$139 & up– US & Caribbean Getaways from JetBlue $100 off

Round trip airfare and 3-night accommodations in popular destinations on sale for travel now through March! Visit Las Vegas, Santo Domingo, Orlando, Miami, Bahamas or more.

Oceanview suite at all-inclusive Breezes Grand Resort & Spa in Jamaica: 25% off

Rates as low as $180pp/pn March through May.

Disney World package deal from NYC only $355 per person

Includes round trip airfare and 4-nights at Disney’s All Star Sports Resort. Kids stay & play free.

Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago only $95/night through March

Regularly $259. Conveniently located near Magnificent Mile, Grant Park and Millennium Park.

Half off at the 3-star Washington Plaza Hotel at Thomas Circle near the White House

$79/night for weekends in January; $90/night for weekends in February.

$55 & up at the 4-star Monte Carlo Resort and Casino on the Vegas Strip

Includes free extras at The Cupcakery, Diablo’s, Minus5 Ice Lounge and The Pub.

Nationwide airfare sale from Virgin America: $64 & up

Valid for one-way flights through May 11.

4-nights Hawaiian Vacation package: $720 & up! Save 30%

Includes accommodations at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel and round trip airfare!

Want to make 2010 an unforgettable year? Snag one of these limited time hotel deals to enjoy a chic getaway in the city for less!

Beyond Breakfast Offer at Affinia Chicago – From $149 per Night

Affinia Chicago, which is located just steps away from the Magnificent Mile, is a chic, urban escape with fabulous beds and a signature 6-choice pillow menu. If you book the Beyond Breakfast Offer at Affinia Chicago through Perfect Escapes, you’ll receive American breakfast for two each day, a guaranteed upgrade to the next room category, complimentary wi-fi, and early check-in/late check-out. Rates start at $149. This offer is available through December 30, 2010.

Get a Complimentary Upgrade at Hotel Gansevoort, New York City – From $385

Hotel Gansevoort is the first and only luxury, full-service resort in New York City’s Meatpacking District. This chic retreat boasts luxury guestrooms and suites with step-out balconies that offer panoramic views. If you book your stay at Hotel Gansevoort through Perfect Escapes, you’ll receive daily breakfast for two, an upgrade to the next room category, and early check-in/late check-out at no additional cost. Rates start at $385. This offer is available through September 20, 2011.

Get Your 3^rd Night Free at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego – From $109

The Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego is a waterfront hotel with a resort-like atmosphere. The hotel is equipped with luxurious rooms, as well as shopping, dining, and entertainment venues. It offers easy access to major San Diego attractions, including the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, and the Old Town. It’s San Diego Hotel Week, so you’ll get your 3^rd night free if you stay a minimum of three nights at the Manchester Grand Hyatt before December 31, 2010.

Advance Purchase Rates at Marriott World Center, Orlando – From $139

The Marriott World Center is a family-friendly resort that’s located only 1.5 miles away from Disney World. It features a spectacular pool complex, 10 restaurants and lounges, an on-site golf course, a huge video arcade, and a full-service spa. Holiday advance purchase rates at the Marriott World Center in Orlando are $139-$179 between December 9 and 25, 2010 and $209 between December 26, 2010 and January 2, 2011. To qualify for this deal at the Marriott World Center, you must reserve and pay for the room in advance.

Next time you visit America’s Second City, leave your wallet at home! Well, that might be drastic, but Chicago has loads of entertainment options designed for budget travelers! With this list, you can walk through Grant Park, observe fine art and architecture, and even learn about surgical sciences without spending a thing.

1. Grant Park

Chicago’s 319-acre Grant Park is filled with cultural and historic landmarks. Marvel at the iconic Buckingham Fountain: a stunning fountain display which represents Lake Michigan. Walk through the sculptures at Agora: a display of 106 headless and armless iron sculptures designed by Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz. Or appreciate the architecture at Millennium Park. Known as Chicago’s Front Door, due to its location in the city, Grant park is a must see for anyone who wants to experience Chicago!

2. Art Institute of Chicago

In addition to being Chicago’s largest art museum, the Art Institute of Chicago is the second largest art museum in America! Its comprehensive collection of fine art includes painting, sculpture, photography, and textiles from around the world. The museum’s holdings include one of the largest collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art in the world. Admission is free on Thursdays, from 5 to 8 PM.

3. Museum of Contemporary Photography

Come visit the only photography museum in the Midwest! Its permanent collection holds over 9,000 photos and photography-related exhibits from around the world. Check the museum’s current exhibit, which showcases the photographic work of Chicago’s youth.

4. Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows

Smith Museum is America’s first museum dedicated exclusively to stained glass windows. The museum’s 800 ft.-long series of galleries displays 150 beautiful pieces of stained glass art, both religious and secular. Discover this beautiful, underappreciated medium of art at this free museum!

5. International Museum of Surgical Sciences

This unique museum deals with the history and science of surgery. Its four floors are filled with artifacts, paintings and sculptures covering subjects such as nursing, Japanese surgeons, orthopedics, polio, and Latin American medicine. Admission is free every Tuesday.

6. Millennium Park

Millennium Park is a center for art, music, and architectural design. The 24.5-acre park contains works of architectural wonder by Frank Gehry and Jaume Plensa. Come Mondays at noon to enjoy a free concert, or anytime to take in the beautiful environment and architecture.

7. Chicago Children’s Museum

Let the kids have some fun at this educational museum! Adults and children alike will love the dinosaur exhibit, children’s art gallery and water playground. Admission in free on the first Sunday of the month for children under 15.

8. Spertus Institute

The Spertus Museum of Jewish studies is Chicago’s foremost center of Jewish culture. The gallery includes images and sculptures related to Jewish life. The Institute’s new building is a beautiful, environmentally friendly design made of 726 different-shaped glass pieces. Admission is free through the month of June.

9. Archicenter

Interested in architecture? This unique museum chronicles the past and present of Chicago’s architecture and neighborhoods. Archicenter is owned and operated by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. The center also gives tours and hosts various lectures and educational programs.

Rather than grilling hot dogs with your buddies in the backyard this year, why not honor our nation’s troops and heritage by attending a Memorial Day parade or festival? The following are some of the biggest events taking place around the country this Memorial Day weekend.

1.Downtown Chicago’s Memorial Day Parade

Chicago’s parade honors veterans and active duty personnel who serve in the US military. Attracting approximately 10,000 spectators each year, this huge parade takes place at noon on May 29. The parade begins at State St. and Lake St. to Van Buren and is preceded by a wreath laying ceremony, which begins at 11am at the Eternal Flame on Daley Plaza (Dearborn and Washington Streets).

2. Los Angeles Weekend Street Fair

This annual street fair, which takes place 3 miles west of downtown L.A., attracts a largely Latino crowd and features live music, food, carnival rides, and more. Wilshire and Alvarado streets will be closed off to accommodate this weekend street fair, which annually attracts a crowd of around 30,000 people.

3. Fleet Week, New York

New York City’s Fleet Week honors the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. There is tons of stuff to do during this major event, from observing a parade of ships in the harbor and viewing musical performances by marines and sailors to playing in tug of war and watching eating contests. All of Fleet Week’s events take place in Manhattan from May 26 to June 1 and are free of charge.

4. The National Memorial Day Parade, Washington D.C.

This iconic parade, which is presented by the American Veterans Center, honors all of the men and women who have served our country. Since Washington DC is the headquarters of the US military, this parade is steeped in tradition and serves to educate the public about the true and oft-forgotten meaning of Memorial Day.

During the parade, which takes place on May 31 at 2pm, you’ll see floats, youth groups, military units, and marching bands. The parade will kick off on Constitution Avenue and 7th Street and travel along Constitution Avenue until reaching 17th Street.

5. Memorial Day Weekend Salute to the Troops, Atlanta

The Memorial Day Weekend Salute to the Troops takes place from May 29 to 31 and is Atlanta’s largest Memorial Day event. The patriotic celebration takes place at Stone Mountain Park and honors American troops and their families. If you are an active duty member of the military, you can enter the event free of charge. Stone Mountain Park offers tons of fun for the little ones. The park features a myriad of attractions, including the Summit Skyride, which offers stunning views of the Atlanta skyline, as well as adventure courses, a mini-golf course, a scenic railroad, and a fireworks display. For a great list of places to stay, check out some excellent Atlanta hotel deals.

Late spring is a great time to visit Chicago.  Warmer weather has set in and the city kicks off summertime with a handful of spectacular events.  Things get started on Memorial Day weekend with a large parade, some pro sports excitement and plenty of pyrotechnics.  Of course, Memorial Day visitors can still get a taste of the features that make Chicago a year-round tourist destination: the music, the food, the museums and the theaters.

Chicago’s Memorial Day Parade is one of the largest and oldest in the country.  It begins on Chicago’s famed State Street at noon on the Saturday before Memorial Day (May 29th).  Representatives from all branches of the military participate, as do the usual array of parade marchers: high-school bands, prominent organizations and political figures.  A wreath-laying ceremony (at 11 a.m. in Daley Plaza) is the highlight of this at-times somber, at-times entertaining event.

