Third Night Free in NYC, Last Minute Deals to Europe and More Leisure Travel News

June 24, 2010

Destination

NYC’s Summer “Third Night Free” Promo Adds Saks Fifth Avenue

NYC & Company has announced that 16 hotels in The Signature Collection, a group of New York City luxury hotels, will participate in the Third Night promotion this summer. Luxury retailer Saks Fifth Avenue will offer an exclusive personal-shopping experience and complimentary coffee and dessert in conjunction with the promotion, which gives visitors a complimentary third night at participating hotels after they book and pay for two consecutive nights between July 1 and September 5. For details, visit www.nycgo.com/thirdnight.

Tours

Brendan Vacations’ Offers Limited-Availability Deals to Europe

Brendan Vacations is extending Europe Escorted specials to US travelers with 10% off last-minute deals, bookable between through June 30. Price is per person, land only and based on double occupancy. Mention the promo code when booking.

• Best of Italy for the July 29 departure. Regular price is $3,199; special price is $2,879, saving $320 per person. Promo code: LMD218.
• Best of Finland Russia & The Baltic States for the August 6 departure. Regular price is $3,299; special price is $2,969, saving $330 per person. Promo code: LMD219.
• Spain, France & Italy for the August 7 departure. Regular price is $2,825; special price is $2,539, saving $286 per person. Promo code: LMD220.
• Best of Holland, Belgium & Luxembourg for the August 19 departure. Regular price is $2,290; special price is $2,059, saving $231 per person. Promo code: LMD221.

Booking are through www.BrendanVacations.com or reservations center at (866) 275-1389. For brochure or further details, call (800)421.8446.

Savings Up to 50% for Travel Impressions ‘Caribbean Summer & Fall Sale’

Travel Impressions has launched a Caribbean Summer & Fall Sale featuring savings up to 50% off rates at over 230 hotels in 25 Caribbean countries (air not included). The Caribbean Summer & Fall Sale must be booked by July 2 for travel June 28 through December 15. The hotel packages include roundtrip airport/hotel transfers (except San Juan, Puerto Rico), hotel accommodations and hotel tax and service charges. Hotels, resorts and all-inclusive resorts are featured. Three-, four- and five-night stays are available. Specific promotions and availability vary by property. For a complete list of participating hotels, visit www.TravelImpressions.com. Travel agents earn an extra 1% commission when booking travel packages online with Quest for Agents via www.TravelImpressions.com. Additional booking incentives for Caribbean vacations can also be found in the Quest for Agents section of the Web site.

Island Routes Caribbean Adventure Tours Opens in Turks & Caicos

Island Routes Caribbean Adventure Tours celebrates its first anniversary with the opening of an outpost in Providenciales, in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Other current locations are Antigua; Great Exuma, the Bahamas; St. Lucia; and Jamaica. Over 2,000 travel agents have taken advantage of the easy registration process since its inception three months ago, said the company, making them eligible to pre-book directly with Island Routes. In addition to the onsite retail locations and their Web site, 17 tour operators across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom feature Island Routes tours. Island Routes is scheduled to launch in Barbados later in the year. For additional details, visit www.islandroutes.com.

Cruises

Norwegian Epic Features Innovative Hi-Tech Advancements

Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship to date, the Norwegian Epic features many high-tech advancements. These include in-room interactive television capabilities allowing guests to book entertainment shows and shore excursions; select on demand movies; play slots and video poker through a DigiCasino™ capability; and a cutting-edge facial recognition system that links the photograph taken when guests first board to their cruise card. Thus, all subsequent photographs then become linked to it too, making it easier for guests to view and purchase photos. (866) 234-7350, http://epic.ncl.com

Agent Can Earn Free Silversea Cruise by Making 3 New Bookings .

Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises has announced a new incentive program called Sell to Sail that offers travel agents the opportunity to earn their own free cruise when they make three new bookings on any upcoming 2010 voyages. The bookings must be made, and deposits received, through October 1. Agents who qualify must submit a redemption form by October 1 and take their cruise on or before March 31, 2011. Complete details are available in the travel agent section of Silversea’s Web site, www.Silversea.com/TravelAgents.

