September 07, 2010 ,
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Chris Bunting
You have until EOD tomorrow, Sept. 8, to get in on Air Jamaica 's 48-hour flash sale: $99/ow from NYC to Jamaica, $249/ow to Grenada ($150 more on both to upgrade to Executive Class). Travel between... Read on
September 07, 2010 ,
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David Landsel
1) WALT DISNEY WORLD The deal $58/night and up at select hotels for most dates in September Why now? The kiddies are back in school for the most part – enjoy the parks without the crowds Good to... Read on
1) WALT DISNEY WORLD
The deal$58/night and up at select hotels for most dates in September
Why now?The kiddies are back in school for the most part – enjoy the parks without the crowds
Good to knowBook quickly – lower rates based on availability. Good news, though; we’re seeing plenty of options under $100 in September.
Info
disneyworld.com
2) THE BAHAMAS
The deal$300 off an air/hotel package when you book with Expedia
Why now?Hurricane season and the kids back in school? Talk about quiet.
Good to knowThe coupon is easy to get, but you’ll need to book the trip before Sept. 15.
Info
expedia.com
3) PERU
The dealFly in business class on LAN from $999 RT; book and get a free domestic round-trip ticket in Peru
Why now?Macchu Picchu is bouncing back as a destination after last year’s mudslides.
Good to knowWith fares between Lima and Cusco running kind of high, this deal’s a must-consider. Lots of restrictions apply, though. Book by Sept. 29, but travel into 2011.
Info
lan.com
4) ARIZONA
The deal$50/night hotel credit at the fun Hotel Valley Ho in sunny Scottsdale.
Why now?The temperatures are dropping a little, but the winter rates have yet to kick in.
Good to knowRates are as low as $129 in September; the credit must be used in full every day during your stay or you forfeit. With affordable bar and restaurant prices, $50/day can take you pretty far.
Info
hotelvalleyho.com
5) PRAGUE
The deal$749pp for RT air and 6 nights budget lodging with Go Today
Why now?Hit the sweet spot between summer heat and winter chill.
Good to knowDepart on or after 10/28 to snag this base price. Also note you can upgrade your lodging all the way to 5-star, as long as you don’t mind paying.
Info
gotoday.com
6) THE CARIBBEAN
The deal $499pp for 12 nights on Norwegian Dawn, depart New York City
Why now? At a rate of less than $50 per day per person, can you afford to stay at home?
Good to know Remember, it’s hurricane season – be prepared to have your plans change. Stops include the DR, Curacao, Aruba, Honduras and Belize; the ship drops you off in Miami.
Info
ncl.com
7) COLORADO
The deal$180 and up a night at the new Four Seasons Hotel Denver
Why now?Amazing rate for five-star luxury in a fun and easy to explore city
Good to knowThe hotel opens on Nov. 13; at this point you should have at least a couple of solid choices for skiing within an easy drive of the city.
Info
fourseasons.com
8) MIAMI BEACH
The deal25 percent off the existing summer rates at Canyon Ranch Miami Beach
Why now?Relax and restore before the holiday crush
Good to knowThis is a very last-minute deal; it’s good only from Friday through Sept. 18. You have to call and ask for the “Opportunity Knocks” rate.
Info
canyonranchmiamibeach.com
9) LAS VEGAS
The deal$25 and up a night at the Imperial Palace.
Why now?Why not now?
Good to knowThis rate is about 60 percent off the usual; it’s valid for plenty of dates between now and Dec. 31.
Info
dealbase.com
10) NATIONWIDE
The deal$30 off your next weekly rental with Avis
Why now?Hop in the car – it’s time to see the leaves!
Good to knowBook and start your trip by Sept. 30
Info
avis.com
September 01, 2010 ,
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Chris Bunting
When I got jacked for $1,000 in Cancun a few years back, I couldn’t help feeling a little like I had it coming. I was drunk. Alone. At a strip club. And I forgot to eject my card from said club's ATM... Read on
Shutterstock
When I got jacked for $1,000 in Cancun a few years back, I couldn’t help feeling a little like I had it coming.
I was drunk. Alone. At a strip club. And I forgot to eject my card from said club's ATM machine after withdrawing some cash to settle up for the night — something I wouldn't realize until checking my wallet back at the hotel. So yeah, I’d say I was about 99% complicit in my own mugging. And that opportunistic stripper who ended up milking my defenseless ATM card like a Jersey cow once I'd left? She was just acting on pure stripper instinct, yo — I ain't mad at cha.
But since then, Quintana Roo’s gotten much, much, much crazier with Los Zetas, et al., doing their thing. Sometimes I think Mexico gets a bad rap from the intense media hype surrounding its cartels, but then, how much can you ignore the hype when
cocktails at a local barmade for anything but a happy hour?
