Amtrak, fares to Washington, DC start at $78 one way. To Philadelphia, $49 and $68 to Boston. Unfortunately, these prices are for Wednesday August, 31st departures so you must book now.Buses from New York to all of these cities are a fraction of the cost of train travel. Expect to pay between $17 and $29 one way. But again, book now.If you’re looking for accommodation, hotels in these cities go from $119. But don’t forget Bed and Breakfasts. Again, the closer you get to the weekend, the more you’ll have to pay. So book now.If getting away for the weekend isn’t your cup of tea, there are still a few things you can do right here in New York City. Check out NYC Events for a list of activities from sports (the US Open is on until September 11th) to museums to how to get tickets to tapings of the Daily Show and Jimmy Fallon.Today, many New York area beaches are still closed but some might be ready by the weekend. Check the Departmental of Health and Mental Safety’s website for updates. For New Jersey beaches, that state’s Department of Environmental Protection will have the latest news on conditions.Of course, you can opt to stay right at home. Order a few movies from Netflix or catch up on the television shows you missed on Sidereel. Why not take a crack at some of the books on Oprah’s Summer Reading List?Whatever you end up doing, I hope you have a wonderful Labor Day weekend.Enjoy!