Louvre Atlanta High Museum Packages

The Atlanta CVB, along with select Atlanta hotels, is offering a Paris in Atlanta 'experience', with specials that include tickets for Louvre Atlanta and High Museum of Art. While packages offered by each hotel are unique, most of them are offering one night deluxe accomodations for two, two Louvre Atlanta High Museum tickets, complimentary buffet breakfast and complimentary hotel self parking.

Participating hotels include Mariott Hotels and Resorts, Renaissance Atlanta Hotel Downtown, Ritz Carlton Hotels, Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, Regency Suites, and Wyndham Garden Hotel, among others. Full listing of all the hotels and packages offered can be seen here.

But Atlanta vacations are not all about the Civil Rights Movement, and there's lots of things to do in Atlanta in addition to paying homage to Dr. King. Take the soul food, for example. In addition to arguably having the best soul food restaurants, Atlanta also has a soul food museum. Then there's the 'Gone with the Wind' tours.

But still, all said and done, Atlanta was, is and always will be, about Dr. King. So unquestionably the best and most visitable place remains the Sweet Auburn District with The King Center, Ebenezer Baptist Church and Dr. King's boyhood home.

Artsy Packages at Hotel San Carlos, Phoenix

Who says Phoenix is all wild west and no art? Hotel San Carlos, located in the heart of downtown Phoenix, offers multiple packages for art lovers combining artsy Phoenix vacations with premium accomodations.

For starters there's the Ballet Arizona package, which includes accomodations with preferred seating at Ballet Arizona performance, bicycle rickshaw transportation to and from the Orpheum Theatre, and pre-show dinner at the hotel's 'Copper Door' restaurant. Rates from $149 for single and $179 for double occupancy. There's also a Phoenix Art Museum package and an Arizona Desert Botanical Gardens package. For more details and online booking, click here.

Not saying that this is the best that Phoenix hotels can come up with, in terms of mixing art and hospitality and all the things to do in Phoenix, but for a 'cultured' visitor (or an 'elitist snob', depends on your viewpoint, I suppose ...) from either Coast, its way better than simply being dumped in the middle of the burning desert and told to look out for yourself.

Anyway, the Hotel San Carlos has 121 guest rooms, including 12 suites, all equipped with coffee makers and complimentary gourmet coffee, cable television with 4 complimentary HBO channels, and iron & ironing boards. Each of the suites are named and themed to remind guests of Hollywood legends who frequented the hotel like Marilyn Monroe, Ingrid Bergman, Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper and Cary Grant. And yes, the hotel does have a pretty long and rich history, having opened its doors in 1928. The Hotel San Carlos is a State Historic landmark and is the only operating historic boutique hotel in Phoenix.

Info: 202 N. Central Avenue Phoenix AZ 85004; (866) 253-4121; http://hotelsancarlos.com

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/

Vera Wang Suite at Halekulani

Sometimes, a room, or a suite, in a hotel gains so much fame, or notoriety, that it overshadows the hotel itself. This happens when Kings and Presidents stay in Presidential suites, or a famous actor or celebrity prefers to stay in a specific room, and sometimes, when a room is outlandish, such as the Godiva Decadence suite at the Bryant Park Hotel in New York City, which is entirely made of chocolate.

If you limit yourself to Honolulu hotels, only one name comes to mind - the Vera Wang Suite at the Halekulani Hotel, which, as the hotel itself says "is truly one of a kind. Immersed in understated and elegant décor, this one-bedroom suite features 2,135 sq. ft. of interior space, plus a 642 sq. ft. Oceanside lanai. Personally designed by Ms. Wang, The Vera Wang Suite at Halekulani is a timeless, totally original creation.

The hotel takes special care to ensure absolute privacy for the suite's occupants, and to top that off, the suite offers spectacular views of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head. Both the master bedroom and the Lanai overlook the beach, and you won't find a better place for a honeymoon, or to celebrate your love, than in this suite, with the open sky, the stars, and the moon looking down on Diamond Head.

The suite has a 50" plasma television with a complete entertainment center, a deep soaking tub and a seperate glass-enclosed shower, private butler service, a special in-bed breakfast, and 24 hour in-room dining served in-suite or at the private Lanai. The Vera Wang suite guests get chauffeured to and from the airport in a private limousine, and are also offered exclusive in-suite spa treatments courtesy of SpaHalekulani. And also free internet, local calls, in-room safe, complimentary newspapers, business secreterial services, twice-daily turndown service, and VIP passes and services to the Honolulu Symphony, the Honolulu Academy of Arts, Bishop Museum, The Contemporary Museum and Iolani Palace.

It's a once in a lifetime oppurtunity for common riffraf to stay at this suite. But anyway, its not like we go on Honolulu vacations every other year. So if you're willing to say, what the heck, let's just do it, then call (800) 367-2343 to make reservations.

Info: 2199 Kalia Road Honolulu Hawaii 96815; (808) 923-2311; www.halekulani.com/

Green Getaway At The Ambrose, Santa Monica

Located a block from the Wilshire business district and a few minutes away from the Pacific Ocean, the Ambrose hotel in Santa Monica bills itself as an enticing offer of a 'green experience' with guilt-free luxury Los Angeles vacations.

While Los Angeles does have its share of tree hugging do-gooders, its not as prominent on the environment friendly crusade as San Francisco, which has ultimate eco-friendly hospitality offerings like the LEED certified Orchard Garden. But now, Los angeles hotels have a green role model in the Ambrose, which got itself certified as the first ever LEED-EB (that's short for existing building) certified U.S. hotel. While it would be beyond the scope of this blog to explain what LEED is, let's just say that its the holy grail for being certified as a green outlet, building, service provider, etc. More details on their website - www.usgbc.org/leed/ and detailed info about the Ambrose hotel's green initiatives, certifications and green practices can be found here.

As far as amenities and services for guests are concerned, the hotel offers hybrid car rentals and preferred parking for hybrids, along with complimentary parking for for all guests in the hotel's secure underground parking lot. There's a free organic breakfast with Starbucks fair trade organic coffee for all guests, free hotel wide wi-fi, a recreation and exercise room, business center with meeting space, a lush Asian themed garden, concierge services and 24 hour in-room dining. The Ambrose also offers its guests complimentary transport around Santa Monica in biodiesel-fueled taxis and use of chauffeured limousines powered by alternative energy.

The 77 guest rooms are furnished and equipped with Italian bed linens, Aveda bath products, a mini bar with a choice selection of wines, beer and organic snacks and goodies. Some of the rooms have hardwood floors. Al rooms offer free wi-fi internet, DVD/CD players with surround sound, a complimentary USAToday, guest laundry and same day drycleaning. Rates from $239.

Info: 1255 20th Street Santa Monica CA 90404; (310) 315-1555; www.ambrosehotel.com/

Gas Card Specials From Hotel Cass Chicago

Stay one night at the Hotel Cass Chicago and get a $25 gas card, or stay 2+ nights and get a $50 gas card. Valid until Sept 3 2008. Click here for more details. The Cass is located steps from 'The Magnificient Mile', with shopping at over 460 retailers and 275 restaurants, which is Chi-town's equivalent of Fifth Ave in NYC. Rates from $199 (taxes extra).