Still, horrific attacks like this aside, I can’t deny the place. I love it too much. Especially since you can always do so much for so little — which comes in awfully handy post-ATM heist.
Over in Cozumel, Cancun’s insular, not-at-all threatening neighbor, there’s an especially high number of fall bargains: $270 per person for 3 nights, meals, rental car and a submarine tour at the
Hotel Casa Del Marthrough Dec. 15; $79 a night at the
Casa Mexicanathrough Dec. 23; $76 a night at
El Cozumelenoand kids eat free; $135 all-inclusive at
Fiesta Americanathrough January 2011; $71pp for an all-inclsuive stay at
Meliá Cozumelthrough Dec. 22; $165pp for two all-inclusive nights at the
Park Royaland $110 a night with breakfast and unlimited green fees at
Playa Azul— just to name a 50.
Down south in the lush Riviera Maya sits the
Rosewood Mayakoba— it’s more than a little pricey (from $590 a night), but they’re running a buy 2, stay 3 nights special Oct. 1-Dec. 15, so that’s all the more you save.
And in honor of Mexico’s 200th birthday next month (which is over three decades younger than us — makes sense they’d still be working out the kinks), three
Hiltonsaround the country are offering $200-for-2-nights special through Dec. 15: the Hilton Cancun Golf & Spa Resort, Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort and Hilton Mexico City Reforma. Use booking code "NC".
So keep on truckin’, Mexico — and happy birthday.
August 27, 2010 ,
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Chris Bunting
Now I'm not saying that recent television show remakes have been horrific disasters or anything, but some imam just announced he wants to build a mosque on the set of The CW's one-and-done "Melrose... Read on
Michael Prince
Now I'm not saying that recent television show remakes have been horrific disasters or anything, but some imam just announced he wants to build a mosque on the set of The CW's one-and-done "Melrose Place".
Still, hopes remain optimistically high for a relaunched "Hawaii Five-0", coming to CBS this fall. Even if it too blows, the beautiful
Four Seasons Resort Hualalaihas committed to a meaty "Hualalai 5-0” package — valid for stays through Dec. 17 — in celebration of the reboot, offering up to $850 in value. It includes: 5 nights at the resort (the Big Island's sole AAA 5-diamond and Forbes 5-star, btw), $50 a day in golf credit, $50 a day in dining credit, $50 a day in activity credit (to use for canoeing, SCUBA, paddleboarding, etc.) and the complete season 1 DVD of the OG version of H50.
Two catches: it runs a little pricey — from $625 a night — and you can only reserve it over the phone by calling (888) 340-5662 and saying "Book Me, Danno"; just swallow your dignity and say it.
August 25, 2010 ,
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Chris Bunting
As dopey as you might think the sport is, rethink becoming a tennis fan – it's pretty much the only socially sanctioned way that you can perv out on sweaty Russian girls in miniskirts. With... Read on
Shutterstock
As dopey as you might think the sport is, rethink becoming a tennis fan – it's pretty much the only socially sanctioned way that you can perv out on sweaty Russian girls in miniskirts. With binoculars, no less.
Wouldn't you know it, the US Open comes to Queens next Monday.
Ticketsstart at $88 for day 1 if you'd like to sit in on the action. Of course, if you don't call NYC home, a hotel stay comes into play. Skip the city-proper options; over at the
Westin Jersey City Newport, a 10-minute PATH train ride to downtown NYC, they're offering a Grand Slam deal for the Open. Get a room, complimentary valet parking (if you have a car), comp'd MetroCards (if you don't), from $169 a night.
But there's always a way to spend more, if that's what you're into. Some guy named
Steve Furgal– whose name is only ironically an anagram of “frugal” – is offering luxury US Open tennis tours for thousands less than what you'd pay retail. One of which includes four nights at the Ritz-Carlton Central Park, and five days' worth of US Open tickets (week one) start at $1,905 per person for promenade seating ($1,515 off), capping at $4,260 for luxury suites ($3,400 off).
August 24, 2010 ,
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Chris Bunting
ARIZONA $185 and up for a Lodge room at L’Auberge de Sedona, including continental breakfast, a half-hour spa treatment and access to a wine reception. Valid through 9/9 (lauberge.com ). — TUSCANY... Read on
ARIZONA $185 and up for a Lodge room at L’Auberge de Sedona, including continental breakfast, a half-hour spa treatment and access to a wine reception. Valid through 9/9 (
lauberge.com).
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TUSCANY $899ppfor RT airfare from NYC on Air Europa, 4 nights in Pistoia, a 5-day car rental and breakfast. Travel 11/1-3/31; book by 9/30 for an additional $100/cpl discount (
centralholidays.com).
