Bermuda Savings Without the Triangle

As I write this, it's 60 degrees and raining in Bermuda. Not lovely, but a sight better than the 28 degrees and mired in snow I find in New York. And when we see how much fun Jack Black has in "Gulliver's Travels" trying to locate and escape from the mysterious Bermuda Triangle, well, it seems all signs point southeast.

Bermuda is on the Vacationist's radar.  Because of its unusual mid-Atlantic location, the island of Bermuda cannot always be counted on for stellar sunny weather, especially during the winter. But that's why this normally pricey, resort-of-royalty destination gets more affordable during the winter holidays.

Now, we're seeing two good value specials from Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, and they're in two of Bermuda's finest hotels.

The Fairmont Hamilton (pictured above) is located at 76 Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton, Bermuda, HM11 in Hamilton, the island's main port. Its gleaming pink facade, within walking distance of the piers, has welcomed yachtsmen and families for generations.

This winter, families can experience the manicured, tropical scenery of Bermuda while immersing themselves in the rich culture of the island. The Fairmont Hamilton's Bermuda Family Package offers families luxury accommodation with room rates starting at US$299 per night, with a second free room for kids under 18 years of age. To add to the familial savings, kids under 5 years eat free when choosing items from the children’s menu and children between the ages of 6-12 receive 50% off the regular restaurant menu. In a resort where the food is this good, that's a savings you will seriously take advantage of.  This offer is available through April 30, 2011.

Being beachfront is a huge perk in great weather for sun n'sand lovers, but Bermuda's chill breezes may  make active land sports like tennis an even better bet.  Leave the stuffy air of the winter tennis bubble behind, grab your racquets, and head to the open air courts at the Fairmont Southampton, Bermuda. The island hotel at 101 South Shore Road, Southampton, Bermuda SN02 is welcoming tennis players of any age and ability with the Ace Package. For beginners and experts alike, the hotel’s tennis package includes daily full American breakfast, tennis court fees, a one-hour tennis lesson with the resident pro, racket rental and 15% off any tennis attire at the Tennis Shop. Available year round, rates start at US$442 per night.

Fine print: All packages unless noted otherwise are subject to availability, priced per room, per night, exclude taxes and are based on double occupancy.

For reservations, please visit http://www.fairmont.com/, call 800/441-1414 or contact your local travel agent.

New York's Over The Top Luxury Hotels at 33% Off

Once again, the city's promotional arm, NYC & Company, has announced the 3rd Night Free promotion for visitors to New York City this winter. We know that no family who follows our New York City Family Attractions Guide would think of staying just 2 nights in the Big Apple, so with this discount, it's like taking 33% off your room bill.

The program gives visitors a complimentary Third Night at participating hotels after they book and pay for two consecutive nights between January 2 and March 7, 2011. The Third Night program is being extended a week longer than in past years -- through March 7 -- to coincide with ART x NYC.

(Pssst:  ART x NYC is a week filled with some of the biggest art events of the year, including The Armory Show and The Art Show, plus numerous gallery exhibitions, museum shows, tours and studio visits. And to give shoppers plenty of time to do their thing too.)

The 16 super luxe hotels participating in this winter’s Third Night program are:
The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel (whose bar is named for author Ludwig Bemelmans who wrote the "Madeline" children's books); The Chatwal New York (a new place we hear is truly gorgeous in a great Deco style); Loews Regency Hotel (the most pet-welcoming place we know); The London NYC (just voted one of the World's Best by T+L readers); Mandarin Oriental, New York (gorgeous views from atop Time/Warner Center); The Peninsula New York Hotel (very classy bar here too); and The Pierre New York and The Plaza Hotel (both ideal getaways for those who prize High Tea); and The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park (check out their views of the Statue of Liberty).

More of our picks for the totally spoiled traveler are offering a third off too:  The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park; The Setai Fifth Avenue; The Sherry Netherland; The St. Regis New York; Trump International Hotel & Tower; Trump SoHo New York; and The Waldorf Towers.

