Escape from Big Apple with The Madison Hotel, NJ

Facing up to traffic-clogged streets is one of the inescapable truths of New York vacations. Or is it? There's a new trend on to beat the bedlam and road rage - By putting up instead at decent New Jersey hotels. Thus, you can enjoy the dazzling array of things to do in New York by day and relax in the relative peace of the quiet NJ neighbourhoods in the late evenings and nights. Not to mention the fact that hotel rates in NJ are way cheaper than what you'd pay in NYC. And hotels in New Jersey are making the most of this by pushing NYC package deals offering free shuttle rides or transit tickets from NJ to exit and entry points in NYC.

Take for instance the Madison Hotel, located in Morristown, NJ. The hotel is offering a 'Big Apple Escape' package which includes deluxe accommodations for two, either Friday or Saturday night, a complimentary bottle of champagne upon arrival, free parking, complimentary continental Breakfast served in the lobby, $50 food and beverage credit towards dinner at Rod's Steak and Seafood Grille, and two roundtrip tickets on New Jersey Transit's Midtown Direct train to New York's Penn Station. rates from $189 (plus taxes).

Now if you were to try to get all this in NYC (and you can forget the free parking, which is a virtual impossibility for New York hotels near Times Square), you'd end up paying well over $350 per night.

The Madison is a family owned hotel, and has been for the last 57 years since 1951. In keeping with this individuality, the hotel offers a home away from home, with large and comfortable guest rooms with four poster beds, intricate and solid wooden furnishings, vanity mirrors, a work desk and cabinet, in addition to the usual modern gizmos and add-ons like high speed internet, first-run movies and a beverage center. Hotel amenities and facilities include an indoor swimming pool and a fully equipped fitness center.

Rod's Steak and Seafood Grille serves up fresh seafood, prime beef and has an award winning wine list. And the experience of dinner in a luxuriously refurbished turn of the century railway parlour car is not one to be missed.

What's not to like? Free parking, free breakfast, cheap and spacious well-appointed rooms, free transport to NYC and when you come back at night, you have free credits towards a royal dinner with a fine menu and excellent wine abroad a make-believe railway coach.

Info: One Convent Road Morristown NJ 07960 ; (800) 526-0729; www.themadisonhotel.com/

End of Summer Special from Clift Hotel San Francisco

If you're planning for San Francisco vacations in September, the Clift Hotel in Union Square is offering an 'End of Summer' special for the month of September 2008 with $50 off the best available rate and a complimentary one-level room upgrade. Use promo code LDP for online booking. rates from $305. Online booking and details about this and other specials at the Clift available here.

In addition to its prime location on Union Square (San Francisco hotels which are not in Union Square are treated like poor second cousins), the Clift also has nearly a century of history to flout. Not to mention the majestic soaring lobby and digital art exhibitions in the famous Redwood Room. Its more like a palace, actually. Which also likely explains why you're treated (and fleeced) like royalty.

Amenities and facilities at the Clift include a state-of-the-art Gym with a top-notch fitness center, 24 hour concierge services and valet parking, in-room massage and spa services, and in addition to the aforementioned Redwood Room, there's also Jeffrey Chodorow’s Asia de Cuba restaurant with Asian-Latin cuisine.

The guest rooms are equally luxurious and oversized, with King and Queen beds, down comforters, 400 thread Egyptian cotton sheets, branded bath amenities, cable television with multiple channels, video on demand and entertainment system, and an in-room safe, in addition to the usual basic travel necessities.

Info: 495 Geary Street San Francisco CA 94102; (415) 775-4700; www.clifthotel.com/

Hotel Menage Anaheim

In the middle of all the big chain and brand name Anaheim hotels on South Harbor Blvd sits the boutique Hotel Menage, which is decidely a change, at the very least, from the kitschy family friendliness of the whole zone. Situated a mile form the Anaheim Convention Center and just a block from Disneyland, the Menage bills itself as a cool place to hang out for the younger crowd, with a swanky restaurant and lounge and a hip pool which aims more for Vegas style heat with a party atmosphere and a poolside bar.

Even the rooms aim to be 'different' with 7 foot tall leather headboards and stunning decor which is not the norm in Anaheim. Loft style accommodations offer either a king bed and queen sleep-sofa, or two queen beds, leather wrapped headboards over seven feet high, midnight toned striped carpet, ambient lighting, cozy sitting area, stunning oversized custom desk, and a state-of-the-art 42" high-definition plasma television. Additional amenities include sunflower showerheads.

Amenities include complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access, imported coffees and teas, hair dryer, and iron & ironing board. Hotel facilities include the K'ya restaurant featuring Pacific Rim cuisine with sumptous seafood options on the menu. Then there's the Mist Pool Bar with tropical palms overlooking an exotic pool and cozy, private cabanas. The pool also offers a spectacular view of the nightly Fireworks extravaganza from Disneyland.

All said and done, a stay at the Menage is a totally different animal from the usual cookie-cutter hotels which offer cheap Anaheim vacations for the entire family. There's nothing cheap about any aspect of the Menage - except for the rates - starting from $119 per night for a Studio King capable of accomodating 4 people, with the Studio Loft King going at $129. Definitely recommended if you're a youngish group touring the attarctions and things to do in Anaheim and in the neighbourhood.

Info: 1221 South Harbor Blvd. Anaheim CA 92805; (888) 462-7275; www.hotelmenage.com/

Givin up the Gas Package from LAX Custom Hotel

I've been talking about the futility of hotels offering gas cards without free parking, and hotels situated in the middle of nowhere offering gas rebates to offset the extra driving distance. These are not real 'rebates'. They're just intended to fray extra costs. Then I bump into this special from the Custom Hotel, Los Angeles.

If you're talking Los Angeles vacations, this is what I call a 'complete' gas package - $25 gas rebate card, free valet parking, and best of all, the hotel is located just off LAX, which further reduces your transport costs. Rates from $139. These are all actually pluses which reduce costs over and above that you would pay at comparable Los Angeles hotels.

The hotel offering this Givin' up the Gas Package is the Custom, located high up on a hill on Lincoln Blvd, a short drive from Marina del Rey, Manhattan Beach, Venice, Santa Monica and Malibu, with easy access via the the 10, 405 and 105 freeways to all the important businesses and leisure things to do in Los Angeles.

Amenities at the hotel include espresso check-in, an on-the-go breakfast bar, Bistrotek restaurant, heated outdoor pool, stadium sundeck, Hopscotch pool bar and grill, poolside cabanas, fire pit and DJ lounge. The 250 guest rooms and suites spread over 12 floors are furnished with flat screen LCD televisions, stereos with iPod docking stations, minibars, complimentary high speed internet, Percale Italian linens and Egyptian cotton bath towels.

Info: 8639 Lincoln Boulevard Los Angeles CA 90045; (310) 645-0400; www.customhotel.com/

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