Usually, most hotels offering gas cards would also be offering free parking. After all, the gas card really is more symbolic than anything else, and the savings on the gas are usually tucked away as add-ons somewhere else in your hotel bill, while making it seem like driving to the hotel is cheaper because of the gas card. If you're offering free parking, that enhances the impression. Point of all this babble is that Chicago hotels don't seem to get this concept, and the cussed Cass is charging a whopping $32 for self parking, and $45 for valet parking.

So anyway, what the Cass offers is hotel-wide complimentary internet (both wired and wireless), complimentary breakfast which includes bacon, sausage, biscuits & gravy, alternate days of scrambled eggs or cheese omelets, and the hotel's signature cinnamon rolls, 24 hour complimentary coffee, tea, and juices in lobby along with daily newspaper, and a business center.

In-room amenities include a pillow top bed, flat screen HDTV, coffee maker with complimentary coffee, hairdryer, iron & ironing board, bath toileteries, an in-room safe and valet laundry service. Not saying the Cass is the best hotel for Chicago vacations, but it is does offer clean and spacious rooms, a sumptous free breakfast, and is willing to reimburse you for a part of your gas bill. The location isn't too shabby either. That's not so a bad deal, anyway which way you look at it.

Info: 640 North Wabash Avenue Chicago Illinois 60611; (312) 787-4030; www.casshotel.com/

Gassy Suite Nights Special at Alexander Hotel Miami Beach

Planning for Miami vacations with family? The Alexander Hotel, Miami Beach, which sits 'on' the beach at Collins Ave, is offering a Gassy Suite Nights special, which includes accomodations for 4 people in a junior 2-bedroom suite, $50.00 gas credit towards food & beverage, and daily breakfast for 4.

The suite includes living area, dining area, full kitchen, 2 full bathrooms, private balcony, master bedroom with a king or queen size bed, and a second bedroom with twin beds. Rates from $224.00 per night (taxes extra), with a 2 night minimum stay required. That comes to $528.24 for 2 nights, for a full family of four people, plus free breakfast and $50 credit for food & drinks. Package valid until Dec 24 2008. More details and online booking here.

Why call it a 'gas credit', when it can only be used for food and drinks? And you get breakfast free, anyway. Also, the $50 food and drinks credit is likely for the Shula's Steak House housed inside the Alexander, and you'll probably end up wiping out the credit in half a meal. Be that as it may, fact is that this is as good a deal as you're going to get at one of the comparable beachfront Miami hotels on Collins Avenue.

The Alexander, like most other Miami Beach oceanfront resorts, has a magnificient pair of lagoon shaped pools, with lush gardens and a cascading waterfall rounding up the impression of a tropical oasis. Two jacuzzis, private cabanas and al fresco dining and bar service add to the luxury. The hotel also offers its guests use of business and fitness centers, along with the Gianfranco Salon and Spa.

The all-suite hotel offers suites ranging fron 1000 to 1250 sq ft., , with balconies either overlooking the beach and the Atlantic, or the intracoastal waterway.

Info: 5225 Collins Avenue Miami Beach Florida 33140; (305) 865-6500; www.alexanderhotel.com/

See Seattle Package from Warwick Hotel

The Warwick Seattle Hotel is offering an all-inclusive Seattle vacations package called 'See Seattle', which includes overnight accommodations for two, American breakfast for two at the Brasserie Margaux restaurant, free parking, and 1 day Go Seattle Card for 2 adults ($98 value with unlimited admission to over 36 attractions in Seattle). Package costs $314, inclusive of all taxes and gratuities. Use promo code PACK2. For more details, call (800) 426-9280 or online booking here.

Let's see if we can break it up into individual compenents and see whether its a fair offer, as compared to other Seattle hotels. For starters, most hotels in Seattle offer free parking, so let's forget about that. Secondly, the breakfast is no biggie either. That leaves the room rates and the Go Seattle Card. If you buy each seperately, the card (for two) costs about $100. And a standard room at the Warwick costs about $154 plus taxes, which comes to about $178. So that's a total of $278 plus breakfast and parking ($27 at the hotel's parking garage), if you decide to buy all of it seperately.

Not much difference either way, whether you book the package or not. So should you buy the See Seattle package or not? On the Go Seattle Card website, it says the package costs $240, while on the Warwick's website, it says $314. I have a feeling the hotel might reduce the rate if you called up, so give it a shot.

Is the Warwick good enough to merit all this hassle? Well, its situated within walking distance of Pike Place Market and all the important things to do in Seattle for tourists. The Warwick also has an indoor heated swimming pool and whirlpool, sauna, fitness and business centers with over 2000 sq ft of meeting space, and internet access ($11 for one day, $20 for two).

Dining facilities include the aforementioned Brasserie Margaux, which serves American and European breakfast favourites including pancakes, French toast, eggs Benedict and Seattle-style standards, along with lunch on weekdays and brunch on weekends. The Margaux Lounge is a full service bar offering burgers, salads, chowder and appetisers.

The hotel offers 230 guest rooms outfitted with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors which lead out to a private Juliet balcony, with views of the Seattle Space Needle or city skyline. Rooms also feature Italian marble bathrooms, wet bar with minibar or refrigerator, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, in-room safe, in-room complimentary coffee and tea, movie and games system and designer bath amenities.

Info: 401 Lenora Street Seattle Washington 98121; (206) 443-4300; www.warwickwa.com/

20% Off at Renaissance Parc 55 Hotel San Francisco

San Francisco vacations don't come cheap, but if you book in for a stay between either August 31st to September 1st or between December 9th to December 12th, you'll receive 20% off at the Renaissance Parc 55 Hotel in Downtown San Francisco. You'll have to check for rates and availability, because when I tried to book online, it said that the 20% off is only if you stay for at least 4 nights, and 30% off if you stay for 5 nights. But they may offer the 20% off even for shorter stays if you call them at (800) 595-0507. Rates from $159 per night (this is the lowest standard room rate, without the 20% discount).

They have a lotta other specials, including a 'Cars Stay Free' package, a 'Breakfast for Two' package and a 'Burke Williams Spa Package'. But after looking at the prices on the rest of the packages (around or over $200), I figure the only one worth discussing is the 20% discount package. I mean, if you can get a room for about $120 at a big hotel like the Parc 55, that just about beats the rates offered by all comparable San Francisco hotels.

In addition to 21,000 sq ft of meeting and event space, the Parc 55 offers its guests use of a 24 hour health club, dry sauna, a coffee shop (Barbary Coast), cocktail lounge (Piazza Lounge), a sports bar (Barley 'N Hops) and two restaurants - The Veranda Restaurant which serves California cuisine, and Siam Thai which offers Thai cuisine. Amenities and services for guests include a business center, room service, massage therapists, tour desk, gift shop, valet parking ($44 plus 14% tax for parking - No wonder they have a 'cars stay free' package.. ), overnight laundry and child-care services (on request).