Navy Pier, the long arm that sticks out into Lake Michigan near Downtown Chicago, kicks off its summer fireworks series on the night of the Memorial Day parade.  The first explosion can be heard just after 10 p.m.  Aside from the pyrotechnics display, which is bound to be impressive, the Pier and its environs are a great place to see the skyline of Chicago’s iconic downtown.

The best aspect of both the parade and the fireworks: they are completely free to attend.

For something a bit quieter, try Chicago’s many summertime gardens.  The plants and flowers in the gardens at Chicago’s Grant Park will be in full bloom by Memorial Day.  There are 10 themed gardens in and around Grant Park.  Many of Chicago’s other parks also maintain summertime gardens.

Millennium Park hosts New Music Mondays each week.  Veteran alternative rockers Hum will be taking the stage on May 31st.  Millennium Park is in the vicinity of Downtown Chicago, making it easy to end a day of shopping or hanging out on the lakefront with an outdoor concert.  The concert, like all New Music Monday shows, is free.

In the days leading up to Memorial Day, many Chicago residents will be focused on their pro sports franchises.  The Chicago Blackhawks will be trying to qualify for the NHL’s Stanley Cup Finals on the Thursday before Memorial Day at the United Center.  The ever-popular, hard-luck Chicago Cubs will be playing a series at historic Wrigley Field on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Of course, visitors don’t have to limit themselves to these special events and forget about Chicago’s classic attractions.  The restaurant scene is as lively and exciting as it has always been, with new eateries and established kitchens serving everything from Chicago classics to experimental dishes to international favorites from every corner of the globe.

The Windy City’s theater scene, made famous by talents like David Mamet and the Second City Comedy Troupe, is still worth looking into, even for casual stage enthusiasts.  Plays like Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps (at Bank of America Theater) and Tobacco Road (at Victory Gardens Theater) will be running during Memorial Day weekend.  Cirque Shanghai begins its summer-long run at Navy Pier on May 28th.

Chicago is truly a great summertime destination, and Memorial Day is when all the fun unofficially kicks off. Find great Chicago hotel deals at BestTravelDeals.net.

Priceline Cruises kicks off wave season with exclusive Hotel Bonus Cash Coupons and stateroom upgrades. Book an oceanview or higher stateroom on any 5-6 night cruise and receive a bonus cash coupon valid toward a 1-night Name Your Own Price® hotel stay. Book an oceanview or higher stateroom on any 7 nights or longer cruise and receive a bonus cash coupon valid toward a 2-night Name Your Own Price® hotel stay. For full details and restrictions, visit cruises.priceline.com.

Fly to NYC this winter just $49 each way out of Atlanta. The $49 rate is relatively easy to land, and it’s valid on Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday with other days priced at $69, even Sundays. Give a 14-day advance notice of travel and finish trips on or before March 11 to take advantage of this deal.

Stay at a small Queen Room at the Ace Hotel in New York City for just $152 a night when you book by January 21 for travel through April 30, 2010. The hotel’s restaurant, The Breslin, doesn’t take reservations, so most patrons have to cool their heels at the bar for hours before snagging a table. Hotel guests, however, can skip the line and get on a priority list.

New York City skiers and snowboarders will want to read Matt Gross’ report on Metro-North Railroad’s one-day getaway to Thunder Ridge Ski Area, in Patterson, N.Y. At $51.50 for round-trip train fare and an all-day lift ticket ($50.43 if you order online), it’s nearly $30 less than comparable bus trips. Even better, Thunder Ridge has night skiing (included in the one-day getaway package), so even with an early-afternoon arrival you can ski for seven hours and catch the 8:55 p.m. train back to the city.

£68 & up for a modern hotel in Amsterdam. Located near the Amsterdam historical centre, it offers high quality accommodation. This modern design hotel offers you trendy rooms, all equipped with contemporary amenities. All rooms and public areas have free Wi-Fi!

Valentine’s Day travel deal: celebrate any day in February at the Ritz-Carlton in Denver. The package is $589 per night, pre-tax, and includes dinner, jewelry, and more. It’s available the whole month of February (based on availability). And you can get it just for one night — there is no two-night minimum, even on Valentine’s Day weekend.

$143 a night for Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards for Thursday-Sunday stays from Jan. 22 – March 31. The AAA 3-Diamond hotel is a short walk to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and National Aquarium. Guests will enjoy the new Marriott Revive bed, high-speed Internet access and fitness club.

