Sherman's Travel

Spring is a great time for a romantic getaway – either to Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, or the West Coast – so here are four tips to help you maximize your enjoyment of the destination, and each other, while away à deux:

Avoid kids and conferences: Nothing wrecks a romantic mood more than screaming kids – but loud, badge-wearing conference-goers are a close second. The best way to avoid both is to book a smaller resort, preferably one where children under 16 are either not allowed or discouraged.

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When I went from being a father of two to a father of three I got many “What were you thinking?” comments from friends, other parents, supermarket cashiers – virtually anyone who felt comfortable observing that my wife and I had exceeded some maximum. And you know who else I still hear it from? Hotel booking engines, which respond to my request for a single room accommodating two adults and three children with “exceeds max children” or some similar admonishment.

From the moment I began traveling with my party of five, my strategy has been to check the rate on a standard double room that takes two adults and two kids, and from there, grill reservationists about whether the room has a sofa bed or will accommodate a rollaway. I also ask if  there’s a charge for the extra bed and/or an extra occupancy fee for my additional child. Much of the time I’m pleasantly surprised by the answer. And then there are those times like the other night when I called the Caribe Hilton in San Juan to see if the $269 a night room I found for February 20-24 allowed a rollaway. Nope.

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Fly the airline that still offers free perks that don’t seem like they were essentials in the first place. JetBlue’s complimentary Snooze Kit, unlimited brand name snacks, and DIRECTV’s NFL Sunday viewing at every seat, make this new airfare sale an even sweeter bargain in the skies. Starting from just $41 each way, discounts apply to cross-country and local routes in the U.S., and Caribbean destinations like the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

Sample Fares (Each way; Excluding Taxes):

• Boston – New York: $41
• Boston – Washington, D.C.: $54
• Long Beach – San Francisco: $56
• New York – Syracuse: $58
• Fort Lauderdale – San Juan: $61
• Orlando – Washington, D.C.: $69
• Hartford – Fort Lauderdale: $84
• Boston – Denver: $99
• Montego Bay – New York: $119
• New York – Oakland: $129
• New York – Salt Lake City: $129
• And more!

THE VALUE: Flights from other carriers can run up to $100 more than JetBlue.

THE CATCH: Travel must be completed by December 18!

THE DETAILS: Visit JetBlue to book by December 1. Fly by December 18.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Browse our Hotel Deals and reserve a room for your getaway.

Check out our Top 10 Budget Caribbean Islands for more spontaneous trip ideas.

Sometimes, the stars align just right for savvy flyers in search of airfare savings, resulting in a spontaneous shower of fare cutbacks. Registering this astonishing phenomenon on their radar, ShermansTravel editors have tracked the progress of three airfare sales that are set to expire as soon as tomorrow morning, with one-way flights on Virgin America starting from just $39 (between San Francisco and Los Angeles) before taxes.

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JetBlue has announced a fall sale for one-way flights across the nation and the Caribbean with fares starting as low as $39! Travelers can hit metropolises like New York City, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco when the weather is mild and the crowds are minimal. Those who missed out on a summer beach getaway can make up for it with a trip to year-round sunny locales such as Orlando, West Palm Beach, Long Beach, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Tickets must be purchased by July 30 for travel between September 7 and December 15.

Sample One-Way Fares (Excluding Taxes):
•    Boston ? Baltimore: $39
•    Oakland ? Long Beach: $49
•    Orlando ? San Juan: $59
•    Buffalo ? New York:$59
•    New York ? West Palm Beach: $79
•    Boston ? Orlando: $89
•    New York ? Los Angeles: $149
•    And more!

THE VALUE: These prices are up to $100 cheaper than competitors’ rates.

THE CATCH: Blackout dates apply during the Thanksgiving holiday (November 18?November 30) and international travel prices do not include fees and taxes of up to $127.60 each way.

THE DETAILS: To book your flight, visit www.jetblue.com.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find other great flight deals.

Check out our Hotels Deal Page to find the perfect hotel during your vacation. 

Not sure where you’d like to go? Check out our Top 10 Fall Destinations.