The 32 story Parc 55 offers 1,010 guest rooms and 18 executive suites with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay. In-room amenities include cable televsion with video games and on-demand movies, hair dryer, iron and ironing board and makeup mirrors, blackout drapes, coffee and tea maker, workdesk, complimentary newspaper, high speed internet, and shower massage.

Info: 55 Cyril Magnin Street San Francisco CA 94102; (415) 392-8000; www.parc55hotel.com/

Miyako Inn Los Angeles Hotel Weekend Special

The Miyako Inn, Los Angeles is offering a weekend getaway package for $109 per night, which includes free upgrade to Executive room and a compimentary continental breakfast every morning. Minimum 2 night stay required, and package valid Friday through Sunday only. More details and online booking here. That's quite reasonable, compared to other downtown Los Angeles hotels.

The hotel has a business center and meeting room with computer, internet and copy services (extra charges apply), along with valet parking ($18). For guests, the hotel offers free in-room internet, and the 11th floor Executive rooms have free wireless internet. Being a Japanese hotel, the Miyako offers a health spa with a Jacuzzi, with Dry / Steam sauna, and Shiatsu Asian massage treatment. The Spa also houses a fitness center with exercise equipment.

The rooms, in tune with the rest of the hotel, are functional without being decadent or overly luxurious. Considering the price and location, its not all that bad. Twin beds with headboards, bare walls, a small workdesk with a cair, and large windows with floor to celing drapes. Each room comes with a complimentary DSL connnection, hair dryer, iron & ironing board, coffee maker and electronic safety box. rates from $109 to $149 (taxes extra).

The $149 is the standard per night rate for the executive rooms, so if you book the weekend package, you basically save $40 per night, assuming you want the executive room. In a nutshell, the hotel may not be an A-lister, but if you're on a budget Los Angeles vacation, then the price, location and functionality of the Miyako, not to mention the neat spa, provide an attractive option.

Info: 328 East 1st Street Los Angeles CA 90012; (213) 617-2000; www.miyakoinn.com/

DoubleTree Hotel Sacramento, California State Fair Package

The DoubleTree Hotel Sacramento is offering a special California State Fair package from $105 per night. Includes two adult tickets and transportation right upto the main gates of the State Fair. Valid until September 3rd 2008. For package details and online booking, click here.

The California State Fair this year will be held from August 15 to September 1, 2008. Info: 1600 Exposition Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95815; (916) 263-FAIR; www.bigfun.org/; Discount tickets purchased in advance - $8 adults, $6 seniors (62+), $5 children (5-12) and free for children (0-4). Tuesdays are 'Kids Days', and all kids aged 12 and below get free admission. Seniors can get $2 discounts on Fridays. Single vehicle parking - $8.

Most major Sacramento hotels will be packed to the rafters during the third and fourth weeks, so it might be advisable to book well in advance. So let's talk some more about the DoubleTree and the State Fair package. I tried to do a booking for the package, rates for which are 'said' to be from $105, but the cheapest I could find, online, and for the State Fair Package, was $185 plus taxes for a single room with queen bed or beds. If you want a King bed, the cost goes up over $200. And for Sacramento, $200 plus taxes, even if you take out the $16 for the fair tickets, is pretty steep. At least $50 overpriced, if you consider that a hotel in Sacramento charges an average nightly rate of around $120 to $130.

I mean, you might as well get a cheaper room at another hotel and buy a couple of tickets to the State Fair with your own money. And if you have a car, the shuttle becomes redundant. So is the DoubleTree Sacramento worth it for the extra cash?

Well, you decide... The amenities they offer include a business center with meeting rooms and other necessities for business travelers, high chairs and cribs for families on vacation, and general amenities and services include a concierge desk and room service, coin laundry, gift shop and news stand, valet service, fitness center, pool and pool table. Dining facilities at the hotel include an Espresso Bar and the Cityside Cafe just off the lobby which whips up a sumptous breakfast buffet spread, along with the traditional fare for lunch and dinner. Free parking at the hotel's open parking lot.

The 448 guest rooms and suites are furnished with working desk and chair, hair dryers, iron and ironing board, coffee maker with coffee and tea, cable TV 21 channels, HBO and on-demand movies. Internet access in-room is available for an extra $9.95 per day, and most rooms have their own balcony. The Queen bed rooms, which offer the lowest rates with the State Fair package, each offer 5 jumbo hypo-allergenic down pillows, oversized chair and large desk with ergonomic chairs. A spacious bathroom is kitted out with Neutrogena bath products and cotton terry robes.

Info: 2001 Point West Way Sacramento CA 95815; (916) 929-8855; Website

1 Night Free at Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs

The thing about Palm Springs is that it's cheap, and the desert has a whole lotta dirt, so what you have is a dirt cheap Palm Springs holiday with lots of shopping, golf and poolside action. Which is why the Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs is offering the 3rd night free if you book in for 2 nights. Valid until September 30, 2008. Use promo code 89934 for online booking, or call (760) 322-9000. Rates starting at $99, if your stay is in August.

Rates at Palm Springs hotels usually fluctuate on a daily basis much more than other areas in California (don't ask why). So you should probably keep your dates flexible enough and check to see which days of the month you get the best rate.

As far as the Hyatt is concerned, its one of the better digs in palm Springs, and offers everything from an airport shuttle to ice machines (you're gonna need it, trust me..) and a manicure salon and full service spa. Other guest services and amenities include wireless internet, health club, valet parking, a heated outdoor swimming pool and whirlpool with a sundeck, jogging and bicycle trails, and A-grade meeting and banquet facilities.

Dining options include the Palm Court cafe with Californian cuisine, Bar Blue for light snacks and appetizers, and Cafe 285 and Spritzes which serves American cuisine.

The 193 guest rooms and suites each offer two televisions with cable and pay-per-view movies, individual climate control, Full bath amenities with Whirlpool bath or bidet in Executive / VIP suites, hairdryer, coffee maker, In-room refrigerator, Iron / ironing board, in-room safety-deposit box and daily newspaper at the front desk.

Info: 285 North Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs CA 92262; (760) 322-9000; http://palmsprings.hyatt.com/

Zoo Explorer Special at Holiday Inn On the Bay, San Diego

Holiday Inn On the Bay San Diego is offering a 'Zoo Explorer' special which includes overnight accommodations in newly renovated room with walk-out furnished balcony and 2 adult passes to the San Diego Zoo. Complimentary shuttle service available on schedule. Experience relaxing views of the San Diego Bay or Downtown City Skyline.

