From Hawaii to Turks and Caicos, JetSetter.com’s Kate Maxwell shows  off five Valentine’s Day getaways that will not only put you in the mood for love, but offer discounts for couples.

If Valentine’s Day is a holiday promoted by Hallmark to sell cards, the hotel industry is also doing its part to lure you into candlelit rooms with packages meant to turn up the heat. Even hotels in the Caribbean — at the height of high-season pricing — are piling up the added value and amorous amenities to compete for your business: Champagne, rose petal-dusted beds, a mixed tape, and even a bathtub full of jelly.

Kate Maxwell, editor-in-chief of Jetsetter.com, was on TODAY this morning with six amazing deals guaranteed to set your Valentine’s Day on fire — without burning a hole in your pocket.

Live Poll

What’s your idea of a good Valentine’s Day?

The Place: COURTYARD KAUA’I ON COCONUT BEACH, HAWAII
The Package: “CELEBRATE LOVE”
The Details: Hawaii can be an expensive destination, but Jetsetter managed to find a Valentine’s Day package that says aloha to value and an ocean view. Starting at $199 per night (representing a nearly 60 percent discount) the package includes:
•    Accommodations for two in an ocean view room
•    Romantic beach picnic at sunset includes dinner for two with wine/champagne pairings
•    $50 spa credit to Pua Day Spa for couple’s massage
•    Mai-Tais at check-in
•    Early check-in and late departure
The Fine Print: Package is valid Feb. 7-21, 2012. Two night minimum required. Each additional night is priced at $99. Click here to book a visit.

The Place: HARD ROCK HOTEL CASINO LAS VEGAS
The Package: MÖTLEY CRÜE ROCK RESIDENCY
The Details: If you’re too rock-n-roll for a traditional Valentine’s Day, head to Las Vegas where Mötley Crüe is holding court at The Hard Rock Hotel Casino for two weeks. Guaranteed to “kickstart your heart,” this two-night package priced at $400 includes:
•    Two night accommodations
•    Two tickets to Mötley Crüe concert at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel Casino
•    $100 dining credit toward dinner at one of six yummy restaurants, including the new 35 Steaks Martinis restaurant. 
The Fine Print:  Package is valid Feb. 14-16. To book, call 800-343-4346 and mention code: MCTODAY. For more information, click here.
 
The Place: FORTY 1° NORTH, NEWPORT, R.I.
The Package: “DO NOT DISTURB”
The Details: Forty 1° North Hotel offers a one-night package for the couple who prefers to close the door, flip the “Do Not Disturb” sign, and celebrate behind closed doors with Champagne and oysters. The nightly rate of $250 (savings of 40 percent) includes:
•    Overnight accommodations in a premium water view guest room
•    In-room oysters, John Kira’s chocolate fig collection
•    Bottle of Veuve Clicquot
•    Jellybath — a unique bath product that turns a simple bath into a healing, full body treatment. Once added to warm water, Jellybath becomes a translucent, fluffy jelly that retains its warmth four times longer than water — a virtual bath blanket.  
•    Malin+Goetz essentials
•    Late checkout
•    Custom romantic playlist on the in-room iPods.
The Fine Print: Offer valid Feb. 10th – 15th. To book, click here or call 401-846-8018 and ask for the “Do Not Disturb Package.”

The Place: THE VERANDA RESORT RESIDENCES, TURKS CAICOS
The Package: VALENTINE’S SPECIAL
The Details: There’s nothing sexy about having to pull out your credit card for every drink, snack and meal which is why the all-inclusive package from The Veranda Resort Residence on Turks Caicos is a great deal.  Leave your wallet in the room, because almost everything is included in the price. The three-night Valentine’s Day special costs $2,000 (reflecting a 30 percent discount) and includes:
•    Three-night accommodations in garden view one-bedroom suite
•    All meals beverages (including premium alcohol)
•    One breakfast in bed
•    Bottle of Pink Champagne upon arrival
•    Roundtrip airport transfers
•    Complimentary WiFi and international telephone calls
The Fine Print: Package available Feb. 11 – Feb. 19, 2012. Price based on double occupancy. To book, click here or call 877-468-8757.

