Warning: Travel Can Be Dangerous

I have been in absentia for the last few days as I have been chilling on the beach in Cancun enjoying a weekend of all-inclusive bliss.  On Sunday, I woke up under the weather, but fought through it. Today, I have the Strep. It was worth it. That being said, that allows me to spend my contagious stage on the couch researching for my next voyage: Key West. 

I've been to Key West before during a short 6 hours on a cruise stop.  We joined a bar crawl and popped around the little city one drink at time.  My friend and I even woke up early enough to walk to the Southern Most Point and snap a photo. That being said, I doubt I was there long enough to see real Key West. So, I have been researching to figure out how to spend my 48 hours on the Florida Keys.  During my digital travels, I came across the most amazing website: TV Food Maps.  Just type in the location that you will be visiting and this website lists all of the restaurants/bars/delis/bakeries etc. that have been on any of the food travel shows. They also have an App for Android and iPhone, which would make it easy to find a restaurant in any city in which you plan on staying (or even one you drive through for that matter).

So, enjoy that great travel find (saves SOOOO much time researching). 

On that note, here are today's great deals:

Bookit.com has some great deals to Los Angeles from Boston. As low as $479 per person for a 4-night stay with flight and hotel. Also, a few Wednesdays in June and July you can head to Dallas from Boston for $168. 

Also, on Bookit.com great deals from Philly, Boston, New York on Disney. The summer is a crazy time to head there, but they are offering 5 night packages to Disney with Tickets included for about $700 each person including hotel, air and Disney tickets for all 6 days. It sounds expensive, but the resort is 10 minute walk to downtown Disney and includes breakfast everyday.  

On Gate1Travel.com (you have to subscribe to see the details if you are seriously interested) is promoting a $759 11 day trip to New Orleans.  3 nights in NOLA and 7 nights on The Navigator of the Seas cruise ship with stops in Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Falmouth.  There are cheap flights to NOLA out of lots of airports.  Check Southwest.com.  They are literally almost the only major airline that is not included in Fly.com, Kayak, etc. so it pays to check their rates too.

Going Across the Pond & It's Cruuuuisning Time....

One day I will be able to write this blog like the people from Groupon. Upbeat, silly and interesting. For now, you kind of have to settle for "moderately interesting work email" style. So, here are today's good deal...no thrills, no frills. 

Aer Lingus starting at $1100

Click Here to Book

Head across the pond for a 6-night castle tour of Ireland in October and November (EVEN THANKSGIVING WEEK).  It is chilly in Ireland then, but I am sure the castles are still breathtaking.  The package includes:

• Roundtrip economy airfare from Orlando (starting at $1200), Boston (starting at $1150), New York City (staring at $1100) to Dublin, Ireland
• Weekly manual shift economy car rental with unlimited miles (remember, they drive on the "wrong" side)
• (1) night Dunboyne Castle Hotel (4-star), Co. Meath (Bed and Breakfast basis)
• (2) nights Kilronan Castle Hotel (5-star), Co. Roscommon (room only basis)
• (2) nights Glenlo Abbey Hotel (5-star), Galway (Bed and Breakfast basis)
• (1) night Clontarf Castle Hotel (4-star), Dublin (Bed and Breakfast basis)
• (1) one per person: Sabbia Med Spa Treatment at Dunboyne Castle; Spa Thermal Suite Experience at Kilronan Castle; & Admission to Cliffs of Moher, including parking 
• All local taxes, service charges, carrier and government taxes/fees/facility charges on airfare.

Last day to Book is June 1st!

Carnival.com 6 Day cruise deal 

$299 (pre-tax) for a 6 night cruise on October 21, 2012 leaving from Miami. Stops are in Key West, Montego Bay, and Grand Cayman Island.  That is $50 a night pp and it includes all of your food.  Since it is hurricane season, these fares are cheap even for great ships and popular savings, so make sure you get trip insurance if you're flying in. 

Maine Deal-Spring and Fall-Available for last minute Memorial Day getaway...brrr, but beautiful!

• A relaxing retreat for 2 at the Sebasco Harbor Resort on Maine's scenic southern coast
  
• $99 for a 1-night stay in the Main Lodge, Sunday-Thursday (reg. $139)
  
• Includes a bay sail for 2 aboard the Ruth touring boat(reg. $36)
  
• $199 for a 2-night stay, Sunday-Wednesday arrivals, with upgrade to a balcony room and $50 resort credit (reg. $388)
  
• $299 for a 2-night stay, Sunday-Wednesday arrivals, in a further upgraded suite and $50 resort credit (reg. $548)
  
• Travel May 13 - June 14 and Sept. 3 - Oct. 18

1/2 price sale & Last Minute Cruises

I can't promise I will do this daily, but since I find it super fun, it is likely. Here are the deals I got emailed or checked on today.

Bookit.com

Bookit.com is currently running a 50% off sale to a few locations.  The sale ends midnight on Friday, but the highlight of this deal is the uber-cheap Vegas vacation from Tampa. As low as $319 pp in June and July for a 3-night trip to Hard Rock Casino w/ flight during the week or $459 for a 3-night weekend stay for you Weekend Warriors.  Hard Rock is off the strip, but one of the most fun hotel & casinos I have ever been too. The pool parties are legendary on Sunday.

If you like to golf, you can head to Mrytle Beach and enjoy an ocean front stay for as cheap as $439 pp including flight out of Philadelphia (similar priced, but cheaper deals are out of NYC and BOS). Even better, most of the cheapest fares are on Father's Day weekend ($399-439) which could make a thoughtful gift.

Carnival.com

Carnival.com is running some great last minute specials to Canada out of New York and Boston. 4-day sailings start as low as $244 (with balcony rooms on some sailings in the mid-300s). There are two days at sea on this deal, but it comes to just $61 pp per night and includes all of your food, shows, etc. If you are looking for a longer trip, the 5-days start at $354 with two stops. 

Enjoy!!

Fun with Airfare!

So, you know you want to go on a summer vacation, but are on a severe budget?  With rising gas prices, airfares to your dream locations may be out of reach.  Just for you, Fly.com has a convenient, AMAZING fare calendar listing the cheapest flights from your departure points in the next 90 days. Intrigued? You should be. From Tampa, you can fly to Key West for $118 in the beginning of June, Denver for $230 almost all summer and Panama City, Panama (not Florida) for $442 (late June through most of July). Orlando features amazing fares from Montreal to the Yucatan, all under $300!

If you're from the north, NYC features flights to Aruba for $307 and Boston lists flights to Chicago and Dallas for around $175.  

The best part of this widget is that it opens your eyes to places you may not have known that you want to go, or didn't know met your budget requirements.

 Best Fare Flight Finder on Travelzoo has the most user friendly interface for this widget, but it always links you to Fly.com which is totally legit. 

Good luck deal hunting and happy vacationing!