As you can see from this list of hotels, this promotion isn't for everyone. But for families, girlfriends, even father/son getaways with a big bang for your buck, it's a great deal.


And as another perk, luxury retailer Saks Fifth Avenue will once again participate in the Third Night program by offering a VIP shopping package to Third Night guests. The package includes an exclusive personal-shopping experience with the Fifth Avenue Club, special savings, and complimentary coffee and dessert at Saks Fifth Avenue’s Cafe SFA, which overlooks Rockefeller Center and the Channel Gardens.

Detailed booking information for the winter promotion is available on nycgo.com/thirdnight.

How to Build a Snow Shelter & Other Winter Skills

There's nothing  more fun than a romp through deep snow, and Vermont has had plenty of that so far this season.  That's what attracted us to the upcoming "Snow Shelter Workshop with Dr. Bert Yankielun" that is being put on by Vermont's Hulbert Outdoor Center after the New Year.

Deep snow, building blocks, what could be more fun with kids?

Dr. Norbert (Bert) Yankielun, formerly a researcher with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in New Hampshire, sounds like a great teacher. We are told that numerous scientific expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic, and considerable time spent in the backcountry in winter, have honed his skills as a builder of snow shelters.

In fact, to prepare the family for this course, you can check out his book, "How to Build an Igloo and Other Snow Shelters" (W.W. Norton & Company) and website http://www.doctorwhy.com/


On Saturday, January 8, 2011, the Hulbert Outdoor Center at 2968 Lake Morey Rd, Fairlee, VT 05045 (phone for reservations at 802/333-3405) Dr. Yankielun will be teaching the "survival" art of building good snow-shelters.

This skill, once passed down over generations by winter travelers in the north, is considered very valuable today for recreational winter travelers as well as for survival situations. Dr. Yankielun's half day, hands-on workshop will cover the history, styles and techniques of snow-shelters, from igloos to quinzees.

Other Winter Skills Day workshops are available for those who are interested, and they range from ice fishing to dogsledding basics, from winter camping skills to skate skiing.

All workshops are $27 unless otherwise noted. Lunch is included in tuition fee. For more information about winter activities at the Hulbert Outdoor Center, visit their site at www.alohafoundation.org/hulbert

Save Money, Pack Lighter on Your Next Ski Vacation

Getting ready to take that winter break ski or snowboard vacation?  Just in time for your holiday reading, here is a handy list of packing tips to help you get your big and little athletes, and all their gear, on that planned flight.

Thanks to Cheapflights.com’s "How To Pack for a Ski Vacation" guide for these practical, money-saving tips:

· Pack with purpose: Tuck small items, such as ski socks and gloves, inside your ski boots to maximize space. Wrap your goggles inside a ski hat and make sure they're well cushioned in case of bumps. If you are bringing your skis or snowboard, pack clothes around them in the ski bag - provided that’s not expressly forbidden by your carrier. Cram as much as you can into your hand luggage.

· Consider renting equipment: Do you really need to haul your skies on the flight or can you rent your skis there? Some airlines will throw in free ski carriage but other carriers will charge extra. If your prospective airline charges, weigh up the costs of carrying skis compared to renting. As a guide, Cheapflights.com has created an easy table outlining the Costs of Carrying Skis on Flights for various airlines.

· Consider renting clothes: If you are really trying to keep baggage costs down you could rent some clothes for your stay at the resort. A growing number of resorts provide this service.

· Wear as much on the flight as you can: Some hard-core bargain flyers suggest wearing your ski boots too. Wearing a helmet in the cabin might be pushing the bounds of acceptability but it’s an item that many slope-bound travelers will pack in their hand luggage.

· Don't forget your paperwork: Pack your printouts for booked lift tickets, rentals, lessons, and, most importantly, your travel insurance policy.

The complete How-to Guide with additional tips is available at http://news.cheapflights.com/2010/12/how-to-pack-for-a-ski-vacation/.

Hollywood Hollyday Erupts with Christmas Cheer

We love the movies, and all that over-the-top glitz and glamor add a touch of je ne sais quoi to daily life.