Passes good for admission, unlimited use of guided bus tour, express bus & Skyfari Aerial Tram. Excludes special ticketed events & attractions. . If you like this one, there's also a 'Sea World Adventure' package which includes two adult tickets to SeaWorld San Diego, instead of to the Zoo. Rates for the Zoo special from $239 based on double occupancy. Average nightly rates, without the special, from $179 (taxes extra). that's pretty decent, as far as San Diego hotels are concerned, and especially when you consider the prime location at North Harbor Drive on the Embarcadero.

In addition to the shuttle, amenities at this hotel include business services such as copy & fax, high speed wi-fi internet availability in the lobby with a Microsoft powered PC, courier service, and printing facility. There's also a bike rental and an outdoor pool with a poolside gym, and a full service health & fitness center, if you feel like working out. Other amenities and services include same day dry cleaning and guest self laundry facilities, a convenience store, news stand and a gift shop, concierge services, room-service, self-parking ($20) and valet parking ($26).

The hotel is pet friendly (two pets allowed per room) and family friendly with connecting rooms available, and in fact also has the 'Kids Eat Free' program (you buy a meal, your kid gets one free), cribs and rollaway beds on request, and an in-room Nintendo game cube with in-room video game check-in and checkout facilities.

Dining facilities in-hotel include Ruth's Chris Steakhouse which serves full meals, the Elephant & Castle Pub which is kinda like a British pub and Hazelwood’s Bayside Deli, which is good for quick bites and snacks and takeaways.

The 14 story hotel has 600 guest rooms, incuding 10 suites, with views of the water or the downtown city skyline. In-room amenities include cable television with pay-per-view movies, coffee maker, hair dryer, high speed internet, iron & ironing board, bath with tub, private balconies, and a work desk with lamp.

Info: 1355 North Harbor Drive San Diego CA 92101; (619) 232-3861; www.hisandiegoonthebay.com/

1 Night Free at the NYC Plaza Hotel

The Plaza Hotel, New York City, is offering a third night free summer special until September 1. Includes third night complimentary when you book and pay for two consecutive nights. And a VIP Package at Saks 5th Ave, exclusive personal shopping experience in the Fifth Avenue Club,
complimentary coffee and dessert in one of Saks Fifth Avenue's restaurants. Rates from $615 per night (taxes extra), based on double occupancy. Offer valid on a three-night consecutive stay. Call (888) 240-7775 or click here for online booking and more details about the package.

Please note that I don't normally recommend any hotel which charges in excess of $250 or $300 per night. After all, its just four walls and a roof with a bed and bathroom inside. But the Plaza is a different matter. Its not just a hotel. As any New Yorker who has lived in NYC for the last 10 to 20 years or more will tell you, the Plaza is an institution, a part of the social and cultural fabric of the Big Apple. Brunch and tea with friends and family at the Plaza's Palm Court restaurant used to a be rite - Just one of the weekly things to do in New York. And the hotel has a rich history and over 100 years of tradition dating back to 1907. The building was designated a New York City landmark in 1969, and is also listed as a National Historic Landmark.

The hotel re-opened a few months back after a massive lobby to roof renovation which took 3 years and over $400 million. As of now, it is sparkling new, but maintains the same look and feel, with the same Beaux Arts décor, the stained glass and tradition of afternoon tea in the Palm Court, and the old Oak Room and Oak Bar. New additions to this formidable list include the Champagne Bar, the Rose Club, and a Tranquility Garden with reflecting pools, elaborate lighting and exotic foliage.

The Plaza now offers 282 guestrooms, including 102 suites. Each room has been exquisitely designed with Louis XV style French decor to provide optimum luxury and indulgence. Every room has chamdeliers, 24-carat gold plated Sherle Wagner designed sinks and fixtures cradled by imported and hand crafted solid white marble vanities. This is not the standard issue brass and polish that a Hilton offers. The Plaza offers aristocratic lodgings and treats its guests like royalty.

Even the standard Plaza room is a spacious 475 sq ft, with 1 King bed, a comfortable sitting area with a table and one or two arm chairs, and a writing desk and chair. That's almost double the size of what average New York hotels offer. In-room amenities include a wall mounted flat screen television, a mosaic tiled bathroom with glass shower and bathtub, Mascioni bath towels, robes and linen, Miller Harris toiletries, hairdryer, refrigerated private bar, and iron and ironing board, in addition to other gizmos and electronic gadgets and amenities.

Info: Fifth Avenue at Central Park South New York, New York 10019; (212) 759-3000; www.fairmont.com/theplaza/

$59 Rooms At Golden Nugget Las Vegas

Rates from $59 per night with the 'Super Summer Room' offer at the Golden Nugget Las Vegas for stays before September 30 2008. $59 per night (Sunday - Thursday, taxes extra) and receive a $25 Food & Beverage Credit and 2-for-1 Tickets to 'Defending the Caveman'. Two night consecutive minimum stay required to receive Food & Beverage credit and 2-for-1 Tickets. Rates based on single or double occupancy. Call (800) 634-3454 for reservations or click here for more details and online booking.

If I write about everything this monster hotel & casino complex has, it'll take me more than a few pages. So here's the 'fast facts'. Three towers housing 1,907 guestrooms, including one and two bedroom suites, 27 luxury apartments in the Spa Suite Tower and six Penthouse Suites in the North Tower. 38,000 square feet of gaming area, which includes approximately 1,200 slot and video poker machines and 50 table games. A 600-seat showroom featuring headliner entertainers and nightly headline entertainment. More than 20,500 square feet of meeting and banquet facilities, including 13 meeting and banquet rooms. Outdoor pool with live sharks, Jacuzzi and private cabanas, complete spa, salon and fitness center, and full-service business center.

Dining facilities include the Carson Street Café (American), Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse, Lillie’s Noodle House (Asian), Grotto Italian Ristorante, The Buffet and a Starbucks. Shopping facilities include the Perfect Timing watch shop, Trend & Style for clothing and jewelry, and other assorted shops with essentials, newspapers, snacks and stuff.

As for the accomodations, standard rates for guest rooms are between $79 - $189 and the suites for between $175 - $750. The rooms for the super summer package are in the South Tower, and come with high speed internet, in-room movies, safe deposit boxes, hair dryers, iron & ironing boards, full sized desks and bathrobes. Bathrooms have marble flooring, and each room has a vanity area with lighted makeup mirror.

In case you feel the need to leave all this 'wonderfulness' behind and check out the things to do in Las Vegas, the hotel offers golf, tennis and sightseeing tours.

Info: Golden Nugget Hotel 129 E. Fremont Street Las Vegas NV 89101; (702) 385-7111; www.goldennugget.com/ ; Photos courtesy & copyrights Golden Nugget Hotels and Casinos

Best Western Anaheim Inn

Here's a question for you. Would you rather spend your money on the things to do in Anaheim, or spend it on tipping a snotty room-service guy and valet parking? I'm talking about booking in at a cheap Big Western, as opposed to upscale digs like the Hilton. And say what you will about them, Best Westerns are darn cheap, especially if you're talking about staying with family.

