Does the end of summer have you yearning for one last beach fling before the chill of autumn settles in?
I’m in the midst of writing about the Dominican Republic and Mexico this week and have stumbled upon some amazing last-minute travel deals in the process.
Here are three affordable hotel deals in Punta Cana and the Riviera Maya offering exceptional last-minute savings that just might tempt you to hop a flight.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
The Inn and Spa at Loretto
The Inn and Spa at Loretto is celebrating Santa Fe’s 400th Anniversary with the Santa Fe 400 Package. $400 includes two nights’ luxury accommodations, a $40 dining credit, and a $40 spa credit! Nightly valet parking and the daily resort fee are also included in this package. Travel now through March 31, 2010. 800-727-5531, www.innatloretto.comThe Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi offers its Escapes Package now through November 24, 2009. The package includes two nights in a traditional guest room (upgrade possible based upon availability), breakfast for two each morning in the award winning Anasazi restaurant, and a $50 per stay food and beverage credit. Rates start at $322 nightly (exclusive of taxes, minimum 2 night stay). 1-888-Rosewood, www.innoftheanasazi.com
La Fonda on the PlazaWhether you’re viewing the golden aspens or spending the day immersed in Native culture, you’ll want to return to La Fonda on the Plaza for all its creature comforts and warm hospitality. Plan to visit on these dates for great rates and 10% off food in our beautifully renovated La Plazuela Restaurant: September 20th – 23rd, 27th – 30th. Also, October 6th – 8th and October 24th through November 14th. La Fonda is located at 100 East San Francisco Street on the corner of Santa Fe’s historic plaza. 800-523-5002, www.lafondasantafe.com.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Good news procrastinators! Sunset Resorts, the trio of all-inclusive resorts in Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril, Jamaica, is extending their Last Minute Fall Deals offering travelers a savings of up to 60% off regular rates for travel this fall plus offering automatic upgrades at Sunset Beach Resort & Spa and Sunset Jamaica Grande and special mid-week rates at Sunset at the Palms. Read on for deal details:
Sunset Beach Resort & Spa, Montego Bay
Offer: Save more than 50% off regular rates and receive an automatic upgrade. “Caribbean Fall” rates starting at $144 per room, per night based on double occupancy for a standard room category ($72 per person)
Booking Window: Now through October 31, 2009
Travel Dates: Now through December 22, 2009 www.sunsetbeachresort.com
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
More great deals from Mexico…
New Autumn Promotion Offers Up to 35 Percent Off Nightly Rates, Plus Up to 25 Percent Off Dining, Beverages and Spa Services
Fall is a great time to visit Mexico, thanks to milder temperatures, less crowded beaches and never-before-seen deals. To help travelers make the most of the fall travel season, AQUA Cancun, Fiesta Americana Grand and Fiesta Americana resorts announced their new ‘Fall For Less’ promotion, offering up to 35 percent off the nightly rate, plus 25 percent off dining, beverages and spa services at select hotels. Participating resorts include AQUA Cancun as well as the following Fiesta Americana Grand and Fiesta Americana resorts:
- AQUA Cancun - starting from $180 USD per night, plus 25 percent off dining, beverages and spa services - It’s easy to fall in love with AQUA Cancun, where guests can tickle their senses, frolic in the sand and surf and plunge into one of eight shimmering swimming pools, each set at its own unique temperature.
- Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun - starting from $180 USD per night, plus 25 percent off dining, beverages and spa services - The style, service and world-class amenities of the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun have earned the resort the distinction to be the only hotel in Mexico holding the coveted AAA Five Diamond Award for fifteen consecutive years. Indulge in hundreds of feet of luxurious pool and sundeck that span the entire property. The resort’s unparalleled location on a secluded beach makes vacationing anywhere else simply unimaginable.
- Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos Golf & Spa - starting from $146 USD per night, plus 25 percent off dining, beverages and spa services - With five pools, two golf courses and amazing opportunities for sport-fishing, scuba diving, horseback riding and ATV tours that overlook the Sea of Cortez, Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos Golf & Spa possesses the ideal blend of raw beauty and modern grandeur. The resort promises to deliver the perfect fall getaway for all, from the rugged, outdoors enthusiast to the sophisticated, cosmopolitan traveler.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Just back from your summer vacation, but feel ready for another one? According to Hotwire.com®, a leading discount travel site, consumers can get the best bang for their travel dollars during the off-peak shoulder season when travel demand typically declines and the travel industry is trying to fill empty rooms, flights and cars. Shoulder season runs from September through November, between the peak summer season and winter holidays, when the weather is still good and travelers can score real bargains.
“Shoulder season is a great time to beat the crowds and high rates at many popular destinations,” says Clem Bason, vice president and travel expert at Hotwire®, a leading discount travel site. “There’s no need for travelers to spend half their vacation waiting in line, and pay high season rates. Traveling during shoulder season is a relaxing and great way to stretch your vacation dollars. Take a getaway this Fall before prices start rising towards the holidays.”
For consumers wanting to book a shoulder season escape, Bason offers the following tips:
- Enjoy warm weather destinations. Resort destinations, especially those focused on families, generally see slower demand just after the summer season. Great deals can be found in Orlando, Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean. Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Phoenix can also be good.
- Try mid-sized cities. The biggest cities will be hosting conventions and it may be harder to score a deal when business travelers are in town. But mid-sized gems like Dallas, Orlando and Denver have a lot to offer. Check out the Hotwire Travel Value Index for a list of some mid-sized cities that are a great value year-round.
- Check out markets with an excess of new hotels. Cities like Washington DC, Las Vegas and San Diego are expected to remain inexpensive for the remainder of 2008. Fewer conventions are planned in these markets during the coming months and there are empty rooms to fill in many of the new hotels.
- Hit the road. After Labor Day, car rental rates typically fall because companies have excess summer inventory to unload. In fact, car rental rates on Hotwire.com are as low as $13.95 a day.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".