$119 and up for stays at Boston’s Waterfront Harbor Hotel. The Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel offers Thursday-Sunday night stays through March 7 for $119-$135 per night. This saves 20% off regular weekend rates during this time.

Also in Boston, $103 a night for the Cambridge Hotel over winter weekends. Located two subway stops and across the Charles River from downtown Boston, the Boston Marriott Cambridge is centrally located in Kendall Square close to top universities such as MIT, Harvard, and Boston University.

Travelzoo’s Senior Editor Gabe Saglie and his team of experts have just released 5 “wow” travel destinations for 2010. The destinations include Las Vegas and the Caribbean, perennial favorites popular among Chicago area travelers. Central America, becoming more popular with Midwesterners also made the list. And for those who want a real “wow”, destination Gabe recommends China and South Africa. And for other great deals, be sure to follow our RSS feed and @BesTravelDeals on Twitter!

We’ve seen some great hotel deals for Chicago pop up over the last few hours and wanted to highlight some of the best last-minute holiday travel deals to the windy city!

How about just $119 a night for a Chicago 4-Diamond Lakefront Hotel W that overlooks Lake Michigan and is two blocks from Navy Pier and a short walk from Michigan Avenue. It is home to Wave, the hotel’s signature Mediterranean restaurant, Whiskey Sky, a trendy bar located on the 33rd floor with panoramic city views, and the acclaimed Bliss spa.

$109 a night stays at a chic Chicago 4-Diamond Hotel located steps from the iconic Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), this Chicago Loop hotel is within short walking distance to the Theatre District, Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago and the State Street shopping corridor.

And for those seasoned travelers out there, how about $84 a night for a hip Chicago-Area Hotel near O’Hare International Airport that’s a full 35% OFF regular rates. Stay just outside of downtown Chicago at the Aloft Chicago O’Hare weekends through Feb. 20 for $84 per night.

Then, while you’re in town, you can experience the Joffrey Ballet’s much-anticipated production of The Nutcracker at the Auditorium Theatre, December 11- 27. Visit Mayor Daley’s Chicago Sports Fest that takes place December 27 and 28 at McCormick Place. It is a million square feet of fun, all for free, with dozens of interactive sports areas. And the Goodman Theatre presents A Christmas Carol through December 31, with an exceptional cast and miraculous stagecraft that have made their retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic story a beloved Chicago holiday tradition.

All these events and more can be found at the official Chicago Tourism website and for the latest hotel deals from Chicago, be sure to check BestTravelDeals.net.

CYBER MONDAY deals include JW Marriott, offering 40% off a stay at a number of its resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Costa Rica, along with other great deals which include Sonesta St. Maarten Resort, Maui Seaside Hotel on Kahului Bay, Saint James Hotel in Chicago, and airfare deals from JetBlue and Continental Airlines, and much, much more!

Cyber Monday is here. The online retailers’ version of Black Friday will not only bring deals for holiday gift shoppers, but for travelers as well. It is going to be the single best day of the entire winter to find low prices on flights, hotels and vacation packages. Here are some of the best cyber savings:

Sun-seekers have several exciting opportunities to get great value on a Caribbean vacation this winter. Sonesta St. Maarten Resort launched a huge 50% sale on Black Friday. Rooms are still available today, with the sale running until midnight Eastern Standard Time. All inclusive stays start at $123 per night, down from the regular price of $245. To take advantage of this offer, use the code BF09 when booking at the Sonesta St. Maarten web site.

Hawaii is one of the more expensive wintertime destinations. But there are ways to avoid the high costs. Case in point: the Maui Seaside Hotel on Kahului Bay is taking reservations for 45% below regular price. The promotion, which runs until midnight tonight, gives travelers access to a classy seaside hotel with views of Hawaii’s most scenic landscapes for under $100 per night.

The upscale Saint James Hotel in Chicago is offering to match the number of “hotel credits” that customers buy on November 30th. Those who buy 50 credits, for example, will be awarded 50 more credits at no additional cost. The credits can be used for rooms, but also at the hotel’s stylish lobby bar, the super-trendy Jbar Lounge and the award-winning in-house restaurant David Burke’s Primehouse.

Massive travel booking site Expedia recently listed some last minute cruise deals that have escaped notice (for the most part). Booking ends today for 4-day Caribbean cruises priced from $119. Sail dates are throughout December. This is a perfect deal for cruisers who want to enjoy a quick pre-holiday getaway without having to throw too much cash out the porthole.

Carnival Cruises is offering a similar deal, with 4-day fares starting at $109. Week-long cruises are also part of the line’s Cyber Monday promotions. The price tags on a 7-day journey starts at $309.

