• The Beachcomber Beach Resort & Hotel: Stay beachfront from just $107/night for select summer dates and receive a complimentary room upgrade.
• Innisbrook, A Salamander Golf & Spa Resort: Practice your swing during your stay with a round of golf and unlimited use of the practice facilities from $159/night.
• Sandpearl Resort: Splurge a little at this 4-Diamond resort and celebrate a romantic getaway with the “Berries, Bubbly & Breakfast in Bed” package, which includes accommodation in a Luxury Room or Resort Suite, champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries, and daily breakfast in bed from $249/night.

For more offers, visit the St. Petersburg Clearwater website.

A duo of hot spring retreats here beckon visitors with an atmosphere all their own. At the Termales Santa Rosa de Cabal Hotel, visitors can soak underneath cascading hot waters as they pour from a mountainside. Once things heat up, cool down at the other end of the springs, where a bigger, cold waterfall offers an instant cool-down session; a couple of thermal pools at different temperatures link the two chutes. Changing rooms, a bar and cafeteria, spa, and bathrooms are available to visitors; but skip the over-priced on-site hotel. We came in the evening (the pools stay open until close to midnight) and were rewarded with fewer crowds and cooler temps for a more refreshing dip – plus, streaming salsa music for some only-in-Latin America flair ($22/adults, $11/kids).

Nearby, a small hike alongside the lush banks of a babbling brook leads to the Termales Santa Rose de Cabal Balneario, overseen by one of the loveliest waterfalls you’re likely to come across the world over (pictured above). Here, the scenery of cloud forest greenery makes the trip worth it in and of itself, though, of course, the numerous thermal pools, spa, and bar/cafeteria are a nice added touch. (Tip: Avoid going on weekends or school holidays, when the peace is interrupted as the pools are overrun with rambunctious kids and their seemingly oblivious – and possibly drunk – parents; $17/adults, $8.50/kids).

Keep in mind that this destination is refreshingly “gringo”-free, and caters largely to a domestic, Spanish-speaking audience – the international guidebooks have yet to find their way to this hidden Colombian Eden (in all fairness, a decade ago, this place was still rife with guerrilla activity, which has long since disappeared). Basic Spanish or at least a Spanish phrasebook will work wonders in ensuring you make your way around with relative ease.

The one exception was the great-value Matisses Hotel Campestre (pictured to right), with its refreshingly efficient English-speaking hosts, a charming husband-and-wife team from the area, who spent time living in the States. Opened just over three years ago, the hotel is set on perfectly manicured grounds (formerly farmland), with a pond, kids’ play area (with trampoline), pool, Jacuzzi, and bar/breakfast room, all with sweeping views over the surrounding mountains. The best part is that it’s set just 10 minutes from the thermal springs. Oh yeah, and two adorable dogs make for great companions while there. A dozen rooms offer comfortable beds, reliably hot showers, and private balconies or patios. Rates start from $82/night, including breakfast and a 10 percent discount on admission to the thermal springs.

Access to Santa Rosa de Cabal is via Cali (a 3-hour drive), Medellin (a 5-hour drive), or, via the airport in Pereira (the Matecaña Airport is 30 minutes away), which receives regular, inexpensive flights from Bogotá (we found flights from around $160 round-trip).

Incurable travel addict, longtime travel scribe, and mindful money-saver Elissa Richard is currently indulging her insatiable wanderlust on an epic 14-month journey around the globe – intent on making it every step of the way without busting her modest budget. Follow her along the way as she reports back with budget-savvy travel tips from the mountains of Transylvania to the wilds of Tasmania, and from the little-trodden temples of Burma to the bustling bars and clubs of Buenos Aires. A vagabond in search of value, just for ShermansTravel!

Have you ever been to Santa Rosa de Cabal? Tell us about it!

