Hotelmare On Imperial Beach

Imperial Beach, it seems, is imperial for more than one reason. This impossibly beautiful beach front strip of land has no use for travelers. Or maybe it was just me. While hotels nationwide are struggling with dropping occupancy rates, Imperial Beach, just off San Diego, has only a handful of lodgings, and half of those are trash.

Don't get me wrong. For starters, of all the beaches I've ever seen (and I've seen a lot), Imperial Beach is probably the most scenic one ever. Secondly, I hate doing negative reviews. Usually, I just let it slide. But this was a bit too much - It was a hotelmare. I could just have booked in at any one of the hundreds of San Diego hotels. But I just wanted to stay at Imperial Beach. Is that too much to ask?

First hotel I went into, it was worse than a dump. Filthy rooms, rude staff and absolutely not worth even the $80 which they charged. I left after 20 minutes, paying a cancellation fee of $10. Next one I went to, it semmed pretty neat and clean and nice, and they didn't have a single room. I asked them if they would have a room the next day, and they said they were booked up well into the fall, and I could maybe try again next year. And with that, the clerk turned his back on me.

Which is when I gave up, and went back to San Diego. There were a couple more which I could have checked out, but after having voluntarily walked out of one, and being rejected out of hand at another one, I really didn't have the heart to face any more hotel heartbreak. I'm not naming names here, cause like I said, I don't do negative reviews. But note to the City of Imperial Beach - Build at least one good frickin' hotel.

Money Bags Special at Chamberlain West Hollywood

Feel like you're being taken for a ride by airlines and their new second bag check-in fees? Not when you're heading out for Los Angeles vacations. The Kor Hotel group's Los Angeles hotels are offering a 'Money Bags' special where they give you hotel credit matching the amount of your luggage fee, upto a maximum of $75. All you have to do to get the credit is to show your receipt at check-in. Participating hotels include the Chamberlain West Hollywood, Avalon Beverly Hills and Maison 140 Beverly Hills.

Use promo code 'MONEY' for online reservations, or visit the specials page on the Kor Hotel group's website, where you'll find other specials along with the Money Bags promo. This special is valid until Dec 29 2008. Rates per room, per night from $269 (taxes extra) based on single or double occupancy. The luggage receipt date must correspond to your hotel stay dates.

What you get for $269 is a Studio Suite, with other options all above $300. The studio suite for $269 is a 350 sq ft suite with a private bedroom separated from living room and work area. Bedroom features king bed with high thread count Italian linens, entertainment center with flat panel TV, DVD / CD player and VCR. Living room has spacious sitting area, large work desk and gas log fireplace, balcony.

The Chamberlain has 114 suites, and amenities and facilities include an American bistro restaurant and lounge, a rooftop heated pool with a sweeping view of the City, fitness and business centers with a conference room and additional meeting space, underground secure valet parking, dry cleaning and laundry services, along with maid service. Babysitting and childcare available on request. Wireless internet is available both in-room and in the public areas, but you have to pay for access.

Info: 1000 Westmount Drive West Hollywood California 90069; (310) 657-7400; www.chamberlainwesthollywood.com/

Endless Summer 2008 in Orlando - Get One Free

The Orlando Travel & Visitors Bureau has just spiked interest in Orlando vacations with something called Orlando’s Endless Summer. From August 15 through November 15, under the "Get One Free" offer, if you book a weekend retreat for two nights you get the third night free. Or buy one attractions ticket and get the second one free. More details here and here's the list of participating Orlando hotels.

And September is also Orlando’s Magical Dining Month, when participating restaurants will feature three-course, prix-fixe dinners for $19 or $29. Click here for more details and a list of participating restaurants.

Nothing much to say, except that free nights and free tickets to attractions are always in vogue. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that this is the first time that I'm seeing the Orlando Visitors Bureau focusing on the other and more conventional things to do in Orlando for tourists and visitors, like dining and sightseeing and shopping and hotel discounts, etc... Everything else besides the theme parks, that is.