One of these cheapos is the Best Western Anaheim Inn, located a mile away from the Anaheim Convention Center. Plus, you get a $25 gas card if you stay for 3 consecutive nights (offer valid until Sept 30th 2008). As it is, a standard room for two costs about $113. Children under 18 can stay free. Take out the $25 gas card, and you get a room for a full family for around $88 per night. With free parking. That's near the Convention Center, one of the most heavily visited tourist areas in the world that we're talking about here.

And its not like we're talking about a dump. Amenities at the Anaheim Inn include a front desk which provides Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Tickets & CityPass for purchase, a restaurant & lounge next door, a heated pool, spa & sauna, same day dry cleaning & valet service, and guest laundry.

In-room amenities include a mini-refrigerator & microwave, kitchenettes available upon request, cable television with HBO, Disney Channel, ESPN, CNN & MTV, high speed wireless internet, coffeemaker with complimentary coffee & tea, hairdryer, and iron & ironing board.

You won't get ripped off, the location is good, and you'll get exactly what you paid for, which isn't shining brass and chandeliers, but comfortable and cleanliness and you have all the basic stuff you need for an overnight stay.

Info: 1630 S. Harbor Boulevard Anaheim CA 92802; (714) 774-1050; www.anaheiminn.com/

Ohana Hotels Stimulus Rebate Special at Waikiki

Ohana hotels is offering a stimulus rebate special at five of its hotels in Waikiki. $129 at the Ohana Waikiki Beachcomber, $119 at Ohana East, $109 at Ohana Waikiki West, $109 at Ohana Waikiki Malia, and $119 at the Ohana Honolulu Airport Hotel. Rates are per room, per night, based on double occupancy. Package valid until December 21, 2008. More details and online booking here.

From what I know, best of the lot is the Ohana East Hotel, located at the corner of Kuhio Avenue and Kaiulani Avenue, steps away from Waikiki Beach, International Market Place, and Kalakaua Avenue. Its just a minute from Lewers Street, and a short walk away from Kapiolani Park, Honolulu Zoo, and the Waikiki Aquarium. Even better, the Ohana stimulus package comes with free access to the Waikiki Trolley, meaning that you can easily poke around the things to do in Honolulu.

The standard room rate at this hotel is around $204, so you save about $95 per night with the $119 stimulus package. Can't get a better deal in Waikiki, at this rate and from a touristy view point, unless someone gifted you a stay at the Hilton Hawaiaan Village.

Amenities at the Ohana East include three restaurants, an espresso cafe, room service, fitness room, swimming pool, high-speed Internet access, self-service laundry and a video arcade. The standard guest rooms, included in the stimulus package, are about 240 sq ft, with hair dryer,
in-room safe, iron & ironing board, refrigerator, coffee maker with complimentary coffee, shower and cable, pay-per-view movies and a nintendo for games. Cribs and rollaway beds available upon request (extra charges may apply).

That's pretty basic, but considering the kind of rates which other resorts and Honolulu hotels will make you pay, and considering the location of the Ohana East, this, like I said, is a pretty good deal. Point is, its a decent hotel, good location, cheap rates and service ain't that bad either.

Info: 150 Kaiulani Avenue Honolulu Hawaii 96815; (808) 922-5353; Website

Recommended Bed & Breakfast Inn's, Fort Lauderdale

As far as I'm concerned, a hotel is a place where you go to sleep and rest, when you're visiting a new place. So long as its decent, spacious and comortable, and all the amenities work, I don't really look for much else. I mean, you don't visit some place, and then spend all your time in the hotel room, unless you happen to be a nutty Hollywood star. Which is why I prefer a B&B to a hotel. On the minus side, since B&B Inns are usually mom & pop enterprises, there's no real guarantee of getting what you paid for, unlike a Kimpton Hotel, or a Hilton or Marriott, where the brand name ensures that you get exactly what you are promised.

As a compromise, what you can do is frequent B&B's which you know for sure are going to be at least as good as the offer, if not better than advertised. To make a long story short, here's a list of Bed & Breakfast Inns in Fort Lauderdale which are culled from the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau's recommended list. You can rest assured that these are quality places, spend the money saved on shopping and things to do in Fort lauderdale, and thank me for afters.

Green Island Inn: 3300 NE 27th St., Fort Lauderdale 33308; (888) 505-8951, Contact - Michael Green

Pelican Place: 3221 NE 7th Place, Pompano Beach 33062; (954) 956-8999; www.4rentbythebeach.com/

Villa Venezia: 132 Isle of Venice Dr., Fort Lauderdale 33301; (954) 832-0981; www.villa-venezia.com/

Tropi Rock Resort: 2900 Belmar St., Fort Lauderdale 33304; (800) 987-9385; www.tropirock.com/

Sea Turtle Inn: 315 Roosevelt Street, Hollywood 33019; (954) 599-9199; www.hotels-rates.com/

Phoenix Beach House & Guest Apartments: 3609 NE 27th St., Fort Lauderdale 33308; (954) 733-7701; www.beachguesthouse.com/

Berkshire Beach Club Of Deerfield: 500 N. A1A Hwy., Deerfield Beach 33441; (888) 595-2382; www.pyramidresorts.com/

Sleepless in Hotel Vintage Park, Seattle

Thanks to Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, there is, and always will be, a heavy fog of romance smothering Seattle, especially for couples hoping to hit third base or build a stronger relationship. And in the romantic heart of Seattle, directly across from the Seattle Public Library, sits the Vintage Park Hotel (a Kimpton Hotel), which bills itself as the place for romantic escapades, weddings and wine & dine getaway weekends. The downtown location offers a splendid way to begin an exploration of Washington's wine country and it also provides easy access to all the important attractions and things to do in Seattle.

Each room in this boutique hotel is dedicated to a local Washington State winery and vineyard. The Vintage Park astutely promotes a gaggle of romance specials which include free bottles of wine from local vineyards. For example, there's the Taste of Tuscany package which includes accommodations for two with a bottle of Washington wine delivered to your room at turndown, handpicked by the hotel's 'Grape Goddess', hosted evening wine hour from 5PM to 6PM in the hotel's lobby, complimentary overnight valet parking, morning newspaper and morning coffee service.

All guest rooms in the Vintage Park hotel offer complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access, on-demand pay-per-view movies, CNN and ESPN, hairdryers, irons and ironing boards, bathrobes, Aveda amenities, down pillows, sound-proof windows, mini-bar, 24-hour Room Service and concierge service, complimentary newspapers, overnight shoeshine, same-day laundry service, in-room exercise and yoga programs, and an essential travel items kit. The hotel is pet-friendly, and even offers a special pet package that comes complete with a pet survival kit, and a special bed for pets, food and water dish and a t-shirt, with dog walkers and dog-sitters available through the concierge.

Rates from $319 (try using Priceline or Hotwire to get cheaper rates). Hotel amenities include meeting facilities, a fitness center, and most important of all - Umbrellas, which is a prized possession to have in Seattle.

