Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa Fall Package Offers

The best-of-both-worlds is now even better at St. Lucia’s all-inclusive Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa. To further cater to guests the resort has launched the “Harmony” and “Splash” wings and introduced several upgrades including redecorated rooms, a new adult pool bar, theme nights, fun snacks and the Caribbean’s first paintball facility.

To introduce the upgrades and launch Harmony and Splash, Coconut Bay is offering value-added packages with special prices for travelers seeking fall, winter and holiday savings.

Between December 1-20, 2008, guests can choose from three packages: 

Fall Romance Getaway for $115 including a Champagne Arrival Reception, complimentary Bubbles-in-Bed (turndown service), 1/2 hour couples’ massage, introduction to kite surfing or windsurfing class. Rates are per person, per day based on double occupancy in a deluxe ocean view room.

Kids Stay Free with Fall Family Frenzy from $99 and receive a round of paintball for the entire family, introduction to kitesurfing or windsurfing class (everyone over age 12), a CocoPack for each child under 12 (backpack, water bottle, hat and t-shirt) and a thirty-minute couple’s massage for mom and dad. Rates are per person, per day based on double occupancy in a deluxe garden view room, kids under 18 stay free (max. 2 kids per room).

Inaugural Premium Package for $149. Complimentary Continental breakfast room service, bottle of preferred drink in room, couples’ private beach picnic, Couples’ oceanfront dinner and preferred dinner reservations. Rates are per person, per day based on double occupancy in a premium ocean view room.

Over the holidays guests have the option of celebrating Christmas or starting the New Year: 
Christmas for $199. Rates are per person, per day based on double occupancy in a deluxe garden view room. Valid December 21-31, 2008.

Bring in the New Year for $157. Rates are per person, per day based on double occupancy in a deluxe garden view room. Valid January 1-21, 2009.

For reservations or more information call 866-978-6226 toll free from the US or 758-456-9999 or email: reservations@cbayresort.com. Space is limited and must be booked by 10/15/08.

Source: Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa

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

When More Is Actually Less; Cleveland Multi-Attraction Pass Offers Travelers Significant Discounts

Taking a trip to Cleveland just became even easier and more affordable. With the advent of the Cleveland Plus Pass, visitors can buy one ticket that gives them access to ten (10) major attractions at a savings of at least 30%, often even more.

Now visitors can purchase a pass good for two (2), three (3) or five (5) days. The “time” on the card begins when the Cleveland Plus Pass’ barcode is scanned at any participating location. Once the pass is activated, cardholders are able to experience as many of the featured gardens, museums, zoos and other destinations as their time and personal interests allow. “It’s definitely a deal,” says Emilie Poua, Director of Arts & Cultural Tourism for Positively Cleveland. “The cost for a single adult to visit all ten attractions at full price would be $64 … with a Pass it’s anywhere from $24.95 for the two-day option to $49.95 for the five-day ticket.”

The Cleveland Plus Pass is good for general admission to the Children’s Museum of Cleveland, Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, The Holden Arboretum, Lake Metroparks Farmpark, Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, Museum of Contemporary Art, Cleveland and Western Reserve Historical Society. The multi-attraction discount will offer sightseers even more value with additional special savings on merchandise, meals and more. For example, from October 19, 2008 - January 18, 2009, Cleveland Plus Passholders will receive $4 off admission to the blockbuster exhibit Artistic Luxury: Faberge Tiffany Lalique.

The Cleveland Plus Pass can be purchased at Positively Cleveland’s Visitors Center downtown Cleveland (The Higbee Building, 100 Public Square, Suite 100, Cleveland, OH) or online at http://www.positivelycleveland.com/pluspass. “We’re excited about the possibilities of this program and hope in the future to have the pass available for sale in other locations and as a part of hotel packages,” says Tamera Lash Brown, Positively Cleveland’s VP of Marketing.
The Cleveland Plus Pass was created with OmniTicket Network, whose list of clients includes convention and visitors bureaus and major theme parks. The program is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture (CAC).

Source: Positively Cleveland

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

Fall Super Deal from $239 Deluxe/$309 Villa - Red Mountain Spa

Fall Super Deal at Red Mountain Spa

Each year Red Mountain Spa celebrates Autumn with savings as savvy guests enjoy cool mornings and warm afternoons in the awe inspiring setting of Southern Utah.