Cunard’s 2012 World Voyages on the Queens Ready Start Booking July 15

Cunard’s World Voyages marks its 90thanniversary with more port visits by both its Queens plus a new Round Australia experience on Queen Mary 2 and early-booking perks. As part of the World Voyage program, the line’s newest ship, Queen Elizabeth, and its flagship, Queen Mary 2, will sail to a combined 60 ports across 33 countries and feature Queen Mary 2’s first circumnavigation around Australia. The Queen Elizabeth will once again offer a complete circumnavigation of the globe on a 107-day journey from Southampton.

Enhanced Benefits: In addition to receiving a bonus 10% discount off Early Booking Fares (EBF), Full World Voyage and Liner Voyage guests will receive an on-board credit of up to $3,000 per stateroom when booking by February 28, 2011, and complimentary Hotel and Dining Charges. Further, an invitation will be extended to join Cunard President Peter Shanks ashore at one of the ports of call during their time on board for the traditional World Voyage Dinner, an exclusive evening of world-class dining and entertainment. Cunard World Club members will receive an extra 5% savings off Bonus Early Booking Fares. Visit www.cunard.com.

Hotel & Resort News

Miami’s Fisher Island Hotel & Resort Celebrates July 4 with Saving & Entertainment

Fisher Island Hotel & Resort, a 48-room boutique property located offshore and minutes from South Miami Beach, is offering guests a weekend of entertainment, activities, fireworks and savings this 4th of July. On the resort’s “One More Night” package, guests who book four nights, stay for the price of three, representing 25% off regular rates (daily room tax and Fisher Island Club Membership fee is not included in package rate). For more information and/or reservations, call (800) 537-3708 or visit www.FisherIslandClub.com.

Family Vacations Discounts at Ojai Valley Inn & Spa

Five-diamond Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, fresh from a $90 million renovation, offers clients a complimentary room for the kids when a Shangri-la room type or better is booked, a savings up to 50%. Beginning July 5 through September 2, this “Family Vacations Made Easy Package” is available Sunday through Thursday nights. An array of resort activities is available for all age groups; one highlight for the whole family is the Inn’s Geocaching Challenge, which equips them with a handheld GPS system used to locate a nearby hidden “geocache” where past travelers have left behind trinkets and mementos. For reservations, (800) 422-6524 or visit www.ojairesort.com.

Elbow Beach, Bermuda Now Luxury after $5.5 Million Facelift

Elbow Beach recently announced the completion of a $5.5 million refurbishment project to reposition the hotel as an intimate luxury resort. Physical enhancements are complemented by a heightened and more personal level of service resulting from a significant investment in the IT infrastructure and staff training.

The 98 luxury guestrooms and suites have been enhanced with advanced in-room entertainment systems, luxurious soft furnishings, iPod docking stations, personal espresso machines and upgraded bathroom facilities. Updates are also seen in public areas, poolside areas, the half-mile private pink-sand beachfront, meeting rooms, dining and entertainment options, and roadways. Ocean-side spa therapies are offered at the new Spa Beach Pavilion. And the business facilities have been strengthened with the transformation of the free-standing Bermuda Room into a luxurious meeting and banqueting venue for groups, weddings and social functions. For reservations, visit www.mandarinoriental.com/bermuda or call +1(441)236-3535.

Vietnam’s New Beachfront Sheraton Nha Trang Rolls Out Summer Promo

The 30-story, 284-room Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa, Vietnam’s newest beachfront hotel, has a get-acquainted inaugural summer offer for international arrivals. The Summer Holidays Special introduces the new hotel to foreign guests at $169 per night based on twin-sharing in a Deluxe Ocean View room. The rate is valid through August 31 and includes daily buffet breakfast for two and for children under 12 sharing a room with their parents; and 15% discounts on food and beverage and select Shine Spa treatments. Among the Sheraton’s many features are Vietnam’s first purpose-built Cooking School. For more information or reservation, call +84 58 388 0000 or e-mail reservations.nhatrang@sheraton.com.