Info: 1100 Fifth Avenue Seattle WA 98101; (206) 624-8000; www.hotelvintagepark.com/

Green Hotels in San Francisco

So nowadays almost every hotel touts some kind of green aka eco-friendly initiative, or certification or some sort of affiliation with any one of dozens of green business groups. But at the end of the day, its a bit difficult to judge whether your stay at the hotel was actually different from any other hotel, as in more of a greener stay or not.

Point I'm trying to make is that it would be nice if you could say, with absolute certainity, that your stay was greener then the green goblin. San Francisco is one of the pioneer cities in this regard, and most things to do in San Francisco are bound to be environmentally correct, and there are a few hotels where you can walk in blind, do anything you want, or use any of their services and amenities, and still be able to say that you didn't fall off the green wagon.

One of those hotels happen to be the Orchard Garden hotel, LEED certified (which is very rare for a hotel), eco-friendly rooms, guestroom key card energy control system, in-room recycling system, chemical-free cleaning products, compact fluorescent light bulbs and a 100% tobacco-free environment. Nice location in Union Square, neat, luxurious and you can rest assured that everything you do and use is going to be eco-friendly. Info: 466 Bush Street San Francisco CA 94108; (415) 399-9807; www.theorchardgardenhotel.com/

Another hotel almost as green as the Orchard Garden is the Triton hotel, again in Union Square, featuring eco rooms with integrated practices such as a sophisticated waste recycling program, biodegradable cleaning products, recycled paper, and organic coffee. Hotel Triton's environmental efforts became the inspiration and blueprint for Kimpton Hotel's eco-program in 2005, which is now being implemented at all Kimpton Hotels nationwide. Info: 342 Grant Avenue at Bush Street San Francisco CA 94104; (415) 394-0500; www.hoteltriton.com/

Other San Francisco hotels which fall into the category of 'very green' include the Fairmont San Francisco and Hotel Palomar.

Weekend Special At Hilton Checkers Los Angeles

The Hilton Checkers Los Angeles is offering weekend specials with rates starting from $149 per night. That's around $100 less than the standard room rate. More details about the special here.

If being a part of the hot LA scene is on your list of things to do in Los Angeles, you might want to find anotehr place. Because the 12 story Hilton Checkers is a sort of a misfit amongst the other luxury Los Angeles hotels surrounding it, and has its own place in the history books (built in 1927) and a kind of understated charm and a feeling that this is not a place where you want to flaunt your wealth or status.

This European conservativeness is totally against what goes for conventional hotel wisdom in Los Angeles, as far as decor and big, splashy amenities and flamboyant lobbies and eclectic rooms are concerned. The Hilton Checkers steers clear of all these entrapments, and instead offers neutral toned walls, a wood-paneled library, a discrete rooftop pool with a sundeck and whirlpool and a great view of Downtown LA, and quiet corridors adorned with Asian antiques.

But what the Hilton Checkers does, it does unqualifiably well. The Checkers restaurant is a peaceful oasis highly favored by those in the know, with a menu featuring cuisine ranging from Contemporary American to stylish French, with the Checkers Lounge being heavily frequented by the regulars sipping martinis in an intimate setting.

The Checkers Spa is not just a spa attached to a hotel. Mostly, its the other way around. The Spa is so good, offering so many massages and treatments, with state-of-the-art equipment, that its actually an asset which pulls in a lot of clients who end up staying at the hotel, just to be able to attend spa sessions.

The 188 guest rooms are equally solid and furnished with elegance and attention to detail, like the fresh flowers in the bathroom, which by the way is outfitted with marble flooring, Neutrogena toileteries, a hairdryer and shower massager. Ergonomic leather chairs, flat screen television with free cable and pay-per-view movies, free high speed internet, complimentary coffee with a coffee-maker, iron & ironing board, CD player and a complimentary copy of USAToday await you in the rooms. Hotel amenities include valet parking ($23), 24 hour room service and concierge services.

Info: 535 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles CA 90071; (213) 624-0000; www.hiltoncheckers.com/

PerriHouse Bed & Breakfast Inn Orlando

The PerriHouse Bed & Breakfast Inn is located inside a bird sanctuary located a few minutes' drive away from DisneyWorld and Universal Studios. If you get a bit tensed up by the hustle and bustle of the dazzling range of things to do in Orlando and with the buzz and thrills inside the theme parks, the PerriHouse is a perfect way to unwind and relax with a pond, a small birdhouse musuem and observation paths to watch the woodpeckers and hawks and herons that inhabit and fly in to the 15 acres off sanctuary that surround the Inn.

The Inn itself is kind of a laid back place, with four poster platform beds and fireplaces. A far cry from the luxury resorts that dot the landscape around and inside DisneyWorld and Universal Studios. Of course, there's also a take associated with this give. Meaning that when you get a $99 room in a scenic and peaceful location a few minutes' drive from one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, there's got to be a few downsides.

For starters, its not within walking distance of anything. Second, there seems to be a problem with the service, which is as laid back as the Inn itself. And the grounds are not all that well maintained. Most of the rooms are pretty small, and had it not been for the scenic and central location, definitely not worth $130 or more.

These downsides are probably offset if you ask for a suite in the new Villa de Perri, which can accomodate upto 6 people with a seperate living and dining area, and a full size modern kitchen. All the 8 guest rooms are equipped with private entrances and private baths. In-room amenities include a television with VCR and free movies from the library, hardryer and bathrobes, use of the common kitchen if you wish to cook, and a Continental breakfast from 8 to 11 am.

Hotel amenities include a library, a nice outdoor pool and jazuzzi, with a sundeck.

Info: 10417 Vista Oaks Court Lake Buena Vista FL 32836; (800) 780-4830; www.perrihouse.com/

Canyon Ranch Miami Beach Hotel & Spa

Coming soon to Miami, later in 2008, is an aberration of a hotel - Canyon Ranch Miami Beach Hotel & Spa. Aberration because in a city which prides itself on its gross decadence and overt consumption, not to mention alcohol binges and cocaine fueled parties, the Canyon Ranch's signature offering is peace and quiet and an atmosphere of calmness which goes against the very definition of Miami hotels.

A hotel in Miami exists for one, and one reason only - To push their guests off the edge, in terms of crossing over from an 'ordinary' life into the party zone that blankets the City. The Canyon Ranch, on the other hand, aims to bring their hard-partying guests back to reality with a dose of bodily and spiritual rejenuvation. With the kinds of things to do in Miami, the Canyon Ranch is likely going to be kept very busy 'rejunevating' visitors and locals.

Not that they're not materialistic. A night at the Canyon Ranch Miami Beach will cost you a minimum of $650. And for this, you get a waterfall which is meant to convey a message of peace and joy and stuff like that. You get an ice cave, and Yoga pavilions and other stuff which is all meant to squeeze the party animal out of your brain, leaving it drained and bringing you down to reality with a loud thud.

