The Lilac Inn in Brandon, Vermont (three-and-a-half hours from Boston, just under five hours from New York City) is offering a “Stay & Dine Offer” for the month of April. Book a Friday- and Saturday-night stay at the inn and get Saturday night’s dinner at half price. Accommodations start at $150 per night and include a three-course breakfast each morning.

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Great Wolf Lodge has a Grand Opening Special for its newest property in Grand Mound, Washington (an hour and a half from Seattle). This promotion offers discounted rates starting at $179 per night for family suites, including admission to the resort’s in-house water park.

I checked the grand opening rates against prices for the busy summer travel season, and found the promotion will save you $150. Grand opening rates start at $179 per night, whereas the same family suites in July cost $329 per night.

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Popularity: 2% [?]

© maveric2003

It would appear that the British have no intention of giving up their holidays despite inflation busting increases in the price of food, fuel and mortgage costs eating up a higher proportion of household budgets. In fact, defying logic, there's been a 40% increase in holiday bookings during the first three months of 2008, compared to the 2007 figures. Why is this? Are people so stressed that they feel they couldn't cope without a holiday to look forward too? Have several holiday and short breaks a year become an integral way of life? Maybe they will choose a cheaper holiday e.g. stay at a 3 star hotel instead of a 4 star or a short haul instead of a long haul destination. Is the rising cost of living affecting your travel plans this year? Personally, I've found the fall in the value of the pound against the euro is pushing up my spending in mainland Europe by more than 10%. This is having more influence on my travel plans than the rising cost of living in the UK.
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Popularity: 1% [?]

American’s latest domestic deal competes with AirTran’s offer from last week. Fares start at $118 round-trip, and cities include Atlanta, Boston, Miami, and New Orleans.

AirTran and United offered the same or better prices for the Atlanta/Miami, Chicago/Minneapolis, Dallas/Atlanta, and Miami/New Orleans routes, and Northwest also had the same prices for the Chicago/Minneapolis and Dallas/Atlanta routes. Delta beat American’s San Francisco/Boston price, while US Airways offered a lower New York/Tampa fare. American is facing a lot of competition from AirTran and other airlines, so be sure to compare fares before you book.

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Head to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, for an affordable New England weekend. Approximately an hour from both Boston and Maine, Portsmouth offers fine dining, cute boutiques, and waterfront relaxation—with many activities geared toward those on a budget.

I’ve tracked down several properties that offer a good value for your weekend getaway, each with reasonable prices and/or a little something extra to make your stay memorable.

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Julian, a historic town in the Cuyamaca Mountains about an hour outside of San Diego, provides an outdoorsy retreat in springtime. Go hiking near meadows filled with daffodils, lilacs, and tulips; shop downtown; or tempt your taste buds at local wineries and gourmet restaurants.

I’ve tracked down several properties that offer a good value for your weekend getaway, each with reasonable prices and/or a little something extra to make your stay memorable.

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Fredericksburg, just over an hour from both Austin and San Antonio, offers small-town charm in Texas Hill Country. Spend a weekend here shopping at more than 150 boutiques, antique shops, and art galleries; visit a lavender or herb farm to check spring’s new arrivals, and feast on authentic German cuisine.

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Destin, on northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast, offers an ideal escape for those wanting to be on the water. Your visit here can be filled with fishing, sailing, snorkeling, or just relaxing on a beach.

I’ve tracked down several properties that offer a good value for your weekend getaway, each with reasonable prices and/or a little something extra to make your stay memorable.

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Popularity: unranked [?]

Ecotourism

The concept of ecotourism in Africa has many facets and interpretations, but at its most fundamental it is an effort to ensure the long-term viability of vulnerable and threatened ecosystems through the medium of the tourist dollar. The term applied is high yield, low impact tourism, which is obviously bad news for the low yielders amongst us, however in recent years potent lessons have been learned in this regard throughout Africa. In particular this is true in east Africa where budget tours sold on the street corners of Nairobi have tended to fill the key wild life preserves with hordes of mini buses, often obliterating any authenticity in the experience of wildlife Africa.

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Popularity: 1% [?]