The holidays bring cold weather.  And cold weather brings thoughts of cruises and tropical vacations.  The Yachts of Seabourn is offering the ultimate luxury cruise experience at a steeply discounted price.  But the experience doesn’t start once you arrive at the port.  Seabourn is luring customers with door-to-door luxury.  Packages, which start at $7,980, include round-trip business-class airfare to destinations in Asia, as well as airport transfer and luxury accommodations.  Pricey? Yes.  But these are no mere quick, generic Caribbean cruises.  The line’s ship Seabourn Pride has ports of call including Dalian, China and Kagoshima, Japan.  Each 12-day leg includes multiple stops.

The $7,980 price tag represents a 45% discount.  To take advantage of the door-to-door packages, tickets must be purchased by February 15th.  The Pride’s journey on the other side of the Pacific begins in January.  The cheapest leg includes stops in China, Vietnam and Thailand.

Other options include trips from Shanghai to Kobe, Japan and Bangkok to Shanghai.  These legs are priced at $8,500 each, if booked before the February deadline.

Seabourn offers an ultra-luxury experience.  This is the kind of cruise line that stocks its wine cellar with vintage fine wines and has as many crew members and service personnel as passengers.  The ships are smaller than most luxury liners, accommodating just over 200 passengers with plenty of room to spare.  The line also offers cruises in Europe, though these are not part of the business-class airfare deal.  More information about that can be found on the Seabourn web site.

Newport, Rhode Island is a classic East Coast destination. The Hyatt Regency Newport takes the urban seaside vibe of the city and adds a tasteful dose of luxury. A recent $34 million dollar upgrade has turned this city resort into one of the best hotel choices in Rhode Island.

A 38% off promotion makes this hotel more accessible in terms of price.  After the discount, nightly rates start at $119. The hotel has a wide array of rooms, including water-view accommodations.  All guests receive a $25 resort credit that can be used at the in-house restaurant Windward Restaurant and the  Five33 lounge. Other extras include a 20% discount on some services at the hotel’s spa, complimentary internet access and free parking.

Perhaps the best aspect of this deal is its flexibility.  Reduced rates are available seven days per week, rather than the usual mid-week discounts that are not valid on weekends.  Also, the deal will not be short-lived.  Discounted rates will remain in place until the end of March, 2010.

The Stillwater Spa adds to the high-end experience offered by the Hyatt Newport.  The spa features a full menu of treatments include massage therapy sessions, skin, nail and hair care and full-body wraps.  The Hyatt also has an outdoor saltwater pool, the StayFit at Hyatt exercise center, a dry sauna and an indoor swimming pool.

The restaurants and bars at the Hyatt Newport all take advantage of the hotel’s seaside location.  The Windward Restaurant features views of the water and a casual/classy ambiance.  The Five33 Lounge is located on the seaside sun-deck.  Pineapples by the Bay is a seasonal outdoor restaurant that offers an authentic East Coast oceanfront dining experience.

The Belgian city of Bruges oozes atmosphere.  It has a combination of historic buildings, unique Belgian culture and plenty of  festivities.  People have been coming to this city, sometimes referred to as the Venice of the North (because of its old buildings and network of canals), to shop at the many boutiques, taste the gourmet locally-made chocolates and take in the historic ambiance.

The Heritage Hotel, a four-star venue in the center of the city, has a special deal for travelers who want to spend part of their holiday season in Bruges.  The hotel is offering rates 20% below regular price to visitors who book a room for a day or more from now until January 10th of next year.  The discount means that room prices start at 364 Euros.

That’s still quite a steep price, but the Heritage offers a pure luxury experience.  Guests are treated to a daily champagne breakfast and a four-course dinner at the in-house restaurant, Le Mystique.  A horse-drawn carriage ride and tickets to the Bruges Ice Sculpture Festival are also part of the package.

Bruges is a city of living history.  The 13th century belfry that sits in the center of the city, not far from the Heritage Hotel, has a resident carillonneur whose full-time job is to work the tower’s 48 bells.  He regularly gives free concerts.  There are dozens of other buildings dating back well over 500 years.  More modern attractions include the many boutique-style chocolate shops and micro-breweries that are found throughout the city.