But combine Hollywood with Hollyday and you get totally crazy stuff, like snow-making at Universal Studios and the "Christmas Trees of the Stars" exhibit at the Hollywood Museum.

Don't believe us? Check out this video produced by the Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau, who know a  thing or two about filmmaking.

As they call it, "Hollywood is being transformed into a Winter Wonderlalaland..."

Check out the video of all that LA has to offer :

And when you're ready to party, turn to Family Travel Forum's guide to Los Angeles Family Attractions so you have plenty to do after the gift-giving is over.

CSI - Crime Scene as Science Teacher Comes to Huntsville

As if Space Camp wasn't enough, Huntsville, Alabama is welcoming a new science exhibit based on the successful "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" series on CBS. The exhibit and its associated Web adventure were developed through an unusual partnership between scientists, museums, commerce, and the National Science Foundation, which provided $2.4 million in funding for both the CSI exhibit and the "Web Adventure" targeted to underserved youth.

Just imagine your family entering a crime scene and being the ones responsible for noticing and collecting every trace of evidence. The pressure is on: you know the analysis of your evidence must be scientifically sound to crack the case.

Using the mystery and fun of "CSI", the CSI: The Experience show that opened in May 2007 at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is currently on a national tour of science museums. Created in collaboration with the TV show, it will be on display at the U. S. Space & Rocket Center from January 29, 2011 to May 1, 2011.

At Huntsville, this immersive exhibit invites visitors to enter "crime" scenes where they identify and record evidence. It takes them inside "laboratories" for scientific testing and to "autopsy" rooms for pathology analysis. Then it returns them to the "office" to build their case, based on the scientific evidence.

The exhibit brings to life real scientific principles and the most advanced scientific techniques used today by crime scene investigators and forensic scientists. The exhibit is designed for adults and youth 12 and above;  tickets will be available for purchase at Space Camp Online.
In conjunction with the CSI January opening, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center will be hosting Huntsville native, D. P. Lyle, M.D., award winning author of the Dub Walker novel series, set in Huntsville. Check their site for details.

Costa Rica Luxury With RockResorts Flair

Rock Resorts, the legendary luxury hotel group founded by the Rockefeller family and now a part of Vail Resorts' lodging division, is taking on a new property in Costa Rica. 

Beginning in the New Year, the Xandari by the Pacific Resort and Spa on Playa Esterillos Estes will become Alma del Pacifico Hotel. Alma del Pacifico will undergo a total renovation while remaining open during spring and summer 2011, the time to find pricing values in what will become a world-class luxury resort.

Currently there are 10 fabulous RockResort properties located in Vail, Beaver Creek, Aspen, Jackson Hole, Breckenridge, Santa Fe, Miami and St. Lucia. Half Moon in Rose Hall, Jamaica will become a RockResort on Jan. 1, 2011 followed by Balcones del Atlántico in the Dominican Republic and then Alma del Pacifico.

In keeping with the company's expansion into real estate ventures, such as the recent acquisition of the Northstar at Tahoe ski resort in Nevada, RockResorts will manage all hospitality and lodging operations at the adjoining 700-acre Del Pacifico at Esterillos master planned residential development. Future plans at Del Pacifico at Esterillos include an equestrian center, 18-hole golf course, boutique hotel and additional residential units.

Located on Playa Esterillos Este, the property is halfway between Jaco Beach and the beautiful Manuel Antonio National Park. Alma del Pacifico Hotel currently features 20 spacious private beachfront villas with original artwork and private terraces with views of the Pacific Ocean or lush gardens. There are two swimming pools, an outdoor Jacuzzi, herb and vegetable gardens, an art galley, an artisan shop, a restaurant and bar, a fitness center and a renowned spa.

Adds Barry Strudwick, principal of Del Pacifico Hotel Partners and Grupo del Pacifico, "Del Pacifico is more than another development on a pristine beach. We are creating a community that has been thoughtfully and carefully planned and constructed with a lively town center that embraces Costa Rica's rich cultural heritage, a community that celebrates the natural beauty of the rain forest and playa and a cherished place - either your home or your vacation destination - that preserves the soul of Costa Rica."