If you're thinking Orlando sounds good for a late summer blowout holiday, then you might want to sync your trip to coincide with some major events, so you get more bang for the buck. Here's a full and searchable list of events scheduled in Orlando for the near future.

$26.99 per night in Vegas - Sam's Town Getaway Summer Special

Sounds hard to believe, but its true. $26.99 per night at Sam's Town Casino, Las Vegas, until Sept 30 2008. Minimum 2 nights booking and taxes extra. You get either a deluxe room with a King bed or a deluxe with two double beds. Use promo code SUMMER8. I don't think you'll find a better deal at any of the Las Vegas hotels. More details about the specials and packages at Sam's Town can be found here.

The rooms are 375 sq ft in size with in-room hairdryer and iron/ironing Board, cable channels and movies, high speed internet connection available, with park view based on availability at $10.00 extra per night. You can also ask for rollaway beds and cribs, and refrigerators, if you need these things.

There's also a snug swimming pool lined with Palm trees, and lounge chairs to soak in the sun and the scenery. Roxy's Lounge has live bands and entertainment with sizzling headliners. Multiple dining options to satisfy every taste is available, including Billy Bob's SteakHouse & Saloon, Firelight Buffett, Willy and Jose's Cantina, Panda Express and a wealth of cafes for sandwiches, coffee and quick bites, along with an ice cream parlour and even a McDonald's and a Dunkin' Donuts.

If you're looking for cheap Las Vegas vacations with a bit of resort getaway downtime along with evenings lit up with Vegas style entertainment, then this Sam's Town summer getaway special is just what the doctor ordered. In fact, its actually a bit out of the way from the sizzling things to do in Las Vegas, so while its still signature Vegas, you do get some respite from the extravaganza and the breathless adrenalin pumping excitement of the Strip.

Info: 5111 Boulder Highway Las Vegas NV 89122; (702) 456-7777; www.samstownlv.com/

Hybrid happiness at the Allegro Hotel, Chicago

Chi-town and the myriad things to do in Chicago seem to be getting a lot of attention these days, and well primed to take full advantage of the spurt of interest in Chicago vacations is Kimpton's Allegro Hotel, sharing space with the historic Cadillac Palace Theatre in the trendy North Loop theatre district.

Social undercurrents are roiling the MidWest as the old mixes with the new, hip and cool Chicago - High-rise buildings in historic locations, green, environment-friendly lifestyle clashing with conspicous consumption, a fusion mix of art, theatre, jazz, rock concerts and tech gizmos.

And Chicago hotels sure know how to keep atop this changing culture with packages and specials designed to appeal to these social needs. Take for instance, the hybrid happiness package from the Allegro - deluxe accomodations, complimentary valet parking for your hybrid vehicle and a hosted wine reception in the lobby. Rates from $349. For this price, you get a Queen room, with 350 thread count Frette linens, 37" LCD HD flat-screen TV with cable access and on-demand movies, iHome docking station with alarm clock, fully-stocked honor bar with organic options, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, in-room safe designed to accommodate laptops, and Aveda bath amenities.

There's other packages like Metra Escape. Ride the Metra, present your stamped Metra ticket at check-in and you'll het $10 room credit per adult, valid for any food or beverage purchase, a guide for public transport and trolley use, and a hosted wine reception. And Kimpton makes a $10 donation to the Trust for Public Land for every Metra Escape package booked.

Click here for online booking and to see details about these and other specials at the Allegro.

Info: 171 West Randolph Street Chicago, IL 60601; (800) 643-1500; www.allegrochicago.com/

Seattle Staycation, Virtual Golf at Hotel 1000

Search a thousand Seattle hotels for that really special 'special', and what you get is a Seattle Staycation package at the Hotel 1000 where you can play virtual golf in 'The Golf Club' which magically transports you to authentic and fabulous championship courses from Pebble Beach in Carmel to Princeville on Kauai.