Hiking in the red rocks is at its finest in the brisk morning, greeted by the warmth of the sun as it rises. Afternoons offer a spectacular setting for Tai Chi on the Rocks, and the weather is ideal for biking and horseback riding. In the evening, al fresco dining under starry skies next to the fireplace brings the day to a perfect ending. Or, choose to enjoy an evening massage to soothe after an active day.

Take advantage of their Autumn special offer starting September 14th.  Fall Super Deal rates start as low as $239* per person per night in deluxe accommodations, and only $309* per person per night in Luxury Villas, a savings of up to $40 over regular rates.

For information and reservations, call  877.246.HIKE or visit RedMountainSpa.com.



Source: Red Mountain Spa

FALL IN LOVE WITH ATLANTIC CANADA PRICES DROP UP TO 50 PERCENT AT PEAK FOLIAGE TIME

Haven’t managed to get away this summer yet?  Did you really buy into that “stay-cation” idea?  Or does the news about the economy, the gas crisis and high prices have you worried?  How about a vacation this fall that offers real value? 

Savvy leaf peepers know that come September and October there are lower prices, fewer crowds and plenty of elbow room in Atlantic Canada.  And unlike New England and other parts of the US, prices go down in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island during the fall – sometimes as much as 50 percent.   

The rolling hills and picturesque valleys of Atlantic Canada come alive in a wash of fiery crimsons and scarlets along with bright yellows and golds.  Food and music take center stage at colorful festivals.  And since Canadians celebrate their Thanksgiving on October 8, Americans can even indulge in an additional holiday feast.

Thanks to the warm waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Northumberland Strait, Prince Edward Island actually has one of the longest fall foliage viewing periods in North America.  The island’s gentle landscape offers up views of apricot-orange sugar maples and the ruby-reds of cherry and sumac.  These jewel tones contrast with the deep greens of spruce and pine. 

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Prince Edward Island’s most famous personage – the spunky red-haired orphan Anne of Green Gables – and events continue on through the end of November, www.anne2008.com.  For seafood lovers PEI also offers two food festivals this fall.  The 13th annual PEI International Shellfish Festival will be held in Charlottetown from September 19 to 21. The “biggest kitchen party in Atlantic Canada” will feature chowder cook-offs, oyster shucking contests and five daily performances by some of Canada’s best known musicians, www.peishellfish.com. And 10 days later, from September 30 to October 5, “Fall Flavours,” a new island-wide food festival with more than 130 culinary events, will take place with native son Michael Smith, one of Canada’s leading chefs, hosting a gala dinner and cooking classes, www.fallflavours.ca.

From September 3 through 15 at the Cavendish Maples Cottages, room rates go down to $98 from the summertime high of $141, a savings of 30 percent.  From September 16 through the 21, the rate goes down to $84, a 40 percent savings.  And from September 22, a room for two costs as little as $70 – a whopping 50 percent off high-season rates.  A “Romance Package,” which includes two nights’ accommodation, breakfast vouchers for the PEI Preserve Co., passes to Green Gables, a bottle of wine, a chocolate surprise and a welcome gift is available from September 2 to mid-October for $243 per couple, 1-888-662-7537, www.cavendishmaples.com.

Visitors to Nova Scotia will see many autumn colors kayaking along Cape Chignecto or hiking, biking, or canoeing through Kejimkujik National Park.  They might even catch sight of moose.  Several food and music festivals take place in the fall, and farmers’ markets have an abundance of fall produce.  From September 4 through October 26, the 2008 Wines of Nova Scotia Fall Festival will offer more than 25 tastings, grape stomps, gourmet dinners, cooking classes and food pairing events, www.winesofnovascotia.ca.  Melodic voices and the sounds of pipes and fiddles will fill the air in Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island at the Celtic Colours International Festival, October 10 to18.  In its twelfth year, this festival will focus on Celtic cultures with home grown Cape Breton musicians as well as artists from Scotland, Ireland, Spain and even Cuba, www.celtic-colours.com.

At the White Point Beach Resort rates also dip in the fall.  Starting September 15, prices for a standard river view room drop to $111 Sunday through Thursday, from the summertime high of $140 – a 20 percent discount.  (The weekend rate is $131.)  After October 19, the rate goes down further to $102 – a 27 percent savings.  (Sunday through Thursday the weekend rate is $111.) The resort’s “Beach Romance” package includes cottage accommodations for three nights, fresh flowers, a fruit basket, sparkling wine, a three-course candlelight dinner, breakfast in bed and a gourmet picnic basket.  Guests may also select a bike trip, round of golf or massage.  The package costs $679 through September 13 and goes down to $621 from September 13 to October 18.  After October 19, the package is only $562, 1-800-565-5068, www.whitepoint.com.

