Play & Stay Deal at the Pearl Hotel, San Diego

The Pearl Hotel at Point Loma, near Downtown San Diego is a boutique with a strong personality and maintains a fun, easygoing environment for guests (especially poolside after sundown). The location - One block from San Diego Bay and 10 minutes from the Gaslamp Quarter - is excellent as a base camp for San Diego vacations. Best part of the deal is that the hotel is relatively cheap, when you compare the rates (starting from $153 at the Pearl) with other San Diego hotels.

But it gets better. If you think of yourself as lucky, you might want to give their 'Play & Stay' special a try. Way it works is pretty simple - You land up in person at their front desk after midnight, and you can book any available room for $79 (plus taxes). Now even if you compare that against their lowest standard rate, you end up saving $74 per night. And what do you have to do? Wait until after midnight to go in and get yourself a room.

Have to warn you, though. When there's a convention in progress, or something big, like Comic-Con or the SD County Fair, or a big Padres game at the ballpark, or even holidays like the 4th of July, it can become virtually impossible to get a room in the area at the last minute. So before you think about Play & Stay at the Pearl, you might want to check your calenders and San Diego event listings, and make sure you're not going to end up on the streets.

Guestroom amenities include desk and chair, free Wi-Fi access, Roku SoundBridge Radio, and 32" and 42" LCD televisions. Special mention needs to be made of the fabulous pool at the Pearl. Even though the hotel is not so big as to be called a resort, the poolside atmosphere - with the cabanas, and dining service and cozy nooks - makes it a fitting place for parties and get togethers.

Info: 1410 Rosecrans Street (at Fenelon) San Diego, CA 92106; 877-PEARL-SD; www.thepearlsd.com/

Orlando Package Deals from WorldQuest Resorts

Let's face the facts here. Orlando vacations are increasingly becoming the preserve of the rich and the fortunate. But there's hope yet - With WorldQuest Resorts building a family friendly hotel cum resort cum condo complex which straddles the divide between these 'Two Americas', to borrow a phrase from former Sen. John Edwards' campaign. The Resort offers 2 and 3 bedroom suites which can house upto 8 people. Rates from $119 per night, based on quadraple occupancy for a family of 4, with 2 adults and 2 children.

Best part is that the resort has package deals under which your stay is not limited to 2 or 3 days. Instead, you can stay for as long as you want, for upto 12 days. That's upto 8 people for 12 days, in a resort one mile from the Disney World Resort.

And that's not all. If you book in for one of the specials, like the 'Walt Disney World Vacation Package', what you get is :-

• Accommodations Up to 8
• Complimentary Transportation to Disney World
• Your choice of ticket type: Park Hopper, Magic Your Way, Waterpark Fun and More! No expiration option
• Your choice of Park: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studio, Disney Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach, and Typhoon Lagoon.
• No Restrictions - you can stay 1 night or 12 nights, it's your choice!

More details about this and other specials here. For the record, amenities at WorldQuest Resorts include cable and satellite television with pay-per-view movies, coffee/tea maker, complimentary toiletries, hairdryer, in-room safe, high speed onternet access (additional charge), iron/ironing board, jetted bathtub, kitchen with microwave and refrigirator, and private patio/balcony with seperate entrance to the suites from outside.

Also for the record, while its cheaper than most Orlando hotels and resorts close to the theme parks, WorldQuest is still under construction, so all the facilities may not be available as yet. Please check with the management before you book in.

Info: 8849 WorldQuest Blvd. Orlando FL 32821; (877) 987-8378; www.worldquestorlando.com/

Online Special - 10% Off At Old Monterey Inn

Monterey hotels don't come any more steeped in tradition and history than this delightful boutique property - The Old Monterey Inn. For that matter, neither do they come with any more charm, wrapped in a pleasant rustic look and a unique beauty - Shutter windows which open wide to light up the entire room, a giant bed, heavy wooden furnishings, crackling fireplace, stained glass windows, skylights, free and sumptous breakfast, lush foliage and a garden with trails outside - all of which are signature traits of a luxurious old Country Inn.

Of course, it helps when the things to do in Monterey and in the area surrounding the Monterey Peninsula - Carmel, Big Sur, Pacific Grove - are just as hauntingly beautiful as the Inn. According to their own description, the Old Monterey Inn website says that "this 4-Diamond AAA rated Monterey bed and breakfast was recently awarded a position on the coveted Conde Nast Travel Reader's Choice Gold List and is a popular choice for those seeking romantic honeymoon destinations or Monterey vacations."

And it gets even better if you're offered 10% off the standard room rates. Book yourself in online at the Old Monterey Inn, and get 10% off regular room rates. Pre-payment required at the time of booking. No changes or cancellations allowed. Mention this promotion in "Special Needs" section when booking online.

Room rates include a gourmet breakfast, afternoon refreshments and hors d'oeuvres with complimentary wine and beverages in the evening. In-room amenities include TV with VCR, DSL line and telephone, plush featherbeds with down comforters and pollows, luxurious linens, private bath with hairdryers, soft terry robes with perfumed bath salts, thick towels, current magazines and candles. Hotel amenities include evening turndown service, garden side dining and sitting areas, a spa tub for two, and full concierge service, along with breakfast in bed or by your fireplace, and a morning newspaper delivered to your door.

Standard nightly rates starting from $250 and onwards upto $430. Minimum 2 night stay required if you are boking in for a weekend.