The Place: WYNDHAM RIO MAR BEACH RESORT SPA, PUERTO RICO
The Package: “PURE ROMANCE”
The Details: Welcome to Puerto Rico, where sandy beaches await and the average temperature in February ranges between 82 and 86 degrees. The Wyndham’s “Pure Romance” package offers a $25 discount on the room, plus over $600 in added value, including an adventure excursion and a romantic dinner for two. The package starts at $1,655 and includes:
•    4 night accommodations
•    Champagne and votive candles in room upon arrival
•    One afternoon picnic in the oceanfront garden
•    Choice of one adventure outing (Bio Bay kayaking tour, catamaran and snorkeling jaunt, ATV rainforest excursion or the zip line experience)
•    One dinner for two with a bottle of wine at Palio
•    Daily breakfast
•    One 20 percent off Mandara Spa services
•    Daily romantic turndown service including rose petals
The Fine Print: “Pure Romance” is available for booking through April 8th, 2012. Each additional night (5th, 6th, 7th, etc.) is priced at $239. To book, click here or call 800-474-6627. Promo code: PKGROMA

Do you have any special Valentine’s Day plans? Tell us on Facebook.

Jetsetter.com is a travel community that provides members with hand-selected experiences, verified by experts.

Article source: http://todaytravel.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/01/10290448-5-last-minute-valentines-day-getaways

Michael Conroy / AP

Banners hang on light poles near Lucas Oil Stadium as preparations continue for Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis on Monday. The New England Patriots will face the New York Giants on Feb. 5.

With the NFC and AFC Championship games ending Sunday night, and the news that the New York Giants will soon be facing a long–awaited rematch with the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl on February 5, airline prices from all over the country to Indianapolis have soared to over $1,000 in most cases.

The following sample prices were found on Kayak.com and may change at any time. Travel dates are Friday, February 3rd to Monday, February 6th.

Airfares from New England are fierce — from Boston to Indianapolis, flights range from $939 to $1,133 for nonstop flights via US Airways, or jump to around $1,169 for one–stop flights with multiple airlines. Flights from Hartford, Conn., are even worse, so don’t even think about trying to skirt major airports to score a better deal — unless you’re interested in spending $1,252 for a one–stop flight on Delta Air Lines.

Giants fans hoping to fly in for the big game will face steep airfares starting from $1,058 out of LaGuardia via US Airways, $1,182 from Newark on Delta or $1,153 out of JFK on United Airlines. Prices from Philadelphia start to dip a bit, but still end up being between $793 on AirTran and $1,132 on US Airways. Flights from Baltimore start at $788 on AirTran, while airfares from Washington D.C.’s Dulles International and Reagan National will cost you roughly $922 — also on AirTran — to start.

Even football fans hoping to fly in from the West Coast will face ridiculously high prices. Airfares range from $1,307 to $1,461 on US Airways out of San Francisco, while it’ll cost you roughly $1,171 on Delta to fly from Los Angeles.

Unbelievably, flights from southern cities like Orlando start from $1,404 and go all the way up to $2,114 (multiple airlines), while folks flying out of Miami will have to pay upwards of $1,074 (Delta).

The best deal so far seems to be flying out of Atlanta, with airfares hovering around the $800 to $900 mark. For now.

With all the regional budget bus options throughout this part of the country, I’m starting to think that might be a more financially sound idea. Either that or maybe it’s time for a good old fashioned road trip.

More from Budget Travel:

• 12 elevators you need to see to believe
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Article source: http://itineraries.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/24/10225211-good-luck-scoring-a-cheap-flight-for-the-super-bowl

Courtesy of Wizz Air

A low-cost airline, Wizz Air has 15 operating bases in Europe and offers flights on more than 220 routes.

You can find a low-fare flight to just about anywhere in Europe, even tiny Andorra — if you know which airlines to search. Here, your guide to jetting around the Continent for as little as $14 one way.

England

If you want to go to: London
Fly to: Stansted Airport in Essex, U.K.
Distance to city: 32 miles northeast of London 
Best way to get downtown: Stansted Express train to Liverpool St. station, 45 minutes
Cost: $32/£21
Who flies there? Air Berlin, AnadoluJet, Atlantic Airways, BelleAir, Bmibaby, EasyJet, Germanwings, Pegasus, Ryanair, Snowjet, Thomas Cook, Thomson Airways

France

If you want to go to: Paris
Fly to: Beauvais Airport in Tillé, France
Distance to city: 43 miles north of Paris 
Best way to get downtown: Shuttle bus to Porte Maillot, 75 minutes
Cost: $21/€15
Who flies there? Blue Air, Ryanair, Wizz Air