In addition to the two rounds of virtual golf, the package includes deluxe overnight accommodations, 25% discount on spa services in 'The Spaahh at Hotel 1000', two tickets to the Seattle Art Museum, picnic lunch for two to enjoy at a destination of your choice within Seattle, and complimentary overnight valet parking. Rates from $299. Call (877) 315-1088 for reservations or visit the site for online booking and more details.

This hotel is a bit 'different' and more geeky than most other hotels you're ever going to see. For starters, the bathtubs fill from the ceiling. Then there's the 'intelligent' private bar service which takes privacy to a new level. The tech wizardry doesn't stop there either. Smart infra-red technology controls the temperature, the 'Do Not Disturb' signs are electronic, complimentary wireless internet and a 40" LCD HDTV await you in the rooms, and here's the kicker - even the art display is intelligent, and controlled and changed based on your preferences.

In addition to the Golf Club, the hotel also offers a full service spa, a fitness center, and a business center with individual workstations and 6200 sq ft of meeting and conference space.

Info: 1000 First Avenue Seattle WA 98104; (206) 957-1000; www.hotel1000seattle.com/

August Tasting Menu on Delta King Sacramento

Its considered good form to have dinner and take in a show aboard the Delta King riverboat when you happen to be in Sacramento. Kinda like one of the must-visit attractions for Sacramento vacations. And August happens to be a well.. august month for literally tasting the menu on the floating hotel cum restaurant cum theater moored in downtown Old Sacramento.

That's because the PilotHouse restaurant is offering a 4-course tasting menu until Aug 31 2008. First course of Oysters on the 1/2 shell with yuzu and ginger granita, second course of black seabass, a third one with duck breast and the last one with Duet of Parfait (lemon and blackberry cheesecake with chocolate amaretto cream). Prepared by chef Julian Vasquez, $36 for dinner and $13 for wine. For reservations, call (916) 441-4440.

You'll have to check their website for the latest shows being staged in the theater, and if you want to go the whole hog and book in for a floating hotel room, the Delta King offers 44 ornately decorated and completely renovated staterooms with either a view of the Sacramento River or Old Town Sacramento. Have to warn you, though, that the place is darn pretty in the late evenings, with the lights twinkling on the river and the peace and serene calm and slow pace of Sacramento, coupled with the sumptous feasts and the theater and well... its kinda addictive, and you'll hate to let go of it. Best part is the price - rates starting from $81 per night.

As far as floating hotels go, there isn't really anything to compare with, except for the Queen Mary, but as far as Sacramento hotels are concerned, you won't find much else which offers such a comprehensive mix of accomodation, entertainment, location, views and dining - A true Sacramento experience which you shouldn't miss.

Info: 1000 Front Street Old Sacramento CA 95814; www.deltaking.com/;
Tel: Delta King Hotel - (800) 825-5464 & (916) 444-5464; Delta King Theatre - (916) 995-5464; Pilothouse Restaurant - (916) 441-4440

Best Western Stovall's Inn Anaheim

All of America is taking cookie-cutter Anaheim vacations in cookie-cutter chain hotels. Bad as it might sound, there must be something to it if so many people are doing 'it'. And the 'it' is the Best Western Stovall's Inn - Cheap rooms spacious enough to pack in the entire family, decent facilities and perfect location slam-bang directly across the street from Disneyland Resort and the Anaheim Convention Center.

The guest rooms are equipped with mini-fridges, microwaves, coffee makers, iron & ironing boards, hairdryers, high-speed wireless internet and the hotel offers a complimentary deluxe continental breakfast. Amenities for guests include a business center and fully equipped fitness center.

And what's it got for the family? Well, other than the free breakfast, children under 17 stay free, you get free parking, there's 2 swimming pools, 2 spas & a children's wading pool, a coin-operated laundry and laundry and valet service. And a restaurant next door serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Then there's the Disneyland shuttle, sighseeing tours and park hopper tickets (ask at the front desk).

Last, but most important, you get an extra-large room with two double beds, seperate vanity area and bathroom (and all the stuff mentioned above) at rates starting from $85 per night (for a family of four, with two adults and two children). Plus, stay 3 consecutive nights, and you get a $25 gas card (offer valid until Sept 30 2008). Factor in the gas card and your hotel bill gets slashed to $230 for 3 nights.