MYRTLE BEACH $165Labor Day special on Ocean View rooms at Surfside Beach Resort when you stay at least 2 nights. Includes breakfast; valid 9/1-8 (
surfsidebeachresort.com).
NEW ENGLAND $629ppfor a 9-night cruise aboard Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas, RT out of Bayonne, NJ, stopping in Boston, Portland, ME, and Nova Scotia. Departs 10/14 (
rccl.com).
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ST. LUCIA 30% OFF published rates at Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa (from $110 a night after discount), including daily breakfast, when you stay a least 5 nights. Valid for travel through 9/30 (
baygardensbeachresort.com).
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ORLANDO $83and up at Omni Resort at Championsgate, valid through Labor Day (
omnihotels.com).
CALIFORNIA 33% OFFfall rates at Snowcreek Resort in Mammoth Lakes when you stay a min. of 2 nights, 9/6-12/16. Dollar-a-hole green fees at the resort’s golf course, as well. Rates start at $170 (
snowcreekresort.com).
FLORIDA $89and up at Postcard Inn on The Beach in St. Pete Beach. If the beaches happen to be closed to due the oil spill during your time there, the hotel will refund the remaining dates of your stay (
postcardinn.com).
JAMAICA BUY 2, STAY 3nights at Half Moon resort in Montego Bay. On top of it, kids under 16 stay free and kids under 12 get half-off meal plans. Rates start at $250 for a double; valid 9/1-10/31 (
halfmoon.com).
August 19, 2010 ,
ι
Chris Bunting
Excellent day for rich people who like water, as top-shelf cruise lines all over the place are slashing fares down to (relative) affordability. Cruises.com is in the final hours of its big-time... Read on
ShutterstockCelebrity Century in Key West.
Excellent day for rich people who like water, as top-shelf cruise lines all over the place are slashing fares down to (relative) affordability.
Cruises.com is in the final hours of its big-time
Celebrity Cruises sell-off. Besides a slew of otherwise rare sub-$100-a-night options, other perks like half-off second-guest sailings, free gratuities and massive onboard credits are up for grabs. From the Caribbean and Europe, to Australia and the South Pacific -- in 7-night flavors, up to 18 -- log on and pick a trip, any trip. Just do so in the next, say, 8 hours (sale ends at midnight).
Then there's luxury line
Oceania Cruises, who's incentivizing like a mother with things like "2-for-1" fares and free roundtrip air to departure ports on 32 of its 2011 sailings, including the Mediterranean, Greek Isles, Scandinavia, Russia and Northern Europe. Of course, the fares themselves are still in the four-digit range, but two wallets are better than one to take them on. Book by Aug. 31.
800-531-5658
August 17, 2010 ,
ι
Chris Bunting
Go figure: the Caymans also offer shelters of the non-tax variety. Like the The Reef, an “all-suite” resort on Grand Cayman. Its rooms might skew a little Boca retirement homeish when the lights are... Read on
Shutterstock
Go figure: the Caymans also offer shelters of the non-tax variety. Like the
The Reef, an “all-suite” resort on Grand Cayman. Its rooms might skew a little Boca retirement homeish when the lights are on, but that’s aight -- 450-square-foot beachside studios are going for $99 a night; that's $60 off. Valid for stays through Nov. 1.
888-232-0541
August 12, 2010 ,
ι
Chris Bunting
UPDATE: Book a roundtrip ticket to London from JFK /Newark ($495 and up) on British Airways by 11:59 p.m., Aug. 19, and the airline will put you up for 2 nights at a city hotel, gratis (that means... Read on
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UPDATE: Book a roundtrip ticket to London from JFK /Newark ($495 and up) on
British Airwaysby 11:59 p.m., Aug. 19, and the airline will put you up for 2 nights at a city hotel, gratis (that means "for free" in Urdu). Three/four star ops include the Royal National, President, Jurys Inn Heathrow, Central Park, Thistle Euston, Fraser Place Queens Gate, Hilton London Docklands and Kensington Close. Valid for travel Oct. 21 through Dec. 19.
August 11, 2010 ,
ι
Chris Bunting
Suffering from vuvuzela withdrawal? Or maybe you'd just like to disembowel its creator? Get down to post-World Cup Johannesburg where hopefully the obnoxious Spanish fans have cleared out by now.... Read on
Shutterstock
Suffering from vuvuzela withdrawal? Or maybe you'd just like to disembowel its creator? Get down to post-World Cup Johannesburg where hopefully the obnoxious Spanish fans have cleared out by now. Book your ticket from JFK aboard South African Airways via
Webjet.comby Aug. 20 — for travel Sept. 13-Dec. 9 — and pay as little as $989 roundtrip. Fuel surcharges are included, but plan on paying up to $150 in additional security/etc. fees.