Holland America has put on sale a seven-day Alaska cruise, according to the Washington Post. Rate is from $499 per person double, down from $949. Taxes of $108 are additional. The cruise departs from Seward (Anchorage) May 16. Also in the article, Universal Orlando Resort has extended its Military Salute program, which offers active and retired military personnel a free seven-day base ticket to both of its Florida theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. The pass, which is also valid at select Universal CityWalk clubs and venues, is good through March 26.

According to Sophie Butler, hotel rates in European cities are down 12 per cent compared with this time last year. Barcelona, Lisbon and Dublin are among the cities that have had the biggest drop in hotel prices (up to an 18 per cent fall compared with last January), with average double room rates at about £70 per night. Amsterdam and Madrid are about 12 per cent lower and Paris hotels are five per cent down. Learn more in her article in today’s Telegraph.

Also of interest, European ski destinations are offering dramatic savings on ski packages. According to Peter Hardy in the Daily Mail, you can find amazing discounts in Austria, Slovenia, Italy, and of course Switzerland. An example, stay in Kranjska Gora in Slovenia at the Hotel Lek, a comfortable four-star in a good position for easy access to the slopes: One week half-board from February 20 with Gatwick, Stansted and regional flights to Salzburg was £525, now £345.

In the USA, you can find a room at $82-$112 per night for a Washington, D.C. hotel stay. The Churchill Hotel offers travelers a haven of old-world refinement amidst the modern-day bustle of the nation’s capital. From the inviting ambiance of its finely appointed lobby to the gracious appointment of its over-sized guest rooms to the personal attentiveness of its professionally trained staff every aspect of the hotel has been carefully arranged to meet the requirements of the most discriminating guests.

Hilary Nangle at the Boston Globe on discount vacations in Bermuda reveals that by visiting between November and March, when temperatures are usually in the 60s, Bermuda is uncrowded and affordable. Be sure to visit Best Travel Deals to vote on the best Bermuda hotel deals.

Every day, New York Habitat offers a special South of France vacation rental apartment on Twitter. Follow New York Habitat on Twitter to see the latest discount. All Twitter discounts are valid for 7 days from the time of their posting on Twitter. One of their most recent offerings was a Studio in French Riviera.

Haven’t planned a Valentines Day Vacation yet? Annabelle Thorpe details her top 20 hideaways that are still available on Valentine’s Day, with picks from cute cottages to luxury hotels, in her Sunday article in The Observer. Bubrovnik, Istanbul, and Prague top her list, and includes some truly great package deals in places like Austria, Yorkshire, and rural Dorset.

Break for spring on Oahu, with Aston hotels from $91. The budget-friendly Aston Hotels & Resorts is offering a number of attractive springtime specials at its Oahu sites. Aston Waikiki Circle Hotel, just across the road from Waikiki Beach, is the least expensive of this group. Or enter to win a hotel stay: Shape Magazine is offering a Hawaii vacation sweepstakes for a two-night stay at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Enter to win here.

NY Times Ski Guide for 2010 has been published highlighting the best deals for skiers across the US and Canada. New York’s Big Tupper, Utah’s St. Regis Deer Crest Resort, and Breckenridge, Colorado’s Grand Lodge on Peak 7 are only a few of the many locations.

Dallas-Area Hotel with breakfast & Internet starting at $99 a night. The hotel also offers a full-service spa, 24-hour fitness center, pool and whirlpool, and a sauna. It’s located near golf courses, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Forth Worth Cultural District.

$195 a night for the luxurious San Diego-Area Resort L’Auberge Del Mar, one of Conde Nast Traveler’s Top 100 Hotels in the World. The resort is mere steps from the beaches at Del Mar, about 20 minutes north of San Diego.

$166 a night Holiday Sale at the Upscale Lenox Hotel in Boston, where each accommodation features a dedicated work area with full writing desks, ergonomic chairs, complimentary wireless internet, clock radios with CD players and flat screen televisions.

Orlando Unlimited Golf Package: between now and December 26, guests can book an unlimited golf package (valued at $225/day) at the deluxe resort for a mere $139 per person, per night.

$233 & up to Fly each way to Europe from across the US. Only one day left in this great airfare deal from Air Canada. Rates do vary, and the clock is ticking. Those headed to Europe for the New Years holiday will want to check out today’s Guardian Travel Section where there’s a comprehensive European New Years Eve Party Guide for ‘Romantics and Ravers’ highlighting great three-night vacations to Moscow, Berlin, Paris, Lisbon, and many other cities.

Rooms start at $99 per night for the Joie de Vivre hotel in San Francisco. This is a package which offers MOMA & cable car passes plus include: Ghirardelli Chocolate welcome gift, and 10% discount offer, plus $25 dinner certificate for Shanghai 1930 and 50% discount on two tickets to the San Francisco Symphony.

Up to 40% Off Weekends at the Grand Hyatt New York. This is a new weekend promotion January 3-March 31, 2010 at the Grand Hyatt New York that lets you enjoy full hotel amenities, plus providing an excellent place from which to explore all that NYC has to offer.

Check out Hawaii! Oahu New Year’s Eve Fireworks & Events 2009/2010 lists lots of things to do to bid a fond aloha to 2009 and welcome in 2010 this New Years Eve on Oahu. Leading up to New Years, find lodging for $89 & up in 4-Star Hotels in Waikiki.

Be sure to add any deals you may find to BestTravelDeals.net!