Seattle Hotel Nexus Woodland Park Zoo Package

The Hotel Nexus, Seattle, is offering a Woodland Park Zoo package special from $137 - $222 nightly plus tax. Rates dependent on lead time, room type and arrival dates. Package includes one night in a room with two queen beds, two adult tickets to the Woodland Park Zoo and one child ticket, complimentary hot breakfast, free parking, and use of other hotel facilities.

Considering the area attractions, the shopping and the things to do in Seattle, its a good bet that you'll be needing more than a day, but the package is basically aimed at wanderers zipping in and out of North Seattle University District. In fact, the hotel even has an 'extended stay' package, for people who would rather not checkout.

Amenities at the hotel include an outdoor pool, wifi internet throughout the hotel, a lobby which serves out complimentary coffee with a plasma television for guests killing time or waiting for someone, a fitness center and indoor spa, and business center with meeting rooms for upto 200 people. The hotel is pet-friendly and offers free parking, a free shuttle service, and complimentary breakfast to all guests.

In place of the old Berkshire Grill, the hotel has a restaurant slated to open in August 2008 called the Saffron Bar & Grill which will serve fusion cuisine, in addition to the old Berkshire favorites including Prime Rib and Fish & Chips. In spite of the restaurant not being operative as of yet, the Nexus still whips up a darn good free breakast every morning, with the menu changing depending on the day of the week. Served everyday alongwith the breakfast are make-your-own Belgian Waffles, cereal, wheat bread, fresh juice and coffee.

The hotel has 169 guest rooms including 12 two room suites and 6 spa studios featuring in-room Japanese hydrotherapy soaking tubs. There's a refrigirator and microwave in each room, complimentary wireless and high speed internet, television with pay-per-view movies, HBO, ESPN and FOX, and a nintendo for games. The business and premium rooms feature a workdesk with chair, and the standard rooms feature either a desk or a dining table.

Info: 2140 N. Northgate Way Seattle Washington 98133; (206) 365-0700; www.hotelnexusseattle.com/

Hawaii Summer Specials

In a typical year, most of the major hotels in Hawaii are full up, and rarely, if ever, offer any specials or deals or freebies. But this being an atypical year, with a recession hanging over the economy and the price of oil zooming into the stratosphere, there's bargains to be had, with hotels offering everything from free nights to complimentary meals and rebate coupons.

In places like Waikiki, with so many things to do in Honolulu, its a virtual paradise right now, with limited tourists, hotel specials at places like the Hilton Hawaiaan Village and even the local tourism service providers picthing in by offering reduced rates for everything from tours to supplies. Here's a list of hotels offering summer specials in Hawaii.

Halekulani Hotel Honolulu: Experience five heavenly nights and receive the 5th night complimentary. As our guest, you will also receive a $100 leisure credit towards unforgettable Halekulani escapes. Details here.

Hilton Hawaiian Village: Offers Net Direct rates valid until Nov 15th 2008. Rates from $251 onwards. Details here.

Kaanapali Beach Hotel: Maui Super sale special with room and breakfast for two for $179. Plus they also have a great 'Family & friends' deal for 4 people. Details here.

Outrigger Reef on the Beach: Stay 5 nights, get one night free. Valid until Dec 21st 2008. Details here.

Hyatt Regency Maui: Sunshine on Sale promotion package at the Hyatt Regency Maui offers 6th night free and daily breakfast for two. Details here.

Gallery One - A Doubletree Suites Hotel, Fort Lauderdale

I guess I need to find some more things to do in Fort Lauderdale, cause Gallery One, a Doubletree Suites hotel in Fort Lauderdale, is offering a $132.99 per night two room suite with a kitchen.

The hotel is offering a 'Net Direct' $132.99 special until Dec 31st 2008, where you get a "completely renovated contemporary suite features marble entry foyer, living area with wall-mounted Plasma TV and sleeper sofa, dining table for 4, fully equipped stainless kitchen, Sweet Dreams Sleep Experience queen bed, marble bath with walk-in shower with Rainshower water-head with dramatic skyline view."

In-room amenities include a 26 Inch Flat HDTV, air conditioning, bathrobe and Neutrogena(R) bath amenities, LCD flat panel TV, sweet dreams sleep experience, complimentary remote printing, hairdryer, high speed internet access, iron & ironing board and microwave. Full payment in advance, no refunds/changes allowed. More details and online booking here.

