Think you can’t afford to travel this holiday season? Think again.
With the economic crisis in full gear, tourism is down—way down.
And that translates into a buyer’s market, with hotels and resorts pulling out all the stops to entice travelers to fill up their empty rooms.
Here is a roundup of some of our top picks for last-minute holiday deals at closer-to-home hotels and resorts.
Make sure to book fast, because many of these offers expire within a week or two, and the others will probably sell out quickly.
NORTH AMERICA
1.) The Ritz-Carlton Resort in Naples, Florida is offering a “Discover Nature’s Wonders” package that is aimed at families with kids. Priced at $1,859 for a three-night stay (three-night minimum required) the deal is valid through December 24, 2008 and includes coastal view accommodations for four people for three nights, breakfast for four daily in The Terrace restaurant, a sailing excursion through the mangroves and back bays of Southwest Florida, two full-day passes to the Nature’s Wonders program, four tickets to The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, and four tickets to the Naples Zoo
This deal may seem a bit pricey, but bear in mind that the resort is an all-inclusive five-star property that consistently ranks on industry “top 10” lists, so you’re getting a lot for your money.
For a shorter getaway, consider the Holiday Reconnect package at the nearby Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, starting at $299 per night. This deal includes a daily $100 resort credit and breakfast, and is valid through December 31, 2008. The regular rack rates plus spa service or a golf package at this property will usually run you at least $559.
Link: Ritz-Carlton.com
2.) If you’ve got kids in tow, take a trip to Colonial Williamsburg where you can celebrate the holiday spirit in an old-world setting. This deal lets you stay from as little as $81 per person, per night at any of the six Colonial Williamsburg Resort Collection properties.
Available through December 31, packages include two nights accommodation, a Hotel Guest Pass ($29 value, includes admission, half-off evening programs, free parking and use of shuttle buses), lunch in one of the historic dining taverns, a ticket to the Christmas Decorations Walking Tour and a copy of the book Christmas Decorations from Williamsburg.
Colonial Williamsburg is packed with children’s activities: Kids can dress up in 18th-century holiday garb and enjoy music, dancing, storytelling and puppet shows. The family festivities also include caroling and holiday feasts. Call 1-800-HISTORY to book.
Link: Colonial Williamsburg Holiday package
3.) If skiing’s your thing but you can’t handle the pricey lift tickets, ski resorts across the country are offering exceptional discounts. Check out Steamboat Springs, Colorado’s “Ski Free” promotion. Guests who book three nights of lodging through Steamboat Central Reservations get two days of lift tickets for free (package is based on double occupancy).
Also, Kids Ski Free!, Steamboat’s family-friendly program, provides free lift tickets and rentals to any child 12 and under when a parent or grandparent buys a five-day or more lift ticket. This offer must be booked by December 15, 2008 for travel by December 25, 2008. Call Steamboat Central Reservations at 877-783-2628 to book.
Link: Steamboat.com
4.) Some hotels and resorts are throwing in extra perks to sweeten the deal. From now through March 31, 2009 the four-diamond Eldorado Santa Fe is offering a free daily spa treatment with every room night booked, for only $199 a night. The “Relieve Stress” package gets you a room plus either one 50-minute massage or one facial per day at the renowned Nidah Spa. Treatments are valued at $130, which means you’d save about 40 percent. There is no limit to the number of nights, or treatments. Guests can also upgrade their spa treatment and apply a $130 credit towards any spa services.
To book go to www.eldoradohotel.com and reference PKGNID booking code or call (800) 955-4455 and mention Relieve Stress Package.
5.) Need some economy-stimulating retail therapy? The Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers has rooms starting at $189 per night as part of a package that includes accommodation, a $100 Macy’s gift card each night, 11 percent off Macy’s purchases, free weekend shuttle service to and from the Water Tower Place and State Street stores (November 28-December 28) and a 5×7 photo with the Santa at Macy’s (November 24 – December 24). Go to www.sheratonchicago.com to book or call 1-866-716-8103 and use promotion code SCM.
The Westin Chicago River North has rooms starting at $199, a $100 North Bridge mall gift card each night, a Shops at North Bridge rewards book ($500 in savings valid at over 70 shops and restaurants), a hand massage and quick makeover at The Body Shop at North Bridge, olive oil soap, and chocolate truffles from Vosges-Haut-Chocolate. Go to www.westinchicago.com to book or call 1-866-716-8104 and use promotion code RNS.
6.) We’re always fans of supporting New Orleans, and this month the city is alive with holiday cheer. Even better, there are tons of free activities: You can see concerts in the 200-year-old St. Louis Cathedral by musicians including Irvin Mayfield and Ellis Marsalis; observe a free cooking demonstration by a local chef; watch historical characters (and Papa Noel) roam the French Quarter and offer impromptu performances; or be a part of the 62-year old tradition of caroling in Jackson Square by candlelight.
“Papa Noel” discounts are available at participating hotels and bed and breakfasts all over town from as low as $49 per night. Even better, you can dine like a king and pay like a pauper: partake in the annual tradition of Reveillon (an old French holiday dining tradition) by having a five-course meal at Brennan’s for $85 or four courses at Antoine’s for just $46!