This part of Costa Rica is known for its world-class sport fishing and surfing; and nearby there are opportunities for days of spa and yoga; hiking in Carara and Manuel Antonio National Parks; canopy and zip line tours; whitewater rafting; horseback riding; sea kayaking; catamaran tours to Nicoya Gulf islands; river tours through mangroves; and shopping and nightlife at the bars and restaurants in nearby Jaco and Manuel Antonio.

For more information and reservations, visit LegendaryLodging.com/CostaRica or call 506/2778 7070.

Ski the Adirondacks: Great Big Kid-Friendly Values

They've already had a foot of snow and lots of cold. They're already geared up for the Christmas-New Years break with lots of family events.

And now, we're here to say that there's good skiing, especially for beginners, at several local ski mountains in the Adirondack mountains of upstate New York.

Sure you've heard of Lake Placid and know it as a charming Olympic Village with beautiful resorts like the Mirror Lake Inn.  And yes, you may have heard of Whiteface Mountain or its Olympic cousin, Gore, near Lake George about an hour south. 

Now, meet the mountains' smaller mountains, where learning to ski is a bargain and great fun.

Travelers looking to get away without spending a lot of money or time researching the best deal should consider the smaller ski resorts throughout the Adirondack Region. They offer shorter lift lines, cheaper passes, ski packages and varied terrain. For the price of one plane ticket out west, an entire family can book an Adirondack ski vacation.

One example is Big Tupper Resort in Tupper Lake, which reopened in 2009 as a not-for-profit, no-frills, re-invigorated Adirondack ski resort run entirely by volunteers. With a 1,200’ vertical drop and 17 trails of beginner-to-expert terrain – Big Tupper is the biggest bargain in the Adirondacks. And a lift ticket costs just $15. 

Since the 1940s, Titus Mountain in Malone has been a hub for Adirondack skiing. Originally called “Moon Valley,” Titus has undergone some major changes in the past 70 years. Eight chairlifts, 27 trails, a ski school and 1,200’ of vertical drop make Titus a great option for Canadians, as well as skiers and boarders from nearby Vermont. It’s also the third highest ski area in the entire Adirondacks, yet an all-day ski pass costs less than $40.

In Warrensburg, just north of Lake George, is Hickory Ski Center, a re-invigorated small-town mountain with a lot going on. Day passes range from $30 to $45, and half-day tickets range from $20-$30. Participants in New York State’s “Learn a Snow Sport Month” this January, can get 20% discount off a lift, lesson and rental package at Hickory.

For more information and to research these bargain packages, check out the Skiing Info page of Visit Adirondacks Tourism.

Do Sicily Like the Romans: Luxury Conquest from $2465 for 3 Nights' Bliss

When you're located along the shoreline of Sicily, Italy and you've been named the “Best Family Program” by high-end luxury travel agents who really know the field, then you've earned our respect. That's why we are delighted to see that the Verdura Golf & Spa Resort is making some discounted offers available to ensure an unforgettable family vacation in a magical place. 

The Rocco Forte Collection’s Verdura Resort is wrapping a number of family-focused activities in a wintertime ‘Family Fun’ Package. We can't really say why Sicilians are so keen on family but since its opening, this resort on a mile-long beach has given its younger guests the chance to be creative, energetic, and sociable... or, to do as the Romans do.

In designing the family programs, Verdura offers a selection of child-friendly amenities such as free sunscreen, smaller-sized robes, Kids’ and Teens’ Clubs decked out with the latest gadgets, and an experienced staff who work to ensure that the days and nights run smoothly for all ages. 

If the kids are pasta-crazy, young chefs can create their own three-course dinner in the resort’s kitchens or learn the art of making pizza. The active and curious can discover all the resort’s surroundings during treasure hunts or trips to nearby coves. Mother and daughters can indulge at the spa, where treatments are specifically designed for teens. There's an indoor pool and Turkish steam bath for year round relaxation.  Tennis tournaments, golf lessons at one of two courses, and football games are available on land, and in nice weather families can take advantage of sailing, windsurfing and stand-up paddling. Not to mention the great restaurants, manicured grounds, and stunning landscape visible from all the public spaces.