Germany

If you want to go to: Munich
Fly to: Allgäu Airport Memmingen in Memmingen, Germany
Distance to city: 63 miles east of Munich
Best way to get downtown: Allgäu Airport express bus to München Hauptbahnhof, 95 minutes
Cost: $28/€19.50
Who flies there? Flybe, Ryanair, SunExpress, Wizz Air

Italy

If you want to go to: Milan
Fly to: Orio al Serio Airport near Bergamo, Italy
Distance to city: 28 miles northeast of Milan
Best way to get downtown: Autostradale bus to Milano Centrale, 1 hour
Cost: $14/€9.90
Who flies there? Air Arabia, Air Italy, Alitalia, BelleAir, Blue Air, Carpatair, ElbaFly, Jet2, Meridiana Fly, Pegasus, Ryanair, Trawel Fly, Wind Jet, Wizz Air

Spain

If you want to go to: Barcelona
Fly to: Girona Costa-Brava Airport near Girona, Spain
Distance to city: 62 miles northeast of Barcelona
Best way to get downtown: Barcelona Bus to Estació del Nord, 75 minutes
Cost: $17/€12
Who flies there? Ryanair, Transavia, Wizz Air

Sweden

If you want to go to: Stockholm
Fly to: Stockholm Skavsta Airport in Nyköping, Sweden
Distance to city: 62 miles southwest of Stockholm
Best way to get downtown: Flygbussarna Bus to Cityterminalen, 80 minutes
Cost: $22/139 kr
Who flies there? Gotlandsflyg, Ryanair, Wizz Air 

More from Budget Travel

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Article source: http://todaytravel.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/12/9393196-flying-around-europe-on-a-dime

Courtesy of Little Palm Island Resort Spa

Little Palm Island Resort Spa, Little Torch Key, Fla.

Miles of hiking trails in Big Sky Country? Check. Outdoor spa treatments? Check! Montana may be the Wild West, but it stakes a claim to one of the world’s finest hotels. At Triple Creek Ranch, rated No. 6, the log cabins are rustic-chic, the cellar stores 2,000 wine bottles, and soaking in a hot tub is the perfect antidote to a day out snowshoeing.

Slideshow: World’s top hotels

Every year T+L readers vote on thousands of hotels based on rooms, location, service, food, and value. In 2012, the 10th anniversary of the T+L 500, the winners are a mix of remote escapes and city hotels — and a record 133 have rates that start as low as $250 a night. The highest-ranking hotel for value is Four Seasons Carmelo, Uruguay, whose suites and bungalows are strung along the beach between a eucalyptus forest and the Rio de la Plata. It’s an easy trip from Buenos Aires, a city with four T+L 500 winners.

The number of high-scoring hotels in Africa also increased this year, with nine hotels in the top 25 and 45 properties overall. Singita Grumeti Reserves, on a spectacular wide plateau in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, ranked No. 1, thanks partially to the recent launch of a mobile safari experience in the 340,000-acre concession.

California, a perennial favorite, has the largest percentage of T+L 500 hotels in the U.S., with 37 winners. But one romantic escape in Florida ranked higher than the Sunshine State’s best properties: Little Palm Island Resort Spa, a secluded private island retreat on Little Torch Key. It wins over guests with special touches like the Sandbar Session concerts and private picnics on nearby deserted islands.

What else is new this year? We’re sharing insider tips and advice on which specific hotel rooms to book. At No. 5–ranked Oberoi Udaivilas, in India, for instance, nine lakeside rooms face the nature conservancy, treating in-the-know guests to views of peacocks, deer, and wild boar.

More from Travel+Leisure:

• America’s best cities for winter travel
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Article source: http://todaytravel.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/22/9638915-worlds-top-25-hotels

From Tanzania to Cambodia, Travel + Leisure’s Nilou Motamed shares some of the best hotels all over the world where you can get the most bang for your buck.

Let’s face it: all too often, “affordable accommodations” means your basic cookie-cutter chain-hotel room or a property that’s seen better days. But—surprise!—it can also mean an award-winning hotel at a reasonable price. And who doesn’t want that?

So when Travel + Leisure asked its readers to pick their favorite properties in the magazine’s annual World’s Best Survey, T+L took note of which spots wouldn’t break the bank.

Slideshow: World’s top affordable hotels

The result is a list of great-value inns, hotels, and resorts that offer appealing ambience, top-notch service, and a compelling setting. And many offer nightly rates lower than the cost of an iPhone (with no two-year commitment).

