Ah, the dog days of August. Where has the time gone? That getaway you promised yourself? Didn't happen. That long weekend of lolling around in the sun? Perhaps you spent it catching up on work instead. Thankfully there are a few weeks left to get in a last summer-beach fling before the back-to-school, back-to-work grind starts up. August is a peak vacation month for many U.S. beach areas, and that can mean that premium rates are in effect.