The resort's Family Fun package includes one spa treatment for mother and daughter or father and son, one family cooking class followed by lunch, and one mocktail-making class.  Prices for the three-night/four-day program in one of their 203 rooms start from US$2,465 and include buffet breakfast and daily three-course dinner for the whole family, with an adjacent or interconnecting room at half price. Babysitting is available at an extra fee.

This Family Fun Package is available through spring break or March 31, 2011. We can't guarantee the weather but this is a Mediterranean climate and a lovely place any time of year. For more information or to book at stay at Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, located at Contrada Verdura Sciacca, Sicily 92019, Italy, contact your travel agent, call the hotel at +39/ 0 925 99 80 01 or visit www.roccofortecollection.com

Chicago Warms Up Winter: Free Festivals Family Fun

From special holiday exhibitions at Chicago museums to the Daley Plaza Christmas Tree to celebrations of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, families have a lot of ways to stay warm over the holiday season in Chicago. Best yet, our pick of the many events are guaranteed to keep little ones entertained at no cost.

Some Favorite Annual Chicago Traditions

Michigan Avenue: The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival presented by Harris through December

Daley Plaza: Christkindlmarket Chicago through December 24, 2010
Opens daily 11a.m.; Closing hours Sunday through Thursday 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 9 p.m. Admission Free. Daley Plaza is transformed into a little piece of Germany, known as the Christkindlmarket Chicago. Nutcrackers, cuckoo-clocks, beer steins, European chocolates, toys, jewelry, clothing and a wide variety of holiday ornaments are just a few of the items for sale from more than 50 vendor booths.


Millennium Park: Caroling at Cloud Gate on Fridays through December 17, 2010
6 PM Admission Free. Chicagoans and visitors alike are invited to Cloud Gate to hear the beautiful voices of different Chicago choral groups and participate in a holiday sing-along. After the holiday sing-along, everyone is encouraged to skate at Millennium Park's McCormick Tribune Ice Rink.

Navy Pier: Winter Wonderfest through Sunday, Jan 2, 2011
Sunday-Thursday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Friday & Saturday 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Admission Free, wristbands required to participate in rides and attractions ($16-19) Navy Pier's annual holiday extravaganza returns for its eighth magical year. This holiday tradition features more than 750,000 holiday ornaments, hundreds of decorated trees, an indoor Ferris wheel, Musical Carousel, North Pole E-Wish Center, Large-Scale Inflatable Games and Giant Slides, Winter WonderStage, Carolers, and more!

City Hall Concert Series: Young Voices Deck “The Hall” through Friday, December 17, 2010
12-1 p.m. Admission Free.The City Hall Holiday Concert Series begins Wednesday December 1 and runs through Friday, December 17 with concerts every weekday from noon to 1 p.m. The concerts will take place in the lobby of City Hall (121 N. LaSalle) near the LaSalle Street entrance.

Mayor Daley’s Sports Festival -- December 18 and December 19, 2010
10 am - 4 pm McCormick Place in Halls A & B Admission Free. Highlights of the annual Chicago Sports Festival include interactive zones featuring trampolines, golf, climbing walls, football, chess, obstacle course, tot’s zone, bowling, table tennis, inflatable tumbling, tennis, badminton, boxing, a pitching zone, fishing ponds, footbag, giant slide, 40-Yard dash, skateboarding area, wrestling, and open courts for volleyball and basketball. The Halftime Stage features special performances and demonstrations from 12 – 4 each day.


Chicago’s Downtown Farmstand
Mondays – Fridays, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission Free. Chicago’s Downtown Farmstand at 66 East Randolph Street: offers edible local products, all produced within 250 miles of Chicago, including fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs in season; a full range of condiments, preserves, seasonings and other dry goods items; baked goods and seasonal items as available.