But these are just the accessories. The main tools are the hotel, the guest rooms and the spa. A spectacular lobby designed by David Rockwell awaits you, awash in natural scents, with a 4 stoory suspended mangrove scupture above and polished stone and shell floors below. Thr 150 luxurious guest rooms, all structured to offer specatular views of the ocean, the intracoastal waters and the City. Inside lies an oasis of luxury and state-of-the-art hospitality offerings, with marble baths, a designer kitchen attached to one and two bedroom suites, fine linens and even more fine bedding.

The 70,000 sq ft Wellness Spa has every possible massage and body treatments available, not to mention a rock climbing wall and a full service gym, along with things you might never even have heard of. Its all more than enough to rejunevate a dead body and push in a soul into it and make it stand upright and head for South beach.

Dining options will include the oceanview Canyon Ranch Grill serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, the lobby Carillon Cafe for socializing and a quick break, the Conservatory which offers organic tea in a calming atmosphere by exotic greenery and wooden shutters, the pool side Cabana with juices and smoothies, and EEZZ's juice bar located next to the spa reception.

Two other branches of the Canyon Ranch are already in existence in Tucson AZ and Lenox, MA.

Info: 6801 Collins Ave Miami Beach FL 33141; (800) 742-9000; www.canyonranch.com/

Gas Rebate Summer Package from Hotel Sax Chicago

Hotel Sax Chicago has a summer special package which includes a $50 stored value card from BP/Amoco, along with complimentary parking. Offer valid until September 1 2008. Package rates from $259. More details here.

The hotel is situated on the Chicago River at Marina City in the heart of downtown Chicago, close to North Michigan Avenue shopping, Loop theaters and businesses and the best of the touristy things to do in Chicago.

With the House of Blues next door, the Sax, as the name implies, has a distinctly musical bent to all its offerings and to the look and the feel inside the hotel. Its not really funky, but more like an attempt to be in sync with the hipsters. Let's just say that its kind of like upscale luxury with a designer who may have slightly exceeded his brief - The kind of rooms and service which would appeal to extrovert performers and their groupies. Not that I don't, but just so you know....

Take the Crimson Lounge, for example. Rich and luxurious, upscale and costly, cocktail menu, a unique VIP bottle service, and a DJ who tends to forget that its supposed to be a place to relax and have some quiet conversation. End result is that the Lounge is a cross between a hot nightspot and a luxury hotel cocktail lounge.

The guest rooms at the Sax, again, are spacious, extremely well designed and impeccably maintained, with luxurious furnishings including 42" flat-panel HDTVs and 320-count Egyptian cotton sheets on large King or queen beds, and spacious bathrooms with a large deep-soak bathtub make it a definitive pleasure to stay in. But.. the hotel seems to have some sort of tie-up with Microsoft, and the best rooms, large European sized with rich wood paneled walls, are available only on the 6th floor, near a studio which displays the Microsoft powered gadgets.

Inspite of the somewhat unnerving effort to be 'different', the Sax still comes across as a pretty neat place to put up at when you're in Chi-town, with its location, the high quality amenities and personalized service and the A-grade rooms. Which, in the end, is what a hotel is all about.

Info: 333 N Dearborn St Chicago, IL 60610; (312) 245-0333; www.hotelsaxchicago.com/

Sacramento Summer Package From Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza

Family summer holiday in Sacramento? Look no further. The Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza in Downtown Sacramento is offering a "Historic Sacramento Railroad Museum Summer Package" for $154 on weekends and $199 on weekdays. Includes overnight accomodation, admission for two adults to the Railroad Museum (children ages 16 and under admitted free to Museum), and breakfast for two adults (children ages 12 and under stay and eat free). More details and booking information here.

With the best attractions and things to do in Sacramento bunched around it, the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza is a prime destination for both business travelers and families visiting Sacramento on vacation. The State Capitol Building is steps away from the hotel. The historic treasures and tourist attractions of Old Sacramento, including the Railroad Musuem, lie just 2 blocks from the hotel.

As far as amenities and services for guests are concerned, the hotel has vast and cavernous spaces to accomodate large groups of upto 1000 people. 15,000 sq ft of meeting space, five meeting rooms, an outdoor pool, fully equipped fitness center, valet parking, a comfortable concierge lounge with a flatscreen television and an expansive view of the city are some of the perks of booking a room at the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza.

The guest rooms are equally spacious, with complimentary high speed internet, large work desks, free morning newspaper, cable TV, coffee and tea maker, pillowtop bedding, iron & ironing board, and solid wooden floors and a lush ambience with large windows with ornate drapes and deep comfortable couches.

Dining and room service is taken care of by the Cyprus Grille Restaurant which has a casual atmosphere and ofers breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with great views of the city. The hotel also has a full service bar in the lounge mentioned above. In addition, the area is home to a lot of famed restaurants serving California cuisine, including the Firehouse restaurant, River City Brewery and Joe’s Crab Shack.

Info: 300 J Street Sacramento CA 95814; (916) 446-0100; www.sacramentohi.com/

Las Vegas Treasure Island Summer Solstice Offer

Treasure Island Las Vegas has a special Summer Solstice offer with rates from $89 per night based on single or double occupancy and a two night minimum stay. Offer includes free lunch when you purchase one for 'The Buffet at TI', free drink when you purchase one at Kahunaville Party Bar, free VIP viewing access for the Sirens of TI show, $22 Credit at 'WET - The Spa & Salon at TI', and a bonus of $15 Casino Free Play®.

Offer valid from July 1, 2008 through September 3, 2008. Book before Aug 1 2008. More details about the package and booking information available here.

The deluxe guest rooms that come with this package offer floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Las Vegas Strip, Sirens Cove, or sunset over the Spring Mountain range. Each room features one King or two Queen beds, marble bathroom, handcrafted furniture, in-room safe, and high speed internet access.

Not that there's any shortage of things to do in Las Vegas and the Strip, but in addition to the famed and dazzling variety of gaming, entertainment and dining options available at TI, amenities offered to guests include a magnificient and newly renovated pool with plush ottoman seating and double chaise lounges poolside, along with a 25 person hot tub for frolic and fun. Weekends at the pool, from 2 pm to 7 pm, are even more entertaining with a mix of top 40, reggae and party music from DJ Mike Kleid. Private cabanas with LCD TV and private host are also available.

For shopaholics, TI is connected to the Fashion Show Shopping mall by way of a pedestrian bridge, showcasing upscale department stores, in addition to more than 200 specialty shops.

Info: 3300 S. Las Vegas Blvd.Las Vegas NV 89109; (800) 288-7206; www.treasureisland.com/

Cheap Hotels in Anaheim

Thinking about a family vacation in Anaheim? How about that excellent good neighbour participating hotel? Yeah, that sounds good. So does $2000 - To the Disney guys and the hotels and the airline guys and the restaurants, and the...

Well, you get the point, I think. Which is that blowing $2000 on a few days in Anaheim is child's play. Unfortunately, the Disneyland resort in Anaheim is the one place your child really would like to play in this summer. So... So, what we need is cheap and decent lodgings, to offset the costs of going to, and enjoying all the things to do in Anaheim.

