Say Aloha To These Hot Hawaii Deals

Surf’s up in the Aloha State! Hawaii is on sale like never before.

Here are just a few Hawaii deals I’ve found that are available now…

• Hotel Deals from $120 from Travelocity
• Save up to $325 on Hawaiian Packages, from $275 pp at Priceline.

FALL FOLIAGE IN MASSACHUSETTS: Best Driving Routes. Fairs and Festivals. State-Wide Lodging Deals

Autumn in Massachusetts is a time like no other—warm sunny afternoons and starlit cool, crisp evenings.  The landscape is dotted with fairs and festivals celebrating the brilliant array of colors that embraces the state.  Each year thousands of tourists travel to Massachusetts from destinations throughout the world to witness the natural phenomenon of Massachusetts’ colorful fall foliage.
 
In order to cater to the needs of the state’s fall visitors, the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) has gathered the most up-to-date information on the best driving routes, most exciting events and best lodging deals throughout the Bay State.  Whether travelers are seeking quaint B&B’s with picturesque views or modern facilities located on a scenic highway, Massachusetts has something to offer everyone!
 

DRIVING ROUTES IN MASSACHUSETTS

 
MOTT has partnered with the Department of Conservation and Recreation to provide reports from state foresters that are posted two times each week on massvacation.com and are also available by calling the Fall Foliage Hot Line: 800-227-MASS.  The web site includes a list of scenic drives as well as a fall foliage timetable map that will help visitors plan their trip.  
 
 

MASSACHUSETTS FALL FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

 
The autumn season is perfect for attending fairs and festivals, browsing through farm stands, hiking, taking peaceful canoe rides and peddling along bicycle trails.  Following is a sampling of upcoming events, but be sure and log onto massvacation.com for hundreds of listings:
 

• Topsfield Fair: Spend the day at one of the oldest fairs in the country featuring agricultural exhibits and fall flower shows; horse, oxen, and tractor pulls; arts and crafts; the world famous Giant Pumpkin contest; entertainment; and midway. Topsfield Fairgrounds.  October 3 - 13, 2008. 978-887-5000. www.topsfieldfair.org
• 5th Annual Cranberry Harvest Festival: A Plymouth county tradition, the festival features demonstrations of cranberry harvesting, cooking with cranberries, children’s entertainment, live music, a craft fair, and rides.
• October 11 & 12. 508-759-1041 x.13. www.cranberries.org/festival/festival.html
• 25th  Annual Applefest: Visit central Massachusetts’ highest peak and enjoy the sounds of live entertainment, 70 craft exhibits, and autumn crafts for kids.  Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, Princeton.  October 18-19, 25-26.  978-464-2300. www.wachusett.com
• Bluegrass and Brews Festival at Nashoba Valley Winery:  Bring your blankets and lawn chairs for a  fun filled fall day of bluegrass music featuring “Southern Rail.”. Great views, great foliage, great food, great brews and great wine. Nashoba Valley Winery, Bolton. October 26.  978-779-5521.  www.nashobawinery.com
• 44th Head of the Charles Regatta: If you haven’t experienced one of the world’s largest rowing events, you don’t know what you’re missing.  Spend the day along the banks of the Charles River as you view championship events and races for youths, veterans and lightweights.  Charles River, Cambridge/Boston.  October 18-19.  617-868-6200.  www.hocr.org
• Davis’ Farmland Mega Maze: New England’s first and only world-class corn maze. Created for adults but enjoyed by all ages, this 3D twister will turn you inside out, stir your senses and blow your mind! Weekends through October.  978-422-8888.  www.davisfarmland.com
• The Big E: There is no better place to enjoy the sights, sounds and aromas of the fall season than at the Eastern States Exposition, New England’s autumn tradition and the largest fairgrounds in the Northeast!  Enjoy The Super Circus, Avenue of States, a Mardi Gras parade, Storrowtown Village, live entertainment and agricultural exhibitions all while sampling food from around the world. September 12-28. 413-737-2443. www.thebige.com

Up to 33% discount on private tour guides globally - OurExplorer

Explore your next destination through the eyes of a local.

OurExplorer, the worlds largest online provider of professional tour guides, is now offering up to 33% discounts on any private tour guide booked until 1st October 2008. Tours of 3 hours or more qualify for this promotion.

Have you ever thought whilst visiting a new destination, “I wonder where the locals eat, drink, fish, ski, shop or party?” OurExplorer suggests its time for us all to stop simply sight-seeing but rather start exploring with the local wisdom and knowledge of a professional tourist guide. Plus, you can do this now at a fraction of the normal cost.

That’s not where the savings stop either. With your tour guide showing you the best value for money shopping areas and local restaurants the savings just keep coming.



*******About OurExplorer
OurExplorer (http://www.ourexplorer.com) launched in July 2008 with now over 550 private tourist guides covering 91 countries worldwide – making it the biggest professional tourist guide directory in the world and growing all the time!