Info: 1110 W Katella Avenue Anaheim CA 92802; (714) 778-1880; www.stovallsinn.com/

Got BART? 20% Off at Kimpton Hotels San Francisco

Riding the BART used to be the fun part of San Francisco vacations. Now its also a good way to shave 20% off your hotel bill. Show your ticket stub from BART, Amtrak or Caltrain, and you're entitled to 20% off on the best available rate at any one of the Kimpton Hotels in San Francisco.

Valid until December 31 2008. Participating hotels include Argonaut Hotel, Harbor Court Hotel, Hotel Monaco San Francisco, Hotel Triton, Hotel Palomar San Francisco, Prescott Hotel, Serrano Hotel and the Sir Francis Drake. Call (800) 546-7866 or visit the Kimpton website for more details about the offer and online booking. Use promo code RTR.

Not to make too big a deal about it, but the Triton is the greenest (green as in eco-friendly green) of the lot, while the Drake is the oldest and kindof an institution if you're looking for more than just a hotel room.

And the Argonaut is the most kid-friendly of the lot - Which is saying a lot since they're all Kimptons, which are all extremely good family hotels, with the Kimpton Kids program and other stuff meant to breed loyalty among family travelers. In addition to the usual stuff that Kimpton hotels have, the Argonaut has a great location on Fisherman's Wharf.

Spa Treatment Package At Beacon Hotel Miami

Miami vacations mean squat unless you enjoy the guilty pleasures of one of the high-end South Beach spas which proliferate on the oceanfront like weeds in an unkept garden. Thankfully, almost all the oceanfront Miami hotels have an in-house spa or offer discounted referrrals to one of the nearby spas. Point is, I was just looking through the spa offerings in Miami, and a couple of good spa packages from the Beacon Hotel on Ocean Drive caught my eye.

The first, a spa treatment pacakge, includes room accommodation, 15% off all spa treatments at Miami City Massage. Minimum 2 nights booking required. Rates starting from $159 ($199 for weekends). The second package, called 'Calma ', is a bit more comprehensive and offers two nights and three days in an ocean front room with two certificates for a 45 minute Swedish massage at Le Spa, and valet parking. $284 per night ($344 per night if you book for a weekend). More details about these and other specials from the Beacon Hotel here.

The room that comes with the Calma package has a King bed with a sweeping view of the Atlantic, and is furnished with in-room safe, mini-bar, flat panel LCD TV, cable TV, complimentary wireless high speed Internet, and complimentary breakfast from 9-11 am. The rooms are pristine white, with glistening marble flooring and luxurious haeavy furnishings. Large windows with light drapes cover nearly half the wall and offer a sweeping view of the Ocean.

The Rendezvous restaurant and 'The Bar' make up the dining and drinking options, with both in-door and out-door seating. Other than this, the Beacon offers all the usual amenities like room service, concierge services, valet laundry and turn-down. All said and done, not a bad way to spend a weekend exploring the things to do in Miami, with a couple of relaxing spa treatments at Le Spa, valet parking and a free breakfast thrown in. Sounds like an ideal getaway.

Info: 720 Ocean Drive Miami Beach FL 33139; (305) 674-8200; www.beacon-hotel.com/

Labor Day Hotel Sale & Specials

The clock's ticking out the summer, and Labor Day is almost here. Made plans for the Labor Day weekend? If you haven't had time yet, here's a listing of Labor Day specials and packages for hotels nationwide.

Expedia has a nice listing of 3 and 4 day labor weekend discount deals with air+hotel packages, and gas rebates. Rates from $373. Details here.

Orbitz's Insider Index offers up details about the top 10 Labor Day getaways, along with a promo for flight + hotel package for 3+ nights. Receive $50 off instantly when you book a flight + hotel package for 3+ nights to any of our destinations when you enter promo code LABOR50. Travel must occur between August 29 and September 8. Book by September 1. Details here.