Courtesy of Four Seasons Resorts

Four Seasons Carmelo, Uruguay.

Of course, Las Vegas is known for room prices that won’t empty your wallet (alas, the casinos do that), but even here there’s a luxury property with rates so good you’ll feel lucky even before check-in. The two-year-old Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas is a glamorous, Asian-inspired haven in one of CityCenter’s contemporary glass towers. Its 392 rooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows, elegant Oriental details, and glass-paneled bathrooms with deep-soaking tubs, while its 23rd-floor Sky Lobby offers glimmering views of the Strip, including the iconic Eiffel Tower replica. And Vegas being Vegas, it’s possible to find deals that cut the great rate even more.

If actual architectural wonders are more your thing, you can sleep affordably yet chicly on the edge of Cambodia’s most-renowned World Heritage Site at the 238-room Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf Spa Resort in Siem Reap. When you’re not out admiring Angkor Wat’s centuries-old temples, you can retreat to the soaring lobby with its Khmer-French design elements and rooms with soothing sage and gold décor.

Another exotic property offering top value is the 79-suite Serengeti Sopa Lodge, set in the hills overlooking the southwestern plains of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. Bold African design in rich earth tones accented by local fabrics and artwork offers a true sense of place — especially when the view outside is of the wildebeest migration.

Closer to home, the rustic and tranquil charms of Vermont are on offer at 19-room Rabbit Hill Inn. Located in Lower Waterford and featuring rooms with fireplaces and antique canopy beds, this circa-1785, white-columned inn is ideal for a romantic couple’s getaway.

More from Travel + Leisure

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Article source: http://todaytravel.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/23/9642231-great-hotels-that-wont-break-the-bank

LivingSocial Instant Escapes will offer steep discounts for last-minute travel packages.

First came LivingSocial Escapes, which offers customers discount vacation packages.

Now comes LivingSocial Instant Escapes, launched Thursday, which offers customers last-minute travel deals up to 55 percent off.

Doug Miller, senior vice president for LivingSocial’s new business initiatives, told msnbc.com that he’s seen a lot of interest from customers in last-minute travel. While most LivingSocial Escapes packages can be booked several months out, Instant Escapes deals are aimed at travelers who don’t have plans for the upcoming weekend.  “Our focus is on creating demand,” he said.

Customers can find these last-minute deals on the current LivingSocial Escapes website or mobile app or sign up to receive weekly e-mails. New deals will be posted on Wednesdays, focusing on destinations within driving distance and are good for either that Thursday, Friday or Saturday night. Most deals are one-night stays, Miller said.

The first Instant Escapes deals include:

• $139 per night at the Larkspur Hotel in San Francisco, which also includes a $15 credit to the on-site Bar 1915 and a $75 credit to rent a luxury car; 
• $265 per night for a room at The Hudson Hotel in the Hell’s Kitchen area of New York City, as well as free WiFi, late check-out and continental breakfast for two; and
• $84 per night at Washington, D.C.’s Hotel Madison with a complimentary room upgrade and late check-out.

Since launching a year ago this month, LivingSocial Escapes has sold nearly 600,000 room nights at more than 800 different properties around the world. It was quickly followed by Groupon Getaways, which launched over the summer.

Carroll Rheem, director of research for PhoCusWright, said the challenge for deal sites is to drive incremental bookings, not undercut the price for a customer who was already planning a trip. She sees last-minute escapes as a niche market.

“If you’re kind of bored for the weekend, that’s a very different experience than ‘I know I was going to take a trip,’” she said.

Other stories you might like

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Joy Jernigan is a senior travel editor for msnbc.com. Follow her on Twitter.

Article source: http://travelkit.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/17/8856148-livingsocial-offers-deals-on-last-minute-getaways

Group deals are always popping into my life. My mom gives me printouts of Groupon deals for Christmas each year without fail (she puts the coupons in boxes and wraps them). And when I’m not opening Groupons from “Santa,” I see group deals shared aplenty in my Facebook feed, or forwarded to my inbox from friends, family and, well, people I barely know.

I’m heading to Paris for vacation this week. So I caved to social pressure and checked out the Groupon Paris page to see if any boulangerie bargains or cut-rate city tours could be found. I stumbled a deal for a half-price cruise on the Canal Saint-Martin.

This Groupon offered a scenic canal cruise, which normally would have cost 18 euros, for just 9 euros per person. But there was one problem: The Groupon was published in French. I desperately combed this page for a mini American or British flag and found nothing. The solution, I found, was to copy and paste all text into Google Translate. Or learn to speak fluent French.