When the tracks burst to life in the spring (April to June), its not uncommon to catch couples walking hand-in-hand on the still-functioning railroad. (The three-kilometer-long stretch of tracks is used to transport wood to a factory at the end of the line.) Apparently, when the train is coming (they only run a few times each day), you can hear them from a ways off because of the tunnel. It’s said that lovers can come to the tracks and make a wish – if their love for one another is true, the wishes are supposed to come true!

What is the coolest place you’ve ever been to or seen? Tell us below!

Art: Propeller Island City Lodge, Germany

Many venture to new cities to explore different museums and art projects. At Propeller Island, an installation by artist Lars Stroschen, guests can occupy audio-visual art projects as easily as they can book a reservation. The hotel is meant to be “a habitable work of art in the heart of Berlin,” with each room hosting a unique, sometimes bizarre hallmark. In one room (picture above), the furnishings hang from the ceiling while guests sleep in boxes beneath the floorboards (meant to feel like you’re sleeping on the ceiling). In another, guests can snooze in coffins, choosing to close them if they dare. One of the other highlights is the room of mirrors, a space covered in reflective surfaces to give guests the impression they are in a kaleidoscope.

Train: Aurora Express Bed and Breakfast, Fairbanks, Alaska

Made from authentic Alaska Railroad cars, this hotel offers panoramic views of the Tanana River, the Alaskan Mountain Range and the city of Fairbanks. It recreates the feeling of riding the rails in style: Each car has been renovated to showcase various historical periods. Book the Golden Nellie car for luxury in the form of gilded ceilings and burgundy velvet drapes, or unwind in The Arlene, a former World War II hospital car. Grab a meal in the dining car to see a mural of the northern lights.

Ice: Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

A truly unique experience can be found at Icehotel, the world’s first hotel made out of ice (in case you couldn’t tell from the name). The entire space is built using snow and ice from the Torne River when temperatures drop in November, and is re-constructed each year. But Icehotel has more than just frigid lodgings; it includes a bar, church, main hall, and a reception area. Don’t worry, though, they offer warm accommodations as well for nights when you want to feel your toes.

Cave: Beckham Creek Cave Lodge, Parthenon, Arkansas

The Ozark mountain range is a geological wonder, and the Beckham Creek Cave Lodge taps directly into the phenomenon. The natural cavern took four years to convert into a hotel, and can be rented by a group of up to 10. Admire the stalactites and rock formations from the comforts of your bed before embarking on a full day of spelunking. Fortunately, dehumidifiers keep quarters moisture free (for the most part), and windows carved into the rock face allow natural light to trickle in.

Elementary School: McMenamins Kennedy School, Portland, Oregon

Nobody wanted to be the kid who fell asleep in class, until now. McMenamins Kennedy School opened in 1915, and today houses guests in former classrooms, with some walls still adorned with chalkboards. The auditorium is now a movie theater, the teachers’ lounge is an outdoor courtyard, and the girls’ bathroom is a brewery.

Sewer Pipes: Das Park Hotel, Austria and Germany

Simple, and thankfully not stinky, the rooms at Das Park Hotel are modeled from old sewer pipes. If you’re a minimalist, this is the spot for you: The room contains a bed, storage space, power, and little else. Toilets, showers, a minibar, and café are located in the surrounding public space. The facilities are open May through October and employ a pay-what-you-wish policy, perfect for travelers on a budget.

Airplane: 727 Fuselage Home, Hotel Costa Verde, Costa Rica

Hop on a plane to spend your vacation in…a plane. Hotel Costa Verde refurbished a 1965 Boeing 727 after rescuing it from the San Jose Airport. Today it is comfortably perched on a 50-foot pedestal, so guests can get a birds-eye view of the neighboring national park and ocean. The interior of the plane is outfitted with two bedrooms, private baths, and a kitchenette. The outdoor terrace lets visitors catch a glimpse of the region’s famous Squirrel, Howler, and Capuchin monkeys.

Treehouse: Teniqua Treetops, South Africa

If you’re a child at heart, book a vacation rental high in South Africa’s canopy. The treehouse resort rests in the foothills of the Outeniqua mountain range, near the Western Cape. The spot provides a variety of houses for all types of travel groups: tree houses can serve as a romantic retreat for newlyweds, or a larger set for a family.