Missing from both these offers are Labor Day specific destinations with family hotels and things to do on vacation which are especially relevant on Labor Day. One such location is Mackinaw City, MI, where the Grand Hotel On Mackinac Island has a Labor Day Jazz package. If you're there, don't miss the Mackinac Bridge walk on Sept 1.

Fall for Hawaii Special at ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel

The ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel is offering a 1 night free special - 3rd night free if you pay for 2 nights. Offer includes a free "Breakfast on the Beach", 2-for-1 Luau, an Aloha Book, free daily newspaper, free wifi service, and children receive a free toy at check-in. Offer valid until Dec 25th 2008. Rates from $174 for an oceanview room. More details here.

Before you start packing and dreaming about Honolulu vacations with Hula dances and Tiki restaurants and snooze-fests on Waikiki beach, you might want to take a look at the weather forecasts, because some volcano just blew its top in Hawaii, and the resultant spew of volcanic ash has closed down flights for the moment. But it should be clear in a day or so.

Comparing this offer with other Honolulu hotels is a bit like apples and oranges, since very few 'decent' hotels actually offer a 3rd night free in Oahu. Getting a good hotel room on the beach, with a view of the ocean, for less than $100 per night is a pipe-dream, even in late summer.

For the record, rooms at the ResortQuest Waikiki sport a cool decor with a tropical tinge and are equipped with air conditioning, a 32" flat-screen TV, and refrigerator. Most of the rooms have partial or full oceanviews, with a private lanai. Standard size rooms aren't all that big, but big enough to comfortably accomodate at least 2 people, with 1 King Bed or two doubles. Standard rates (for online booking) from $225.

On the 2nd floor of the hotel is the cavernous and popular Tiki's Grill & Bar, with lots of space and even more people, ofefring up sumptous seafood and Hawaiaan specials like Coconut Shrimp and Kalua Pig Quesadillas for appetizers, and entrees like a Hawaiian Plate of kalua pig, lau lau, lomi salmon, ahi poke, and coconut haupia.

And since the hotel is located on Kalakaua Avenue, its a pretty good place to start an exploration of all the things to do in Honolulu.

Info: 2570 Kalakaua Avenue Honolulu HI 96815; (877) 997-6667; Website

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego Staycation Package

Finally, SoCal residents can enjoy smokin hot San Diego vacations without having to shell out the big dough on upscale San Diego hotels in the Gaslamp Quarter. That's cause the Hard Rock hotel is offering a Staycation package for Southern California residents.

During the summer months, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego is extending a special discounted rate to Southern California residents of $199 per night, Sunday through Thursday for studio accommodations, with a complimentary upgrade to a Hard Rock Suite, or $239 per night Friday and Saturday for studio accommodations with a complimentary upgrade to a Hard Rock Suite. The rate is valid from August 1 through September 30 and is subject to availability.

In a press statement regarding the package, Eric Seise, hotel manager at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, says that "The word Staycation can be wonderfully appealing in a city like San Diego. There are so many things to do here and we are just a short drive from the L.A, Orange County and Inland Empire areas. We have it all here at the Hard Rock Hotel including luxury accommodations, awesome restaurants, a spa, nightlife and an ideal location. It’s everything you would fly to places like Vegas or Miami to experience."

Click here for more details or call (888) 593-6177.

The entire hotel is a party animal's dream come true, but special mention needs to be made of the Moonstone Lounge and the poolside area. As it is, the Gaslamp has acquired a rep for Vegas style hard partying, but even for the Gaslamp, the sizzling heat of the Moonstone Lounge with a crush of bodies and parties within parties mixing it up with alcohol fueled abondon is something special.

The guest rooms are equally 'different', with a nod to Rock N'Roll memorabilia, and a mix of funkiness and luxury catering to both music and baseball fans come to enjoy the offerings of the Ballpark. All said and done, this staycation package bridges the gap between the haves in the luxury suites and the have-nots partying poolside, and on the streets.

Info: 207 5th Ave San Diego CA 92101; (619) 702-3000; www.hardrockhotelsd.com/

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/