Now, this was where things got tricky. The booking process was in French as well. And the bit where I had to enter my address didn’t give the option to specify a country.

I tried to type in my U.S. address along with my credit card information, but my order was rejected; I assume this happened because the system, by default, deemed that I live in France. I took a second stab at the purchase, but paid with PayPal instead of a credit card. It worked, probably because PayPal already has my home address in its system. I paid $25.29 for two cruise tickets; this was the final price according to PayPal’s exchange rate, which was a slightly more expensive conversion rate than the current interbank rate as seen on XE.com ($24.55).

It’s clear that Groupon’s international pages are designed for local customers. Still, with a PayPal account and a little translation, it’s possible to grab some good discounts in faraway destinations. The same goes for Living Social, which, like Groupon, has a wide selection of international deals that are published in local languages. Given that these sites often run promotions for restaurants, excursions, transportation and other goodies that would be useful during a trip, it’s worth signing up to receive local deals e-mails for the destination you’re visiting next. (Other group deals sites, including BuyWithMe, dealfind and DealOn, offer lots of bargains across the U.S. but have a limited international reach.)

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Article source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44691415/ns/travel-travel_tips/

This month you’re probably thinking foliage and Halloween, not cruises. But the cruise lines are hoping to change that, declaring this month National Cruise Vacation Month.

Yes, that’s a marketing effort, so why do we care?

Because during National Cruise Vacation Week, Oct. 17 to 23, a whole bunch of fare deals will be offered through travel agents in what’s being billed as “The World’s Largest Cruise Sale.”

If this sounds familiar, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the industry’s main marketing group, used to promote February as the month for cruises, with a 24-hour sale. Last February agents sold $46 million in cruises, according to Bob Sharak, executive vice president of CLIA.

This year the sale may be tougher with cruise passengers, like other travelers, tightening their belts due to economic uncertainty.

But there will be temptations during the sale week including discounted fares, two-for-one deals, onboard spending credits (that you can use for things like drinks), spa credits (that you can use for a massage) and more.

The offers apply to both ocean and river cruises in 2012, and in some cases beyond.

So what kind of savings are we talking about?

As a sampling, those booking a Celebrity cruise will receive a $50 to $150 onboard credit, the offering applying to nearly every sailing between Jan. 1, 2012 and Apr. 30, 2013. Italian line Costa is promoting fares from $749 for select 10-day sailings and from $399 for weeklong cruises. And Avalon Waterways is discounting select European river cruises by up to $1,000 per person on some dates.

More than 4,900 agencies have signed on to do physical events during the sale week such as cruise nights — your agent invites you to a party to hear about cruises — and virtual events online, according to CLIA.

A special CLIA web page has been set up to help those who don’t have an agent find one.

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Article source: http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/03/8126521-national-cruise-vacation-week-brings-fare-deals

DALLAS — In a break for travelers, airlines have cut the number of days this holiday season on which they add a surcharge for flying during peak travel periods.

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Delta, American, United and Continental confirmed Friday that they’re adding the surcharge to six days during the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s holidays. That’s down from about two dozen last year, according to the price-tracking website FareCompare.com

Surcharges range from $20 to $40 each way and apply to many flights on Nov. 27 and 28, Dec. 22, 23 and 26 and Jan. 2, according to the airlines.

US Airways, however, has surcharges on 18 days in November and December, according to FareCompare CEO Rick Seaney. The airline did not immediately return messages for comment.

Tom Parsons, CEO of travel website BestFares.com, who first spotted the changes, said the cutback in surcharges will help travelers find affordable trips if they’re flexible on travel days.

Deals listed Friday for around Thanksgiving — but avoiding the surcharge days — include Dallas-Los Angeles round trips starting at $219, and Washington-Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Denver-San Diego for under $190. Some trips would involve a seven-day stay, one-stop flights rather than non-stops, and outgoing and return flights on different airlines that have code-sharing agreements.

“I can’t remember seeing stuff this low, and we don’t even have an airfare war going on,” Parsons said.

The airlines declined to comment on why they reduced the frequency of surcharges, but analysts say signs indicate that leisure travelers may be cutting back because they’re worried about the economy.

Most major U.S. airlines recently raised some fares by up to $10 per round trip, but they were mostly on last-minute tickets usually sold to corporate travelers, not vacationers.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Article source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44554318/ns/travel-news/