TravelLeisure

We're all sick of hearing the depressing news about the economy, so why not take a vacation? It may sound like the last feasible thing to do as we're all trying to cut down on spending. But with many travel destinations slashing prices and offering added value to their lodging, a quick getaway might be just the ticket to relax and recharge. Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, Deer Creek Resort and Conference Center in Ohio, Lake Quinault Lodge in Washington and Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado are destinations offering great specials this spring:

Shenandoah National Park Lodging's "Early Bird Special" offers $104 room rate – more than 30 percent in savings – on traditional lodging at Skyland Resort and Big Meadows Lodge on Mondays through Thursdays and includes breakfast for two. Everyone comes to Shenandoah for the fall foliage, but locals in the area say spring – with the abundant wildflowers and no crowds – is the best time to visit this park.

And one of the best ways to visit Shenandoah National Park is with friends. For women, taking a trip with the girls can be the perfect way to escape the stresses of everyday life and come back feeling ready to take on the world again. This season, Shenandoah National Park Lodging is inviting women to grab a girlfriend, leave their Blackberries behind (okay, maybe not, but at least turn off work email!) and explore the serene panoramic views and unique wildlife that the park has to offer with the Girlfriend Getaway package. Read more

Best Western is bringing back its 10-hour "Countdown to Savings" promotion through this Friday, March 13. This time, they’ll be featuring a series of deals available at hotels located in areas such as popular spring break destinations, most walker-friendly cities and sports fan havens, among others.

Destinations and travel deals will be posted daily to Best Western’s Web site, www.bestwestern.com, along with a "countdown to savings" clock to alert travelers when the limited, two-hour window to book designated travel will begin. Travel can take place anytime this year – though prepayment is required to lock in posted rates.

Here is the lineup of destinations:

• On Monday, folks can put spring break back on the calendar with exclusive bargains to popular spring break destinations
  
• On Tuesday, Best Western will feature deals to North America’s most walker-friendly cities as listed by walkscore.com.
  
• Wednesday will feature savings to popular family-friendly destinations.
  
• Thursday, sports fans can score a great deal to see their favorite team on an away game.
  
• Friday, travelers will be offered a "grab bag" of family-friendly packages that will include tickets to local events and attractions at dozens of cities across the U.S. and Canada.
  

Availability of a vast array of airline ticket prices is one that is perplexing to most airline travelers. Only a handful of people who control the complex formulas that go into the science and art of Revenue Management inside the caverns of today’s airlines understand it. To both the seasoned and occasional traveler alike, getting the best value in an airfare is the elusive dream that is difficult to consistently achieve.

However, there are some time proven axioms that one can follow to put the odds on your side in helping you to reduce the cost of your air travel:

1. Change the Time You Travel

Don’t be rigid on the time of day you want to travel. Going between New York and Los Angeles, for example, may have one airline offering as many as seven or eight flights on a particular day. If you want to leave in the morning, investigate the three or four departures offered during that time period. Moving your departure time by just one hour, on your departure or return, may save you a significant portion of the ticket price. Read more

By Jeff Zbar
www.chiefhomeofficer.com

Sitting aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines' Enchantment of the Seas, typing blogs about our travels as I gaze seaward into pitch darkness, I'm awaiting an encounter with the sun at the morning horizon. I'm perched in the heralded Viking Crown Lounge, the elevated, disk-like retreat with full panoramic views of the horizon. I call down to the front desk to find which direction we're traveling.

East-northeast, the night-shift receptionist tells me.

In actuality, I cannot see the seas, the horizon, or anything beyond the glass that surrounds me. I hear wind howling and see a driving rain hitting the glass. Mother nature is being thoroughly uncooperative this Sunday morning. No sunrise to be seen, and quite possibly, no sunbathing on deck either. Read more

Whether you're a "road warrior" whose job involves many hours of driving or a commuter who takes the occasional driving trip for business, it's more important than ever to keep traveling costs down given the state of the economy.

This is an excellent time to cut back on time-wasting costs by planning ahead, searching for deals and maximizing your gas mileage. Here are some suggestions:

Sign up for repeat-usage deals: Many national hotel chains offer frequent-stay programs, which allow a business traveler to build up points that turn into overnight stays for no charge.

Plan pre-route travel: Driving in an unknown city can bring about an unwanted headache without planning ahead. Use a navigation system or the internet-based traffic service Traffic.com to avoid traffic jams, detours, construction delays and time lost to being lost. Traffic.com information can be accessed from your cell phone by calling (866) MY-TRAFC (866-698-7232). Read more

AirTran Airways just announced a John Mayer sweepstakes promotion where the winner and a guest will be sent on a four-day, four-night Carnival cruise to Mexico with musical artists John Mayer, Guster, O.A.R. and more, from March 27 - 31, 2009. Visit www.airtran.com/cruise from now until February 13 and register for your chance to win.

Airfare will be provided by AirTran Airways to Los Angeles International Airport, near Port San Pedro in Los Angeles, where the Carnival cruise ship is leaving for its destination, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. To be eligible for the sweepstakes you must be a member of AirTran Airways' frequent flyer program, A+ Rewards.

Th cruise, hosted by John Mayer, includes two days at sea on Carnival’s newest ship, the Splendor, with music, contests, karaoke, theme nights and more. The Splendor includes four pools, a spa, casino, 24-hour room service and 22 lounges and bars.

For more information on the John Mayer cruise, visit: www.mayercraftcarrier.com.