Not to be outdone by the other tropical vacation promotions on Cyber Monday, JW Marriott is offering 40% off a stay at a number of its resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Costa Rica. This hefty discount is offered to all customers who book by the end of the day today and travel between January 1st and April 30th. This is a great opportunity to lock in a good hotel price for Spring Break.

Las Vegas is known for its great hotel and package vacation deals. Casinos will do anything to get people to the gaming tables and slots, even offer them hotel and airfare at ridiculously low prices. Some of the Cyber Monday deals, though, are shockingly under-priced, even by Sin City standards. Not only do packages start at $32 per person, it is possible to earn two free nights by booking at least two consecutive nights at the already reduced prices.

One of the best family-friendly deals of Cyber Monday is being offered by Solaris Resorts. With locations in Cancun and Los Cabos, Mexico, this is one of the better all-inclusive options south-of-the-border. For today only, rates are reduced 45%. In addition, kids stay and eat free with a paid adult.

South Africa will be one of next year’s “it” destinations. Foresighted travelers can take advantage of Cyber Monday prices and book a hotel in South Africa for 30% off. Once the wave of popularity hits next year, prices are bound to rise further.

Continental Airlines is winding up a Thanksgiving promotion today by offering reduced fares to 10 cities from New York. Fares start at $148 round-trip. For those who really want to fall off the map, Lufthansa is currently offering a tremendous deal on flights to India. Prices start at $340 one-way from New York and $405 from Atlanta. That’s an exciting opportunity for globetrotters, considering the fact that round-trip fares usually hover in the $1,000 range between the US and the Subcontinent.

Jet Blue Airlines is running a one-day only sale for Cyber Monday: One-Way Non-Stop flights from $39, $69 and $99 depending on destination. Travel dates are between December 1, 2009 through December 17, 2009, so hurry to take advantage of this great sale today.

Find more Cyber Monday deals at besttraveldeals.net.

Chicago is a beautiful city in the summer and a cold, sometimes difficult one in the winter. But in the fall, it’s just about perfect. The leaves turn brilliant colors, there are fewer crowds, and best of all, prices on hotels decrease and restaurants pull out all the stops to lure in customers. With plenty to see and do in the cool weather, Fall is a great time to plan a budget trip to Chicago.

Free Things to Do
Head to Chicago’s Green City Market to browse produce and artisanal foods fresh from the farm. If you’re staying in a downtown hotel, you obviously won’t be picking up organic eggs and local veggies, but the market is still worth visiting for all the extras offered. Wander from stall to stall sampling cheeses, sauces, honey and apple cider, which is the perfect compliment to an order of freshly fried donuts dusted in cinnamon sugar, or a crepe filled with cheese and organic herbs. The market runs on Saturday mornings through October, and is located at the south end of Lincoln Park. After nibbling your way through the market, walk a few more blocks north to the Lincoln Park Zoo, a free zoo that is home to lions, tigers, penguins, polar bears, monkeys, giraffes, and more of your favorite animals. Fall and Spring are the best times to visit as many of the animals are more active in the cooler weather.

Views of the City
The Willis (formerly Sears) Tower and John Hancock Tower both have observation decks high above the city. While admission to the Willis Tower SkyDeck is around $15 per person, admission to the lounge on the 96th floor of the John Hancock is free. All you need to pay for is the your beverage of choice, which you can sip as you look out over the city. Fall makes for a beautiful time to see Chicago from above. In addition to the city’s sparkling skyscrapers and the expansive blue of Lake Michigan, you’ll see the trees alive in a riot of color as they turn from green to vibrant hues of yellow, orange and red.

Dining Discounts
Many of Chicago’s patios and outdoor dining spaces start shutting down in October, but a few remain open on warmer days throughout the month. But as fewer people go out to eat in the Fall and few tourists pack city restaurants, many begin to look for other ways to lure in customers. And that often translates to great deals like half price bottles of wine, special multi-course prix fix menus, and deep discounts on food. Pick up a Red Eye newspaper near any El station to find out what special offers are available on any given night.

City Tours
Riding down Michigan Avenue in a horse drawn carriage is a fun way to see parts of the city. But during the summer, the heat and humidity, combined with the exhaust of the cars driving by, can make the ride less pleasant. During brisk Fall days and cold nights though, you can cuddle up under a blanket as you are pulled slowly down the streets, under a canopy of brilliant leaves.  Chicago Architecture River Cruises also operate through the Fall. On nice days, you can learn about the city from the outdoor deck of the boat, while on cold days, you can stay warm while still seeing Chicago from a new perspective.

Photo credit: Chicago Man via Flickr