Happy New Year from the Best Travel Deals team!  Today’s photo is from the 2007 New Year’s celebration in Sydney.  We hope that all of our readers have plans to celebrate the New Year with good friends and family and that 2010 brings you all lots of travel adventures.  Please be sure to share your New Year’s travel photos with us on our facebook page.

Happy New Year!

Zephyr Cove Resort offers a different take on the Lake Tahoe experience.  While most visitors cruise down the slopes of popular ski resorts, Zephyr guests will be treated to a winter mountain getaway with boat rides on the area’s namesake lake and snowmobile tours of the scenic back country of the Sierra Nevadas.

This winter, Zephyr Cove is offering a package priced 22% below regular rates.  The “ride, stay and cruise” package includes two nights in one of the resort’s studios, bungalows or one-bedroom cabins and sightseeing excursions on the lake and in the woods.  The reduced price is $200 per person.

With each room booking, guests receive two passes to cruise Lake Tahoe on the M.S. Dixie II.  This boat holds over 500 passengers, making it the largest vessel on the lake.  The cruise offers stunning views of the water and the Sierra Nevada range.

Guests also receive two passes to take part in a guided snowmobile tour of the Sierra Nevada’s back country.  The resort runs tours that are suitable for people of all skill levels.

Of course, most visitors come to Tahoe for excitement.  The Zephyr is located only one hour from Reno and is within a short drive of the nightlife, restaurants and casinos of Lake Tahoe.  So the excitement is accessible, but  just far enough away that Zephyr Cove  feels like a true mountain getaway.

Booking for this 22%-off deal runs until March 30th, 2010.  Travel dates run through the end of April.  To book now, visit the Zehpyr Cove web site or call 866-761-6240.  In order to obtain the discounted rates, you will have to use the promotional code RSC200PP.

Check out Lake Tahoe’s land accommodations as well. There’s plenty of Lake Tahoe hotel deals for your perfect fall or winter getaway.

Today’s photo of the Week is of the Texas State Capital in Austin.  Austin, Texas, also known as the Live Music Capital of the World is a great place to visit.  They promise that any day or night, weekday or weekend you can always find great live music playing somewhere.  With miles of biking and hiking trails, more than 200 parks, and 300 days of sunshine each year the outdoors is a big part of the Austin lifestyle.  You will be sure to find people biking, running, walking and hiking throughout town.  From music, golfing, hiking, biking, shopping, and great restaurants Austin has something for everyone.  With cold weather embracing most of the country right now why not travel down south and enjoy the beautiful Austin weather.   There are plenty hotel deals to be found in the Austin area including this current special from the Four Seasons Austin.

The Austrian Tourist Office is holding a contest called “Its Got to Be Austria Facebook Sweepstakes” where the winner chosen (and their guest) will receive a 7-day themed vacation package of their choice valued at $4500.

To enter the sweepstakes readers need only to become a fan of “Austria Official Travel Info” on Facebook.

The winner and a guest will receive a seven day themed vacation package of their choice valued at $4,500. The sweepstakes invites fans to explore all that Austria has to offer by choosing from vacations oriented toward “Food and Wine,” “Art, Architecture and Design,” “Nature, Outdoors and the Alps,” or “Classical Music and History.”

Facebook fans can receive an additional sweepstakes entry by tweeting about Austria on Twitter using the hashtag: #itsgottobeaustria. The contest runs now through January 15.

More information and official rules can be found at ItsgottobeAustria.com or via Facebook. Contest is open to residents of the U.S., 18 and over.

When someone mentions vacationing in Arizona, golf immediately comes to mind.  Some of the finest courses in the country operate year-round and draw hoards of the world’s most avid golfers.

The Ridge at Sedona Golf Resort is one of many fairway-side vacation spots in the area.  But it stands out because of an off-season promotion by Krazy Kyote Tours and Activities.  Booking a stay at The Ridge through this tour operator leads to a discount of over 50% off of regular rates.

The Krazy Kyote deal has two options:  $199 earns you three days and two nights in a Studio Suite (regular price is just over $400).  These suites include a balcony, kitchen and sleeper sofa.  For $259, guests can upgrade to a one-bedroom suite with a fireplace, separate living room and in-room whirlpool.  The promotion runs through the end of January.

Of course, this is not merely an attractive deal for golfers wanting to scope out the facilities for their next golfing excursion.  The Sedona area is known for its stunning scenery, including the Red Rock formations that tower over the valley.

Because of the spectacular views and rugged natural landscapes, outdoor activities are as popular as golf in Sedona.  The area is crisscrossed with hiking trails (accessed with a $5 daily pass or $10 weekly pass), many of which lead to scenic overlooks.  There are also 4×4 tours that offer a less strenuous but more expensive way to see the panoramas of the Red Rock area.

The Ridge at Sedona wintertime deal is available through the Krazy Kyote web site or by phone (1.877.444.8044).