Holiday Shopping in Chicago Neighborhoods There’s no better place for holiday shopping than in Chicago’s neighborhoods! Division Street and the Southport Corridor are home to specialty shops that carry the work of independent and Chicago-based designers. In the Lincoln Park neighborhood, shop along Lincoln Avenue, Clark Street, Armitage Avenue or Halsted Street, or venture further north to the Lakeview neighborhood (along Clark Street, Belmont Avenue or Broadway) for a wide variety of shopping alternatives.

Lincoln Park Zoo Lights nightly through January 2, 2011
(Closed Dec. 24 & 25), 5–9 p.m. Admission Free.Lincoln Park Zoo transforms into a dazzling wonderland with a series of free seasonal festivities. Enter a winter wonderland illuminated by the laughter of children and more than two million lights at Lincoln Park Zoo’s annual ZooLights Presented by ComEd and Charter One. Animal exhibits stay open late as guests roam the beautiful grounds to take photos with Santa, prepare family crafts and enjoy the zoo’s incredible animals immersed in an atmosphere unlike any other.


Chicago Hotel Offers

Visitors to the city should check out the Chicago Office of Tourism’s Visitor Information Center (877-CHICAGO) in the Chicago Cultural Center, located at 78 East Washington Street. Their website is a good place to start searching for lodging deals, many of which are available, especially on weekends durng this time of year.

Winter Means Indoor Playdates & Games for the Whole Family

Worried about cold wintry weather? Gloomy gray days can bring worries to new moms who need ideas for fun, indoor entertainment for their babies and toddlers.

 

Rather than spend your days home alone with a new baby, or invest in the cost of a Gymboree class or visit to the local kids' gym or playspace, we have found with our kids that playgroups are a fun way to pass the time. Not only will parents and caregivers make new friends, but a friendly neighborhood playgroup that moves from house to house each week can help your toddlers build lifelong friendships.

And if you've got your tiny travelers in tow over the holidays, creating a playgroup space in your in-laws' home can help all your new relatives and baby's new cousins become acquainted while having fun (and making great photo ops!)

Hosting a playgroup means establishing a few rules. Talk with your friends about who sets the schedule, which snacks and beverages the host will be responsible for, how to cope with naptime, the group's tolerance for runny noses, and whether your group is open to caregivers as well as moms and dads.

Of course, having enough toys and books so that other children can share with yours is essential. With that in mind, the LEGO company (Search Amazon.com for Legos) has worked with with Heather Flett and Whitney Moss, co-founders of parenting blog, RookieMoms.com, to create videos packed with tips for moms and dads on how to make the most of play time with their toddlers.

Flett and Moss explain that one of the top things moms look for in their blog are ideas and suggestions for fun activities and ways to connect with other moms, and that their readers value any and all ideas that are practical and actionable.

The Rookie Moms suggest that playgroups are a fun and easy way to add variety to the weekly routine, and give children a chance to play with new or different toys than their own. At this tender age, most of the activity would be considered parallel play, but exposing kids and their toys to others is always a great way to introduce the concept of sharing -- a lifelong skill.

Here are some of their thoughts on making a playgroup playdate successful.



If you find the video as inspirational as we did, go right ahead and visit the LEGO Shop at Home Service.
They cater to real fans, with the most complete LEGO collection anywhere and special sales in time for the holiday season.

Cheap Warm Last Minute - Sound Like Your Kinda Vacation?

When you work at a travel website, and you try to stay in touch with old friends, pretty often you get an email, txt, FB message, tweet or skype like this one from Steve, my NYC neighbor with 2 adorable girls.

"Any advice for a last minute getaway somewhere fun and sunny, but reasonable. We are so last minute…J"

Of course, I ignore all deadlines and I try to find him a deal, because that's what friends do, . And there are great ones out there now, since Christmas travel is looking at little wan...

I tell Steve and I will tell anyone out there who's interested:

There are tons of discounted fares to Orlando now. I just did a search on the FTF site's booking engine for vacation packages -- click on Advanced Search and put in MCO, the main airport as your destination, and you'll see lots of offer. (By the way, the booking engine is operated by EAN/Expedia, and if you use it to book, we get a whopping $2 commission!!)