Info: 500 Martin Street Monterey CA 93940; (831) 375-8284; www.oldmontereyinn.com/

1 Night Free at Riverside Hotel Fort Lauderdale

No better way to begin Fort Lauderdale vacations than to have a hotel room on Las Olas Boulevard. And if said hotel has about 80 years of history, and offers 1 night free, along with a lot of other freebies and credits, well, that's just the icing on the cake.

And this is exactly what the Riverside Hotel offers. Book a two day stay Thursday-Friday and get Saturday free. Book Friday-Saturday and get Sunday free. Valid until September 30 2008. Choice of either a balcony room in the Executive tower for $199, or the old classic guest rooms for $159. Also included in the offer, and complimentary, are a $25.00 gas credit, welcome cocktail in the Golden Lyon bar or Preston’s Lounge, 50% off valet parking per night, 20% discount for Indigo Restaurant & Grill Room on Las Olas, and 2 water taxi passes. Considering that pretty much includes all the things to do in Fort Lauderdale, you're not going to be spending too much money in excess of your hotel bill. More details of the offer here.

To make the contest even more one-sided, the Riverside would probably wind up on any top ten list of Fort Lauderdale hotels, even without the special. Amenities include a heated outdoor swimming pool, same day dry-cleaning, a boat dock, 2 restaurants and a lounge for dining and drinks, business center with over 11,000 sq ft of meeting and banquet space, gift shop, 24 hour front desk, valet and concierge services, room service, free high speed internet and a 7-story parking garage with car rental facilities.

The 217 guest rooms and suites are divided between the original landmark building and the new 12-story executive tower. Tower rooms are costlier, but way better, with City skyline views and modern amenities. So, as far as possible, avoid the old rooms, and specifically ask for tower rooms while booking in. In-room amenities include a mini bar, cable television with pay-per-view movies, refrigerator and mini bar. Rates starting from $119.

Info: 620 East Las Olas Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301; (954) 467-0671; www.riversidehotel.com/

MGM Grand Las Vegas Flyback Offer

Like they say, what happens in Las Vegas hotels, does not happen anywhere else. Well, maybe that's exactly true, but can you tell me of any other hotel or resort in any other state, where, if you stay for 2 or more nights, will land you $300 return trip airfare credit, $25 activity credit towards dining or entertainment, 15% off on spa services, 15% off on retail shopping at selected retail outlets, and 2 complimentary poolside cocktails. Well, you can't because this is possible only when you book the Flyback special offer at the MGM Grand Las Vegas. Room rates starting from $100 per night.

Conditions - Book before August 31 2008. The return trip (hotel and air) must include two or more nights at MGM Grand and must be booked by the travel agency noted on the certificate. Flyback certificate will be issued to qualified guestss upon check-in. More details and online booking here.

The MGM Grand resort offers cutting edge luxury and Vegas style fun amenities and services for guests, including the Wet Republic Ultra Pool, MGM Grand Spa and Health Club, Cristophe Salon, a Grand Pool Complex, Wedding Chapel, airport check-in, golf, shopping, a plethora of fine restaurants and diners to satisfy every need. And this is in addition to the entertainment and nightlife options, which are too numerous to list or describe in a single post here. Let's just say that its what you usually get on Las Vegas vacations - Roll the dice, shows and live performances by celebrities, romantic dinners, getting drunk (and maybe married), and party hard (best parties in Vegas are usually poolside)

As for acccomodations, the MGM Grand offers everything from standard rooms for less than $100 and on upto bank busting celebrity spa suites and skyloft penthouse suites.

Info: 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South Las Vegas Nevada 89109; (877) 880-0880; www.mgmgrand.com/

Super Summer Sale at Dunes Village Resort, Myrtle Beach SC

Its cheap, branded as the best family friendly resort in the nation by the likes of Expedia and a TripAdvisor user survey, and they're offering a super summer sale offer - an oceanfront deluxe studio for $169 per night. The oceanfront is at Myrtle Beach, and resort in question is the Dunes Village Resort. More details here.

So, if you think Myrtle Beach vacations are a riot, wait till you see what the Dunes Village Resort has inside it. You, or the kids at least, will want to spend the entire week in-hotel. Which kinda works out good, cause that leaves you free to laze out on the beach and enjoy the adult pleasures of the Grand Strand, with all the shopping and entertainment and restaurants, while the kids are safely supervised inside the resort, and having fun.

So, anyway, fun activities for the kids at the Dunes include an indoor water park which has a 250 ft river ride, among other attractions, and pool games, water basketball, treasure hunts, arts and crafts and lots more stuff. There's also an outdoor pool with a deck, and on-site restaurants.

The Oceanfront feluxe King studio has 1 King bed, full size sofa sleeper, 2 TV's, DVD player, dining area, kitchenette, dressing area, 1 bath, and a private balcony. If you're with family, the resort also has 2, 3 and 4 bedroom condos. Standard rates starting from $139.

Not that Myrtle Beach hotels are very costly (you'll find decent rooms and condos for as low as $30 per night and the average nightly rate is a little less than $100), but the Dunes Village Resort has a lot of family friendly amenities and services, which are either not available at the smaller hotels, or charged for excessively by the bigger resorts. In summary, the Dunes offers great value for money for a family, which is why its rated so highly for family travelers.

Info: 5200 North Ocean Blvd. Myrtle Beach SC 29577; (877) 828-2237; www.dunesvillage.com/