Perhaps the easiest Caribbean destination to get to—there are nonstops from an array of U.S. cities and there’s no need for a passport—this lively, late-night-loving city makes for a breezy and affordable couple’s escape if the romance you crave is more sizzling than sedate. Still, where you stay in San Juan will have a major impact on the kind of experience you have. Here’s the scoop on three top tourist areas:

Condado This upscale neighborhood, flanked by a golden beach and linked to Old San Juan by the Dos Hermanos Bridge, is ideal for couples seeking a mix of sun, fun and easy access to historic sights with a little high-end shopping thrown in. All this is easily yours if you stay along resort- and boutique-lined Ashford Avenue. Two great options: the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, where 525 recently renovated rooms and suites feature buttery décor and extra-large step-down balconies (splurge on an Oceanfront), the Ristorante Tuscany serves exquisitely prepared Italian specialties, and the lobby lounge outside the bustling casino becomes salsa central after 10:00PM (from $245), and La Concha: A Renaissance Resort, where the vibe flips 180-degrees toward twentysomething Latino chic, with 248 contemporary rooms towering above a stunning retro-urban architectural showpiece that feels plucked from South Beach, a lushly landscaped pool, and the sea-shell-shaped floating restaurant Perla (from $289).
 
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AirTran just announced new low prices on one-way flights to destinations nationwide, as well as Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. This near system-wide sale includes hot spots like Las Vegas, New Orleans, Nassau, Cancun, and dozens of other cities starting from $44 (excluding taxes). Tickets must be booked by April 2, for travel through November 16.

Sample Fares One-Way Fares (Taxes Not Included):
•    Orlando—Nassau, Bahamas: $44
•    Charlotte—New York: $74
•    Baltimore—New Orleans: $84
•    Washington D.C.—Miami: $84
•    St. Louis—Portland: $86
•    Boston—Las Vegas: $99
•    New York—San Francisco: $99
•    Chicago—San Juan, Puerto Rico: $109
•    Indianapolis—Cancun, Mexico: $109
•    And more!

Visit www.AirTran.com to book your flight.

It’s baaack. AirTran’s near-system-wide sale has returned once again with rock-bottom domestic fares starting from as little as $39 each way. Take off to over 50 major cities nationwide like Las Vegas, Miami, and New York from now through March 10. The sale even includes new routes to Key West, Nassau, Aruba, Montego Bay, and more plus jaw-dropping rates on current international routes like San Juan from $74 and Cancun from $84. Just be sure to book your flights before December 10.

 For more information or to book your tickets, visit www.airtran.com.

The W chain is expanding its empire to the small island of Vieques, about 8 miles off the coast of Puerto Rico, where the W Retreat & Spa will debut this November. Until recently the quiet Puerto Rican island has remained underdeveloped, low key – a well-kept secret. But, while the beaches are still pristine and there are no duty-free malls or chain restaurants, developers are getting some action. The new oceanfront W is the best example. The 157-room resort sits on the northern coast near Proyecto Barracon and will blend brilliant modern architecture and organic aesthetics. Rooms, most with ocean views, will tout colorful, sharp design and top-of-the-line technology and amenities (plasma TVs, iPod docking stations, June Jacobs products). Alain Ducasse will head up the restaurant and there will be a beach bar called WET, the Living Room lounge, as well as Nourish by Spa Chakra with indoor and outdoor treatment rooms. The hotel has its soft opening November 19 and is taking online reservations January 1, 2010.

It’s tax time, again, and, more than ever, the financial stress of the year has confirmed yet another certainty: You need a vacation. Situated on 500 acres of prime Puerto Rico beachfront, the Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa provides the perfect setting for a stress-free post-tax getaway. Explore the breathtaking scenery and waterfalls of the nearby El Yunque rainforest, or while away your the hours at the resort’s sprawling pool and Mandara Spa. Rates for rooms with private balconies start at just $305/night, but you can now save even more with the resort’s special Vacation Stimulus package. From now through June 30, guests who reserve two consecutive nights will receive the following two nights at no additional cost, plus a $100 food and beverage credit per stay. For more exciting travel discounts, rebates, and write-offs, check out these other tax-themed offers for guilt-free getaways to Aruba, Chicago, Curaçao, Puerto Rico, and more.