This season Vail Ski Area celebrates the 10-year anniversary of opening Blue Sky Basin. Nestled at the base of Vail Mountain, Vail Cascade is Vail’s only ski-in/ski-out AAA Four Diamond resort. The mountainside resort offers 292 hotel rooms including 27 suites and more than 80 spacious condominiums and private homes to choose from. An abundance of off-slope activities also abound including snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sleigh rides, dog-sled rides, winter fly-fishing, ice climbing, indoor and outdoor ice skating, hot air balloon rides and hut trips.

The Vail Cascade also features the 78,000-square-foot Aria Spa & Club. The Spa offers more than 10,000 square feet of rest and relaxation found in 14 treatment rooms. Guests also can train and take advantage of one of the fitness center’s many programs from group classes to personalized instruction. After an afternoon of working out at the fitness center or in nature’s playground, guests can refuel at the new Atwater on Gore Creek restaurant. Atwater features two distinct dining experiences: a casual tavern and a fine dining space. Both take advantage of a new enclosed deck featuring fully operable windows that create an indoor-outdoor experience.

To celebrate the 10-year anniversary Vail Cascade has developed a special Blue Sky, Great Buy lodging offer to commemorate the occasion. Guests booking two nights at the Vail Cascade, get the third night for $10. The Blue Sky, Great Buy offer is available throughout the 2009-2010 ski and snowboard season with rates beginning at $129 per night. Rates may vary depending on the time of season booked and the offer is based on availability. To book the Blue Sky, Great Buy offer, please visit vailcascade.com and use booking code VCBLUESKY1.

Vail Cascade is also making it easier to book a mountain getaway throughout the 2009-2010-winter season with its Powder to the People offer. The special package provides guests with incremental vacation credits the longer they stay even during the holidays. Guests booking two nights get a $50 credit, stay three nights and receive a $100 credit or four night or more for a $150 credit. Rates over the holiday period begin at $399; rates during non-holiday periods begin at $109. The offer is valid through April 18, 2010. To book a winter vacation at the Vail Cascade, please visit VailCascade.com and use booking code VCPOWDER3 when reserving this offer.

Merry Christmas from the best travel deals family to your family.

$579 for a Curacao Vacation, 5 Nights stay with airfare included. That’s $200 instant savings on travel now through April 1, 2010, for The Lodge Kura Hulanda and Beach Club, perched on cliffs overlooking sugary white-sand beaches on 350 acres of the western tip of the island of Curacao.

$59 a night for new upscale New Orleans-Area Hotel. Located two miles from the Louis Armstrong International Airport and just 12 miles from the famous French Quarter, this upscale hotel makes an economical alternative to pricier central New Orleans hotels. This offer is available daily through March 31.

$59 a night for 2-Bedroom Villa near Disney in Orlando, FL. Only 2 miles from the gates to Disney World, SunLake Resort is located in the heart of the west 192 strip, making it easy to walk to several restaurants and shopping. But no worries about privacy, SunLake is set back on a private lake to make sure your stay is as comfortable as you can imagine.

$299 & up for Caribbean & Mexico Vacations at Nassau Palm Hotel and other locations throughout the Bahamas. It’s easy to add additional nights to any of the already heavily discounted packages that are listed.

$128 a night for a 4-Star Barcelona Hotel. This hotel offers upscale accommodation in an elegant area surrounded by smart designer shops, two shopping malls and the famous soccer stadium Camp Nou. Guests will enjoy complimentary breakfast as well as spacious guest rooms with WiFi connection and marble bathrooms.

$795 & up for Punta Cana 4-Star All-Inclusive Resort, with airfare included. Complimentary non-motorized water sports include kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, and snorkeling. You also can take an introductory scuba diving lesson. Casino action spices up your evenings. A perfect setting for romance by the sea.

And speaking of romance, you can already schedule your Valentines Day Weekend Package at the Rodeway Inn Logan International Airport for $119 over February 12, 2010 until February 15, 2010; this deal includes one bottle of champagne and roses per stay.

$159 & up for a 5-Star Venetian Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The Venetian is located on the Strip and features a Grand Canal complete with gondola rides, a 120,000 square-foot casino, elegant accommodations, and is approximately four miles from McCarran International Airport. PLUS: $150 INSTANT Rebate on 4 Night Stays!

$189 & up for a 3-Night Getaway to Paris Las Vegas, includes airfare. Vegas meets Paris at this luxury hotel on the Strip’s Golden Mile, with an 85,000-square-foot casino and a scaled-down version of the Eiffel Tower. The European-style spa includes a health club, and The Producers provides catchy tunes and belly laughs.

There are also three new places to stay in Las Vegas CityCenter with introductory hotel rates to help celebrate. Aria’s introductory rate starts at $169 per night midweek, including a $75 resort credit. Vdara’s introductory rate officially starts at $149 per night midweek, including a $50 resort credit when you stay two nights. Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas has rooms starting at $545 per night, with a $150 dining or spa credit, plus guests get one free night when they book one or more nights. There’s never been a better time to book that Vegas Getaway!

