Does Fido love the crunch of fallen leaves?
Bring him to Aspen, Colorado to celebrate the “Dog Days of Fall.” The pet-friendly Sky Hotel package includes two nights’ accommodations, a doggy bed and dishes, gourmet treats, a free walking service, and professional grooming.
Oh, and you’re welcome to hang out there, too. Rates start at $226 per night and run through November 15, 2007. 970-429-7808, www.theskyhotel.com
Some oenophiles know that it’s all about Pacific Northwest wine, so check out the Hotel Vintage Plaza’s “Pinot in Portland” package. You can skip the trek into Oregon’s wine country and sample the goods in downtown Portland. The package includes a bottle of the hotel’s private-label Pinot Noir, a wine journal, a comparison flight of Italian and Oregon wines, and a hands-on blending class at a nearby tasting room. You can also request a private wine education session with the wine director of Pazzo Ristorante (based on availability). Rates start at $289 a night. 503-228-1212, www.vintageplaza.com.
Staybridge Suites is offering discounted family packages in two of its properties. In St. Louis, guests can rent a two-bedroom, two-bath suite and receive four tickets to The Magic House, a hands-on children’s museum. Rates are $175.99 a night and are available through December 1, 2007. And in Dublin—Ohio, that is—you can save 25 percent on a two-bedroom, two-bath suite plus four tickets to the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium. This package starts at $189.99 a night and is available through October 31, 2007. 800-238-8000, www.staybridgesuites.com
It’s back-to-school time … for grownups as well as the kids! At the all-inclusive Ibersostar Hotels & Resorts’ Grand Hotel Paraiso on the Riviera Maya, guests can enroll in free classes this fall. Try cooking, wine tasting, yoga, windsurfing, diving, or dancing in between enjoying your copious meals (choose between 19 different bars and restaurants throughout the Riviera Maya), round-the-clock snacks and premium liquor. Rates start at $1,560 per couple. 888-923-2722, www.iberostar.com.
It’s all about family adventure at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort at the Panama Canal. The “Flora, Fauna and Family Safari Package,” starts at $1,400 for four days/three nights, and includes suite accommodations and eco-adventures that are appropriate for all ages. Check out the rainforest canopy on an aerial tram, scout for sloths through the jungle, and take a guided tour of Monkey Island. This package is available through December 15, 2008. 877-800-1690, www.gamboaresort.com
The Pocono Mountains are the place to be during this fall season. Catch the foliage and autumn celebrations at Brookdale-on-the-Lake Resort in Scotrun, Pennsylvania. Weekly family-friendly fall activities include pumpkin picking, pumpkin-carving lessons, old-fashioned wagon rides, and culinary demonstrations. Rates start at $220 a night, per couple between October 1-31, 2007. 570-839-8844, www.caesarspoconoresorts.com/Brookdale
Adults can also take advantage of fall rates in the Poconos at three couples-only retreats: Cove Haven, Paradise Stream Resort and Pocono Palace Resort. Rates start at $225 a night, and include fall foliage nature walks, hayrides, horseback riding, and group barbecues. Rates are available October 1-31, 2007. 570-226-4506, www.caesarspoconoresorts.com/resorts/covehaven.
Get into the Halloween spirit at Kimpton’s 70 park avenue hotel in New York, where guess can take advantage of the “Drop Dead Rate” of $299 a night (compare that with the rate of $575 just one week earlier!). Your stay also includes a (fake) pumpkin filled with candy and two Smashing Pumpkin cocktails … or mocktails for the little ghouls. 212-973-2400, www.70parkave.com.
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Looking for other ways to travel without spending a fortune?
Check out Budget Carriers International, or Finding Cheap International Flights.