Retracing four centuries of settlement, Newfoundland’s Discovery Trail presents a panorama of stunning seascapes, quiet fishing villages and historic sites.  And the fall colors are spectacular: pin cherry and white birch turn bright yellow, sugar maples become rich orange and blueberry bushes explode into crimson.  Majestic icebergs, pods of whales and puffin colonies lure nature lovers.  A network of foot and cart paths lead to fishing ponds, centuries-old lighthouses and isolated out ports.  Visitors can hike from the abandoned community of British Harbour and the lighthouse of Kings Cove trail to the site of a natural fort used during Queen Ann’s War of 1703-13.  One of the most picturesque spots along the Discovery Trail is the charming national heritage community of Trinity.  Here, narrow lanes lead to restored 19th century merchant houses.   There are some 50 architecturally significant buildings in this small town of 350.  Whale watching is a popular activity from the port and twenty-two species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises swim along the coastline.

This fall, the Artisan Inn and the Campbell House are offering a “stay two nights, get one free” package, which includes accommodations for two, full daily breakfasts and four-course dinners all three days in the Twine Loft Restaurant (featured in the 2008 “Where to Eat in Canada.”)  The package also provides two passes for the Trinity Museum Tour and a year’s subscription to Newfoundland Quarterly.  The rate, at $270 per person, double occupancy, is an 18 percent savings.   After September 15, guests that stay three or more nights, pay a nightly rate of $112, 15 percent off the high-season price.  The Artisan Inn sits on the shore of Fisher Cove in Trinity Harbour and many of its furnishings were created by local artisans.  Rated 4-star Canada Select, the Campbell House is an historic 1840 building with harbor views and sweeping vistas of Trinity, 1-877-464-7700, www.trinityvacations.com.

Fall is also a special time in New Brunswick where wind-swept beaches provide a back-drop for miles upon miles of crimson red peat bogs.  Lighthouses and fishing villages dot the landscape and Acadian joie de vivre colors a multitude of special events.  The 36th annual Oyster Festival, October 2 to 5, will feature tastings, a multi-course oyster supper, and oyster opening and eating contests.  New Brunswick is also home to Canada’s largest jazz festival – the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in Fredericton.  From September 9 to 14, electric blues, jazz and funk musicians will offer 120 performances, including 40 free shows, in 23 venues in the city’s historic downtown, www.harvestjazzandblues.com. 

The Hotel Paulin in Caraquet is a charming Victorian hotel built in 1891 and still operated by the Paulin family.  From September 16 to October 15, two people can stay for only $107 per night.  After October 16, the price drops to $102.  The 10-room hotel also has a two-night “Fall for Love” package that includes a full breakfast daily, three-course dinner and wine pairing, Acadian gift basket with wine and cheese, a chocolate and port tasting, Oyster Museum visit with tasting or goat cheese farm tour and tasting.  Additionally, guests may choose between one of the following: a chocolate body wrap treatment, a round of golf, four-course tasting menu with wine at dinner, an oyster cooking class or lobster cooking class.  The package is $405, per person, double occupancy from September 1 through October 15, 1-866-727-9981, www.hotelpaulin.com.

Travelers can download guides and find more information about fall packages, accommodations and events by going to the four provincial web sites: www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca, www.newfoundlandandlabrador.com, www.novascotia.com/fall and www.gentleisland.com/fall.  The Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership (ACTP) is a nine member pan-Atlantic partnership comprised of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the four Atlantic Canada Tourism Industry Association and the four Provincial Departments responsible for tourism of New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Source: Meredith Pillon Marketing Communications

Dublin For 20% Less with American Airlines

Check out all that Ireland has to offer this fall and save 20% on round-trip travel to Dublin between August 29, 2008, and December 10, 2008, for you and up to five friends.

And, the savings don’t stop at airfare. You can also save on three-day Dublin sight-seeing passes. For a limited time only, American Airlines passengers can purchase a 3-Day Dublin pass and get one free with every online order. These passes include free airport transfer, free admission to 30 top attractions plus discounts on dining and entertainment - making Dublin this fall a great deal.

Click here for more information.

SOURCE: American Airlines & Dublin Tourism