How To Find A Great Resort.

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Winter Travel Special: Tips on choosing a resort, looking good on the slopes, and more.

An Interview With Terry McCabe

McCabe is the national director of leisure for Altour, a travel agency based in New York City.

Finding a relaxing vacation spot can be stressful--there are so many to choose from. I use some of the following tricks to help my clients find their perfect destination.

Know yourself. You have to understand how you like to relax. Don't just consider the resort--think about how often you want to venture outside it. Some people are happy to stay put; others need to explore. Do you want to just lie on the beach? If not, will water sports keep you occupied, or do you need culture? Are you happy to eat in the same restaurant every night, or do you want to be near a cosmopolitan dining area?

Travel time. If you're going away for fewer than five days, choose a place that is no more than three hours away by plane. You want a location where you can leave at 7 A.M. and be on the beach after lunch. That said, you have to go out of your way to get to an uncrowded beach. Look for resorts that are at least an hour away from the main airport, either by car or a smaller aircraft.