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Posts Tagged ‘Florida’

Online vacation auctions just for Florida

Where has this been all my life?

FloridaVacationAuction.com works a lot like Ebay—bid on stays up to 80 percent off the retail price, or buy direct at a set discounted price (40 to 50 percent off) to ensure your win.

A personally disappointing example: a resort in Sanibel Island at which my family will be vacationing in a few weeks is currently going for 20 percent less what I paid for it somewhere else, and I paid half off originally.

Lesson learned.

(You can also bid on golf and excursions.)

—Meredith

New, arty, Miami—for twenty bucks?

It’s true, chica. You can spend the night in caliente luxury in Miami for two ten-dollar bills. The brand-new Hotel Urbano is currently offering $20 nights, with a second night booked at $159.00. The deal is good for January. (That’s just in the nick of time for this Midwestern gal.)

I love that it partners with Art Fusion Galleries to display new exhibits in the hotel. Very arty-pants. Or, rather, arty-bikini-bottoms?

—Meredith

The last of the holiday beach deals (or: Go USA!)

We’re past that point on the calendar when you can get passports for yourself and your kids in time for a tropical holiday beach vacation, at least without biting your nails at the mailbox.

Guess that leaves us with the good ol’ U.S. of A.

Luckily, we’ve got some great beaches here in the U.S. Unfortunately, us yanks ain’t known for the “whole package,” like you find in the Caribbean. The kind of vacation where you lie in a hammock, hold out your hand, and a piña colada magically drops into it is scarce here in the states.

But I know of at least three good secrets:

Florida: Just north of Jacksonville, Amelia Island Plantation offers all-inclusive packages, including green fees and carts, meals in nine restaurants, and—I am not kidding here—video game console rentals. Calling all families with teens….

Hawaii: One of the few all-inclusives on the islands (Hawaii isn’t known for this option, though I’m lobbying for change!), the Kona Village Resorts on the fabulous Big Island offer a “Togethering” package: one bungalow at the regular rate, and the second one at half off, plus meals half off, plus, well, everything half off. This is great for large, extended families who love each other very much but are not actually interested in staying in the same room together.

California: It’s technically not all-inclusive, but Paradise Point Resort and Spa in San Diego offers something worth mentioning: complimentary breakfast every morning, plus SeaWorld (which, by the way, is within walking distance of the resort).

That’s about as American “beachy” as you get. Seriously.

—Meredith

High-end Miami, at a discount

Meteorologists are forecasting a long winter. I’m forecasting a long weekend in Miami.

So is Travelocity, with some excellent flight + hotel deals to Florida. Especially discounted are some truly high-end hotels, like the Fountainbleau Miami Beach. It’s recently undergone extensive renovations, making it even more fabulous. (Incredible, incredible views remain untouched.)

Check it out.

—Meredith

Luxury travel really, really far south

Like, as far as you can get in the U.S. Luxury travel resource Perfect Escapes is offering a fourth night free at Southernmost on the Beach, a secluded luxury hotel in Key West’s Old Town. All the rooms have a view of the ocean.

Stay until December 22.

—Meredith

Club Med for $99 a night

Certain Club Meds in Mexico, Florida, and the Caribbean and Bahamas are an amazing $99 per night right now. Book by August 31. Travel by April 24. Availability is limited (of course)

Club Med caters not only to couples, but also to families, and friends traveling together. The Sandpiper Club Med in Florida, for instance, centers around sports and has an Elite Tennis Academy for all ages, plus a circus school for kids. (Apparently this is one place it’s okay for your kids to swing from the rafters.)

—Meredith