The Hotel is situated on the main Intracoastal Waterway, 3 blocks from the beaches and next to the Galleria Mall with its upscale shops. In addition to the 231 guest rooms and suites, Gallery One has a gift shop, news stand, a tropical outdoor pool, fitness center, both coin and valet laundry, concierge desk, and a business center with meeting rooms.

Dining facilities include the Patio Bar overlooking the pool which offers beverages and light snacks, and Vue on the Water restaurant, which contemprary cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Info: 2670 East Sunrise Boulevard Fort Lauderdale Florida 33304; (954) 565-3800

Chancellor Hotel, Union Square, San Francisco

How would you like to spend a weekend in a $155 per night room for two people in a luxury Union Square Hotel in San Francisco? Topped off with $25 worth of free daily credits for beverages and restaurant food? If you think that's a great deal, and you think of some things to do in San Francisco for the weekend, call the Chancellor Hotel, San Francisco, at (800) 428-4748 and ask for the summer dining package.

Package includes deluxe accomodation with one queen or two twin beds, food & beverage credit worth $25 per day per room for the Luques Restaurant. Valid only on weekends, subject to availability and an additional 14% tax on the rate.

Located on Powell Street right on the cable car line to Fisherman's Wharf, the 137 room Cancellor Hotel is a boutique hotel and has been a family owned concern since 1914. It's the best location possible in an area which is one of the most tourist friendly locations in San Francisco, and filled with the best hotels in San Francisco.

Not much to say about the hotel, except that its cheap, offers rooms and two room suites, does not offer air-conditioning and no pets allowed. And even though the hotel is pretty old, its been recently renovated in 2007, so everything works and looks pretty neat. The hotel staff are quite friendly and know what they're doing, and you'll get service fast for things you need, or ask for, like room service. Speaking of which, the room service, and aforementioned free $25 per day credit for food and drinks, is for the Luques Restaurant & Bar, situated just off the hotel lobby, which serves breakfast and lunch with California cuisine.

The guest rooms are furnished with all the usual stuff like free wi-fi internet, hair dryer, in-room safe, iron & ironing board, free local calls, on-demand movies, free HBO and a nintendo for games. Standard room rates are around $200 per night.

Info: 433 Powell Street San Francisco CA 94102; (415) 362-2004; www.chancellorhotel.com/

Hotel Monaco KN Tranquility Suite, Chicago

Whether or not hidebound Field Museum and the other hidebound things to do in Chicago put you to sleep, the Monaco Hotel Chicago, has a KN Tranquility Suite that certainly will. Part of the Kimpton Hotels Group, the four star Hotel Monaco, formely a hat factory in the Loop business district steps from North Michigan Avenue shopping and Millennium Park, offers all kinds of simulations and relaxing room decor.

But that's for ordinary cookie-cutter guests. If you're the budding insomniac who has finished counting all the sheep in the Midwest and you're about to start off with the stars, then you need something special - Like the KN Karen Neuburger® tranquility suite, with a soothing wall sized water fountain and eco-friendly bamboo sheets. Plush window seats offer sweeping views of the city and a cozy corner for reading or meditating. KN Tranquility Suite "Sweet Dreams" Package comes with overnight accommodations in KN Suite, a KN Welcome Bag with keepsakes, cozy breakfast in bed for two ($40.00 value) and 2 p.m. checkout for the late sleeper. $360 per night based on double occupancy.

Guestroom amenities at the 192 guest rooms and suites of the Monaco Hotel include free wi-fi internet throughout the hotel premises, coffee maker, iron and ironing board, bathrobe, hair dryer, solid mahogany writing desks, in room yoga facilities, an essential travel kit, in-room safe, individual climate control, gourmet treats in the stocked honor bar, and some suites with deluxe bathrooms and two-person whirlpool tubs. The hotel is pet friendly. Room rates from $209 plus taxes.

Dining and room service for Monaco Hotel guests is provided by the adjacent South Water Kitchen, which serves up sumptous regional American fare like favorites like macaroni and cheese or falling-off-the-bone short ribs.

Info: 225 North Wabash Chicago IL 60601; (866) 610-0081; www.monaco-chicago.com/