The Heritage Hotel deal makes it possible for luxury hotel aficionados to save a little money while experiencing the holidays in one of Western Europe’s most atmospheric cities.

Black Friday is notorious for the chaos that characterizes the shopping scene at stores around the country.  Whether you want to get the most out of retail’s biggest day or escape from the madness, there are plenty of travel deals available for those who want to venture to the East Coast on November 27th.

Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue, in Downtown Philadelphia, is offering the Black Tie Friday package.  It attempts to put a classy spin on the unofficial shoppers’ holiday.  The promotion includes a stay in the Bellevue’s luxurious accommodations on Thanksgiving night.  Guest receive a complimentary breakfast the following morning.  The hotel’s location is perfect for shoppers because the epicenter of Philadelphia’s retail scene is just a few footsteps from the front door.  The one-night-only deal costs a mere $135 when you use the code bltie during booking on the hotel’s web site (or on the phone: 1 800 778 7477)

The Country Inn & Suites Manchester Airport is offering a 2-day stay with plenty of perks: a $50 gift card to the nearby Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse and free shuttle service to the Mall of New Hampshire, where the city of Manchester is bringing the retail festivities to Northern New England with several stay-and-shop deals.  The deal launches on November 27th.  Rooms  can be booked now at the hotel’s web site.

Best Western Executive Court Inn, also in Manchester, is offering a similar package with room, shuttle service to the mall and a $50 gift certificate to the nearby Yard Restaurant.  This deal includes a shopping kit with local maps and coupons from local retailers.  The 2-night promotion starts on Black Friday and runs over the weekend.  Book at the hotel’s web site or by phone (1 877 627 25250)

Manchester’s Highlander Inn is offering a deal aimed at more serious shoppers.  The coupon book and shuttle service are still part of the package, but guests will be able to check in on the 26th and can catch shuttles to the Mall of New Hampshire as early as 4 a.m. on Black Friday.  Getting the drop on your deal-searching competitors, as well as experiencing the classy accommodations at the Highlander, will set you back only $109.99 when you book soon on the hotel’s web site.

The Tangier Outlets, near Concord, New Hampshire, will be one of the most popular venues for area shoppers on November 27th.  Concord’s Courtyard by Marriott is offering a special “Shop Till You Drop” package for $119.  The deal includes a $25 gift card for the outlet mall as well as a book of coupons.  Guests are also treated to a complimentary breakfast before departing for the shops.

Further south, the Renaissance Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island, has an offer that is designed to take the stress out of Black Friday (and the holiday shopping season in general).  The Renaissance, part of Marriott’s upscale hotel portfolio, offers a high-end experience and access more than 170 stores, all of which are located a few footsteps from the lobby.  This means that there is no need to struggle with over-crowded parking lots and traffic.  The package, which costs $139 per night, is available from November 27th until December 26th.  Each room comes with a $25 gift card to the Providence Place Mall.  Even those who don’t plan to shop will appreciate the historic surroundings and luxurious amenities of this particular Renaissance.   For more info or to book a room at the Renaissance Providence, visit the hotel’s web site or call 1 401 919 5000.

It isn’t necessary to check into a hotel in order to get the most out of Black Friday. The Shopaholics Train (a.k.a. the Atlantic City Express Service – ACES) will ferry shoppers from New Jersey to New York on November 27th. The train will depart Atlantic City at 10:02 a.m and the ride will include prizes and giveaways. All riders will receive a special shopping
tote and a discount code “ACESTRAIN” gets riders 10% off at the ACE Hotel in New York City. The main event will take place on Black Friday, but a special fare will continue throughout the holiday season, with round-trip tickets costing $39. The only stop during the two-and-a-half hour trip will be in Newark. A complete timetable is available on the ACES web site.

These special Black Friday travel deals make the end of November a great time to visit the East Coast.  If you already live near the Atlantic, there are plenty of opportunities to experience something new before and after doing battle in the aisles of your favorite stores.
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