We love Orlando for its value, so I remind Steve: "You can fly to Orlando, the 4 of you, and stay 3 nights in a condo hotel, for about $255 each. You don’t have to go to the themeparks, there are lots of other things to do there like an airboat ride in the Everglades  – weather should be pretty good. All you need is a rental car."

If you’re going to go to the themeparks, splurge to stay at one of the Universal Resort hotels and go to see The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – everyone says it’s amazing and a day there, without any other parks, is plenty.

But Steve really wanted to get outside the United States with his family, and if you're like him, you can benefit from these other travel bargains I've recently seen.

Try CheapO Air – lots of good flights -- and they are more reliable than some of the other steep airfare discounters.

If you keep in mind that Hogwarts is outside the United States, you can look at CheapO's great value deal to Orlando, where you can save up to 42% Universal Orlando Resort and experience The World of Harry Potter!.

Last but not least, because I really do have to finish up some work, is an unusual deal from Priceline. Blind auction sites are not my family's favorites, but they sometimes offer up great deals with enough detail that I think I know what I'm getting. 

Priceline's deal is soooo Cheap Warm Last Minute and it's valid for travel through the spring. Go to the Priceline site, and remember it has to be booked soon. But, you'll see after you login (skip the login if you're not a regular user) that you can get a $300 - $400 air credit per room booked towards a cheap Bahamas vacation.

I remind Steve and you, "You can choose a cheap resort, then take the girls to Atlantis / Paradise Island for the day, costs about $100 for a day pass but it’s amazing… Or, pay more up front at Priceline and stay at the Atlantis for yourself…"

And here's the travel professional's standard wisdom: If you want to go closer to Xmas, book the week before, flying  home the 25th for the best rates….

Now, please leave your comments and I'll get back to you after I've met my deadline....

Snow in the Desert at Marriott Starr Pass, Tucson

We just received a nice note from a colleague in Tucson who shared some fun news:

"There is a great holiday event going on next weekend at the JW Marriott Starr Pass.  This year they will hold their 3rd Annual Winter Wonderland Event Dec. 10-12.  This event is not only family friendly but brings guests and community members together for a gigantic holiday celebration.

"This year, visitors and guests will encounter a seasonal treat rarely experienced in the sunny Tucson desert…REAL SNOW!  All weekend, children and kids-at-heart can sled down snowy Starr Circle Hill, located at the resort’s main entrance." And here's the proof from last year's event!

The Marriott Starr Pass "Winter Wonderland Weekend" kicks off on Friday, December 10 with Santa Claus and his elves visiting in memorable, modern style – the Christmas crew will arrive by helicopter on the Tash Lawn. After Santa’s eagerly anticipated arrival, children can have their pictures taken with him to capture and celebrate the memory.

The festive fun continues throughout the weekend with holiday gift making in Santa’s Workshop, a firework display to rival the resort’s Christmas tree lights, and more. Most of the fun is free to guests, but some activities, such as Santa's Workshop and family portraits, involve a nominal fee.

There are some winter room packages if you're not from around these parts, and with all offers, taxes are  not included; and some blackout dates and restrictions apply. For the period covering Dec. 9 - Dec. 12, packages booked at least 7 days in advance include all of the Winter Wonderland weekend activities and a standard room for $159/N, or activities and a room with a city view for $179/N. Use promotional code ADV to reserve a room. Latecomers can get room-only rates during Winter Wonderland at $179/N for a standard room.

Through January 8, 2011 (excluding New Year’s Eve), JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort is giving guests the gift of one free night.. Families who purchase any 2 nights at $199/N and stay 3 will have the third night price taken off at checkout.  Use promotional code B4F to reserve a room. 

Reservations can be made by calling Marriott Reservations at 888-527-8989. To learn more about JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort &  Spa’s Winter Wonderland or 3-for-2 Holiday Packages, please visit www.jwmarriottstarrpass.com.