The last great decision of 2009 is where to spend the last moments of the year and the first moments of the new decade.  The standard champagne toast and balloon drop will, as always, be a popular choice.  But there are other, more unusual options.  People who are planning to spend December 31st away from home have some interesting choices at resorts in the US and abroad.

Here are four unique New Year’s Eve options:

The Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Northern Michigan will host the Dancing Through the Decades event, sponsored by Pepsi.  A Motown band will provide cover tunes from the past 7o years.  Packages, including a room at the hotel and a casino voucher, start at $119.  Non-package tickets (meal and concert only) are $75.  The resort’s Aerie Restaurant will host a Latin-themed New Year’s Eve party with dinner and dancing.  Packages start at $152.  To book a package or obtain more information, visit Grand Traverse’s web site.

One Utah celebration will be decidedly more rustic.  The Homestead Resort in Midway, Utah has a full menu of holiday activities, including sleigh rides and cross-country skiing.  On New Year’s Eve, a family-friendly dance, billed as Homestead’s New Year’s Hoe-Down, will take place.  A package costs $238 for two adults and includes a room, tickets to the hoe-down and a wild game buffet in the afternoon.  Prices for the hoe-down only are $20 for adults and $10 for revelers under the age of 10.  The package can be booked on Homestead’s web site.

The Best Western Lafayette Executive Plaza and Conference Center in Lafayette, Indiana will be putting on a wet New Year’s Eve party at the city’s Buccaneer Bay indoor water park.  Packages, including room and breakfast, start at $199.  The festivities include live music and DJs inside the water park.  Details and booking options are available at 1-800-780-7234.

Of course, something more exotic might make for a more memorable end to 2009.  In Brazil, the New Year’s celebration is known as Réveillon.  Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro will be the site of major celebrations with fireworks displays and popular Brazilian bands playing on multiple stages.  It is expected that nearly 2 million people will be on the beach partying away the final moments of 2009.  Information is available on the Brazil Tourism Network web site.

$375 & up to Ski & Stay at 5-Star Montreal Westin, and this price includes BONUS 3rd night free & $300 air credit per person. With easy access to the nearby pedestrian village and skiing areas of Tremblant, this 5-star resort features a luxurious lobby and fine Japanese and Sushi dining.

$335 & up for 3 Nights at a 4-Star Ottawa Hotel, and this price includes BONUS 3rd night free & $300 air credit per person. The tasteful rooms and suites have air-conditioning, a city or courtyard view, windows that open to the outside, a television with the On Command system, a coffee maker with complimentary coffee and tea, a refreshment center, a clock radio, bathrobes, an iron and an ironing board, and a hairdryer.

This could be the year you tour Asia! With the 2010 All Asia Pass from Cathay Pacific Airlines you could visit magnificent Hong Kong, tropical Bali, culturally-rich Bangkok, ultra-modern Singapore and legendary Tokyo, plus many other destinations all for just $1,599.

A couple other great airfare deals just in, $446 to fly to Shanghai or Beijing from San Francisco, $515 to fly to Sydney from New York, and $399 & up to fly to Shanghai or Beijing from Boston, each way.

Occidental Hotels and Resorts, whose all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, Costa Rica, and Mexico, include dining, drinks (alcohol included), use of the Kids’ Club, and a myriad of both water and land activities in its rates, is offering a Winter Special sale on its 13 resorts in Aruba, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, with savings ranging from 20% to 50% for stays from January 4 through April 30, 2010.

$699 for this New Riviera Maya *Dreams* Getaway w/Air: Save $450 on vacations at the Caribbean’s coast of Mexico, with blinding white strands of sand embracing clear turquoise waters, shores that curve into calm lagoons, and are beloved by scuba divers, snorkelers, bird watchers, and beach combers. The Pacific coast contains some of Mexico’s principle beach resorts as well as other lesser-known, beautiful spots and small coastal villages, backed by sweeping jungles that reach down to the clear blue waters of the Pacific.

$129-$139 a night for this Westin in Jersey City, just minutes from Manhattan. With spectacular views of Manhattan, The Westin Jersey City Newport Hotel is providing guests with a significant reduction on normal rates for Friday-Sunday nights through January and February. Rates for this property are regularly $230.

$90 a night for the newly renovated Sheraton Clayton Plaza Hotel St. Louis on Friday and Saturday nights through March 28. The same room is regularly $190 on weekdays.

$109 a night for a top-rated Cleveland hotel. The Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center is rated the #1 hotel in Cleveland on Tripadvisor and is conveniently located within walking distance from the city’s downtown attractions. Guest rooms are newly renovated and feature plush bedding, marble bathrooms and spectacular Lake Erie views, and this deal is 40% OFF the regular rates.

$71 a night for a Junior Villa at Palm Springs Resort. This offer is for Sunday-Thursday stays and is 30% off regular rates. Weekends are $16 more per night. Bonus: Guests looking to extend their stay will receive their fourth night free, as well as an upgrade to an 800 square foot, one-bedroom villa. Each spacious one-bedroom villa features a full kitchen and private balcony.