Link: New Orleans Christmas Promos
7.) Hawaii is surprisingly affordable this Christmas, if you are in the market for a quick, sunny holiday getaway. NWA World Vacations is offering a variety of reduced-airfare deals that depart from Los Angeles and include airfare and hotel stays in Waikiki Beach, Honolulu. We found a trip from December 23-26, 2008 that offers three nights at the Ohana Waikiki Malia hotel, round-trip airfare from LAX on Hawaiian Airlines, round-trip airport transfers, taxes and a lei greeting from $702 per person. You can add a rental car for only $200 more. Book online by December 16, 2008 through nwaworldvacations.com or call 800-800-1504. These trips can also be booked through your travel agent.
CARIBBEAN AND MEXICO
8.) Travel to the Caribbean has slowed so much that entire tourism boards are coming up with savings: the U.S Virgin Island Winter Escape deal from the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism has been extended through the end of the month, for travel between December 15, 2008 and March 31, 2009. Book with a hotel and receive $300 in travelers checks, a coupon book with savings on activities and attractions, a free fifth night, $50 credit on attractions and $50 credit on meals.
Link: www.usvi.net
9.) Occidental’s Royal Hideaway in Playacar, Mexico is an adults-only all-inclusive resort on the Riviera Maya which includes unlimited meals and snacks, alcoholic drinks, water sports and other activities, and taxes and gratuities.
The resort has two “romance” packages that include air credits: one offers a $500 air credit for a five to seven night stay, and the other gets you a $300 air credit for a three or four night stay (book either one by December 21, 2008 for travel through March 31, 2009). The romance component includes chilled champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries and a one-hour couple’s massage. The air credit is applicable to the current stay and there is no minimum stay for guests arriving Dec. 20-25, 2008. Rates start at $319 per person, per night, based on double occupancy.
Link: Royal Hideaway Playacar
10.) The kid-friendly Occidental Allegro properties in the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Costa Rica are offering special holiday rates from $85 per person, per night, based on double occupancy, with no minimum stay for guests arriving December 24-31, 2008. Allegro resorts are all-inclusive and offer unlimited meals, snacks and beverages including drinks, supervised kids activities, sports and water activities. Kids vacation for free through December 18, 2008. Rates are based on one child (age 3-12) free for each paying adult guest, and vary by Allegro property selected.
Participating resorts include: Allegro Playa Dorada, Dominican Republic (starting from $68), Allegro Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico (starting from $73), Allegro Cozumel, Mexico (starting from $93), Allegro Playacar, Mexico (starting from $100), and Allegro Papagayo, Costa Rica (starting from $127).
Link: Occidental Hotels
11.) Guests who book a “Luxury Included” vacation at any of 12 Sandals Resorts in the Caribbean can receive up to 55 percent off regular rack rates (minimum three-night stay required) and up to two nights free (in select categories). Vacations include gourmet meals, unlimited drinks, golf, and water sports. Book by January 31, 2009 for travel from now until December 26, 2009. A minimum seven-night stay required. Contact Sandals Resorts at 1-800-SANDALS or www.sandals.com to book.
Link: Sandals
12.) Mexico’s luxury all-inclusives are getting into the bargain game. Tesoro Los Cabos all-inclusive resort “Crash Pad” promo has rooms that start at $60 per night through February 28, 2009. Just type in promo code CRASH when booking to see the available rooms.
And, Tesoro Ixtapa all-inclusive resort is offering a two-for-the-price-of-one sale through December 22, 2008. Until December 18, the rate is about $120 per night in an all-inclusive room (that’s food, entertainment and alcohol). Rates between December 19-22 is about $144; December 23-26 is about $112; and December 27-January 1 is about $119.
Link: Tesoro Resorts
13.) Another upscale all-inclusive resort, Tamarijn Aruba is offering a holiday package for $488 per room per night from December 20, 2008 through January 2009. That includes accommodations for two adults and two children, full use of the Tamarijn Aruba and Divi Aruba properties, free children’s camp activities, all meals, snacks and beverages, and outdoor sports.
Link: Tamarijn Aruba
14.) We saved the best for last. It may sound crazy, but a Caribbean hotel chain is offering investors stressed out by their losses on Wall Street a chance to swap their stocks for a beach vacation.
Between now and January 31, Elite Island Resorts – which operates all-inclusive resorts in Antigua, St. Lucia, Nevis and the British Virgin Islands – will let you pay for a vacation worth up to $5,000 using stocks. But it gets better: Elite will accept your shares at their July 1 pre-meltdown values. So, if you own 100 shares in American Express stock that are worth $20 per share now, but were worth $40 per share on July 1, you’ll get $4000 worth of vacation credit if you grant them to Elite.
Approximately 100 U.S. stocks, from Ford Motor Co. to Xerox Corp., are included in the deal, which is valid at Elite properties in Antigua, the Grendines, and Tortola. This offer must be booked by January 31 for travel through December 20, 2009.
Link: Elite Island Resorts
By Karen Elowitt for PeterGreenberg.com.
See Peter discuss these and other deals with Kathie Lee and Hoda on the Today show.
And get more vacation ideas in our Travel Planning section.