Which brings to the top 10 list of cheap Anaheim hotels. Using this link, you can search for hotels costing between $50 and $150. Listed below is what I got from my search. Bear in mind that this list won't include some hotels which might offer rooms for $60 or $50, but could possibly turn out to be rat or roach infested dumps. So I've filtered out the list to offer only those which I know for sure will be fairly decent and comfortable, if not luxurious.

Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel Anaheim Resort - Rates from $84 at the Hojo Anaheim. 1380 S. Harbor Blvd. Anaheim CA 92802; (714) 776-6120; www.hojoanaheim.com/

Candy Cane Inn - Rates from $97 at this Inn. 1747 South Harbor Blvd. Anaheim CA 92802; (714) 774-5284; www.candycaneinn.net/

Anabella Hotel Anaheim - Rates from $110 at the Anabella. 1030 W Katella Ave Anaheim CA 92802; (714) 905-1050; www.anabellahotel.com/

Fairfield Inn Anaheim Disneyland Resort - Rates from $119 at this resort. 1460 South Harbor Boulevard Anaheim CA 92802; (714) 772-6777; Web link

Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort - Rates from $119 at the Sheraton Park, formerly known as the Coast Hotel. 1855 South Harbor Boulevard Anaheim CA 92802; (714) 750-1811; Web link

Carousel Inn and Suites - Rates from $140 at the Carousel. 1530 S. Harbor Boulevard Anaheim CA 92802; (714) 758-0444; www.carouselinnandsuites.com/

Best Western Park Place Inn and Mini Suites - Rates from $99 at this Best Western. 1544 S. Harbor Boulevard Anaheim CA 92802; (714) 776-4800; www.parkplaceinnandminisuites.com/

Tropicana Inn and Suites - Rates from $99 at the Tropicana Inn. 1540 South Harbor Blvd Anaheim CA 92802; (714) 635-4082; www.tropicanainn-anaheim.com/

Park Vue Inn - Rates from $121 at the Park Vue Inn. 1570 S. Harbor Boulevard Anaheim CA 92802; (714) 772-3691; www.parkvueinn.com/

Sheraton Anaheim Hotel - Rates from $124 at the Sheraton. 900 South Disneyland Drive Anaheim CA 92802; (714) 778-1700; Web link

Pacific Beach San Diego Vacation Cottages

If you've ever tried booking a hotel room in San Diego near the Convention Center when the crowd from the San Diego County Fair starts overlapping with the July 4th holiday visitors, you'll know that its not only difficult, its darn near impossible. For Comic-Con 2008, people are booking rooms as far away as Mission Beach and further. Every year, the first week of July, the number of people and the number of things to do in San Diego goes up sharply. This is where necessity promotes innovation in the form of beach cottages aka vacation homes.


While there's a huge number of choices available in terms of vacation homes, you can filter it down two levels - First, located slam-bang on the beach, and second, located slam-bang on Pacific Beach. Which brings us to the 'Beach Cottages' (http://www.beachcottages.com/), a family owned enterprise which offers one and two bedroom Cottages, Apartments, Studios, Suites and Motel Rooms - All fully furnished and all except the motel rooms come with attached kitchens, again fully equipped.

White walls, tiled roofs, private patios with a tiny table and nice chairs and an umbrella for enjoying the view of the ocean, which is just across the cottage compund. Its centrally located, with the boardwalk, the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld San Diego only minutes away. A 1 bedroom ocean front cottage capable of accomodating upto four people goes for $305 per night. Motel rooms are around $150 and a two bedroom, two bathroom suite comes at $365. Photo credit & copyrights - Beach Cottages, 4255 Ocean Blvd Pacific Beach San Diego CA 92109; (858) 483-7440

Compare all this with a boxed room in a luxury hotel where you'll likely pay twice this amount and the only additional thing you get is room service, and you'll never sleep in a hotel room again. Vacation homes rock, and its my guess that more and more people will be using them instead of hotels as prices go south and the economy slows down.

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/

The Pod Hotel - NYC Budget Lodging

You want a hotel room in Manhattan, close to the Rockefeller Center, Central Park, the United Nations and St. Patrick's Cathedral, for less than $150? You need to get a pod. Not literally, but in a manner of speaking - A room at the Pod Hotel, New York, on 230 E 51st St. The hotel labels itself as 'hip, convenient accommodations for the stylish and spendthrifty traveler' and offers rooms for $149 plus. Photo courtesy & copyrights - The Pod Hotel.

Your choice of Pod includes a Queen, Double, single or a bunk. All the pods offer LCD television, iPod docking stations, dimmer controls, free wi-fi internet, closets and in-room safes. The Queen and Double rooms offer private glass encased bathrooms and showers while the single rooms and bunks have shared baths. The bathrooms all have stainless-steel sinks, granite floors, rainhead showers, wall-mounted jets and streaming music. The bunk pod has two bunk beds with tiny LCD televisions for each bunk.



Its a well known fact that any hotel in Manhattan offering rooms below $200 is bound to be crap. But then, in this case, you might have to make an exception because the rooms are quite tiny, even by New York standards, and the amenities offered bare minimum. If that makes it crap, well... Nothing I can do to change your view, but what I look for in a hotel room is cleanliness, comfort and location.

I mean, what the heck are you going to do if you had an additional 200 sq ft? Dance in it? All you need is a bed, television, internet and a bathroom. If you have this, the rest is just window dressing. Well, the Pod has these things, and its cool and nerdy and comfortable, and has swanky bathrooms. And its cheap. And located slam-bang next to most of the cool things to do in New York everything you might want to visit as a tourist in the Big Apple. Nuf Said.



Info: 230 E 51st St. NYC, NY 10022; (800) 742-5945; www.thepodhotel.com/

Nickelodeon Family Suites 4-D Experience

Seems the Nick Hotel doesn't think there are enough things to do in Orlando, Fla., because the Orlando Sentinel says that Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn has announced the grand opening of its 4-D Experience, a 73-seat theater where hotel guests can see 3-D movies with sensory effects. The theater will show six short films -- including a SpongeBob SquarePants movie -- that include effects such as scents, bubbles and vibrations. Each will end with virtual "sliming," a Nickelodeon signature.

A 4-D experience sounds and feels like just the ticket and added motivation needed to stay inside the resort and never say anything else in Orlando... But for the record, if the hotel seems more attractive than the rest of Orlando, that's not just because of a new theater which will make you think you've lost your marbles. The Nick has fun activities by the bucketload, and even more fun guest suites.

Here's a few of the highlights - Two massive interactive pool complexes with multiple slides, climbing nets, and water jets; Nickelodeon-themed KidSuites®, 777 suites, netted basketball court; mini golf course; shaded kids play area with slides and squirt games, and an arcade with a 3000 sq ft game room. Average nightly rates from $246 onwards..

Info: 14500 Continental Gateway Orlando FL 32821; 407-387-5437; www.nickhotel.com/