Source: OurExplorer

Mamma Mia! Here's a Deal You Can't Resist - 25% Savings To Santorini This Fall

Greece is on movie screens all over the country these days.  And here’s a deal for October at the iconic island of Santorini.

Astra, one of the leading boutique properties in Santorini – that iconic Greek island all over movie screens this summer and glimpsed in Mamma Mia* – is offering a fall special for the first time ever.  October 1 -  31, Astra is providing guests who stay for three nights, a fourth night free – a 25 percent savings off the regular rates. The “Fall in Love at Astra” package starts at about $1,100 and includes a traditional Greek breakfast daily, champagne and chocolates served at sunset on the second day, and taxes – a savings of about $360.

High up on a cliff overlooking the Aegean, offering a bird’s eye view of the 3,600-year-old caldera, Astra provides genuine Greek hospitality in a setting of simple elegance.  Wildflower-filled paths and whitewashed staircases lead to the cozy reception area filled with books and artwork.  The signature colors of the Cyclades are reflected in the sparkling infinity pool hanging 1000 feet above the turquoise sea and the roomy day beds draped in white linen.  Consistently rated one of the top three on the island, this boutique hotel has a loyal following with guests returning year after year.

In October, as chilly winds begin to blast the U.S., a refreshingly cool breeze finally arrives on the beautiful Cycladic island of Santorini, where average temperatures hover around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.  With the temperate weather and no summer crowds, visitors can relax in luxurious accommodations at a substantial savings.

Each of the 28 spacious suites and rooms are decorated in traditional island style with works by local artists.  The complex has 16 domed-ceiling apartments and 12 luxurious suites – eight with private plunge pools or outdoor Jacuzzis.  A day spa offers a full range of massages and facials.  Opened this year, Astra’s restaurant serves delicious fresh fish and Santorinian specialties under the stars.

The peaceful village of Imerovigli sits at the highest point on the rim of the caldera.  Quaint white-cube houses are carved into the rocky cliff or line narrow cobblestone streets.  Astra looks directly across to the towering rock of Skaros, with ruins of a 13th century castle built during the Venetian occupation which stood unconquered for 600 years.  .

While it is hard for guests to pull themselves away from the view and the pool at Astra, Santorini offers other pleasures.  There are beaches, archaeological sites, charming medieval villages and a pulsating nightlife.

Astra’s special offer is good through October 31, depending on availability.  The rate for a standard apartment is about $367 or €250 and includes: a bottle of Santorini wine upon arrival, daily maid service and a traditional Greek breakfast of yoghurt and fruit, eggs, ham, cheese – served on the guest’s private balcony.  The “Fall in Love at Astra” fall package represents a savings of about $360 – and means the daily room rate goes down to $275.  A superior apartment is about $440 or €300, and a two-bedroom apartment for four people is $484 or €330.   Suites range in price from $587 to $939 (€400 to €640.)  Free high-speed Internet access is in all rooms and suites.

Rates for the suites include: a bottle of premium Santorini wine and flowers upon arrival, full continental American breakfast on your balcony, twice-daily maid service, newspapers, bathrobes, slippers and additional luxury amenities.  All rates based on single or double occupancy and taxes are included.  

For more information about Astra Apartments and Suites, go to www.astra-apartments.com or www.astra.gr.  For reservations, visit the website or call: 011-30-2286-2-47-65.    
 
 
 
* While most of Mamma Mia was shot in the Sporades Islands of Skiathos and Skopelos, Grecophiles know that several iconic views were really Santorini.


Source: Meredith Pillon Marketing Communications
 

Fall Color Getaways: Save Green in Virginia

Get the most out of fall getaways with money-saving travel packages found on FallinVirginia.org. Most packages include lodging, dining and extras to help travelers save some green on trips to Virginia. These are just a few of the fall travel packages found at http://www.FallinVirginia.org/.

What better way to see fall foliage than in a plane? The Mayhurst Inn Fall Foliage Fly Over package in Central Virginia includes two nights’ lodging, gourmet breakfast each morning and a color tour for two in a biplane over the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Sign up 10 days in advance. Package is priced between $790- $840/couple, depending on availability.

Combine passions for flavor and fall foliage with the Shenandoah Seasonings package. Spend September 21-23 mastering culinary skills and pairing food with select Virginia wines before hitting the trail and exploring the beauty of one of America’s greatest national parks. This deal is approximately $450 per couple and includes two-nights lodging, two culinary workshops, a welcome reception and a four-course meal finale.

Cooper’s Landing Inn in Southern Virginia offers a Fall Foliage Around the Lake package that welcomes guests with homemade pumpkin bread and rum apple cider. Spend two nights exploring beautiful Lake Country and relaxing at this historic inn with claw-foot tubs and pure southern hospitality. Package price is $495/couple and also includes breakfast, a gourmet picnic and a private trail ride.

Get the latest on getaway ideas at FallinVirginia.org, the official fall travel site of Virginia, full of package deals, foliage reports and links to festivals, events and more. Or call 1-800-932-5827 to request a Live Passionately-Virginia is for Lovers travel guide.

Source: Virginia Tourism Corporation