Elephant: Kumbuk River Resort, Sri Lanka

Nestled near the edge of Sri Lanka’s premiere wildlife sanctuary, the Kumbuk River Resort allows guests to stay in the belly of the beast (quite literally) – a 40-foot elephant sculpture made of branches and grass. The structure is so lightweight it often sways on windy nights. The Elephant Villa has two airy bedrooms, a lounge area, and electricity. Of course, if you want to get the most out of this eco-lodge, you can request solar lamps instead.

Cherry Blossoms

If you can’t make it to the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C., your next best bet is to venture to Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey for the Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival (running through April 20). Home to the largest collection of cherry blossoms in the country (with more than 4,300 trees, the park has earned the nickname “Cherryblossomland”), Branch Brook Park is bursting with activities throughout the month. Take a trolley ride weekends through April – the 45-minute  tour tells the history of the 118-year-old park, and offers riders excellent views of the main attraction, the trees. (Tickets are $5 and must be bought in advance, call 973-239-2495 for more information.) The festival will close out with Bloomfest on April 14, which includes food vendors, musical performances, Japanese cultural demonstrations, a bungee trampoline, and more.

Dogwood Flowers

Atlanta’s Dogwood Festival, from April 19–21, is celebrating its 77th year in the city. The event is noteworthy not only for the blossoming dogwood trees, but also for the abundance of high-caliber art on display and for sale. Hundreds of art pieces, running the gamut from paintings to sculpture and jewelry, can be viewed in the Artist Market. The festival also does a good job of employing green practices: Visit the Eco-Village for exhibitions on how to remain eco-friendly, or rent an Eco Power Bike to help support education and recycling initiatives. And any festival wouldn’t be complete without plenty of food, arts and crafts, musical entertainment, and more to go around.

Tulips

If you want to tiptoe through the tulips, there are few better places stateside than Pella, Iowa during the Tulip Time Festival from May 2–4. Just 45 miles outside of Des Moines, Pella has a prominent Dutch population, and Tulip Time celebrates that heritage in style. Attendees can clack around town in wooden clogs, wearing traditional lace and britches, and enjoy meals of peppery bologna sandwiches and buttery pancakes called poffertjes. The twice-daily Tulip Time Parade showcases the Dutch influences in full force, as costumed children march through the town. Naturally, the 300,000 multi-colored tulips are a spectacle all their own.

Roses

Portland’s Rose Festival is a West Coast staple, and returns this year from May 19–June 16.  Though The Rose City is dotted with a plethora of, well, roses, the festival’s biggest draw is the Grand Floral Parade, the second largest floral parade in the U.S. The daylong affair features meticulously crafted floral floats, as well marching bands, a cappella groups, and dancing troupes. The Junior Parade, the world’s largest children’s parade, draws over 10,000 tikes, while the Starlight Parade hosts a fireworks display and carnival rides along the city’s waterfront. If parades aren’t your thing, you can check out the festival’s boat races or Fleet Week (June 5–9), when naval vessels from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Royal Canadian Navy dock in port.

Poppies

The Yellow Rose may be  famous in Texas, but in Georgetown, the red poppy reigns supreme. The central-Texas town is hosting their annual Red Poppy Festival on April 26–28, when the bright wildflowers will be in full bloom. The festival is a great retreat for adrenaline junkies, as the event includes a number of sporty activities. Put your hoop dreams on the line with the Celebration Serves three-on-three basketball tournament, cycle through beautiful Williamson County on the Red Poppy Ride (there are routes of all levels including 14, 27, 40, 50, 63, and 100 miles), or take a stroll down Austin Avenue and admire the hot rods at the Car Show. For the less-active, the festival offers musical concerts, arts and crafts, a parade, and food.

Do you have a favorite floral festival that we missed? Tell us about it in the comments!

The 4-star Grand Lucayan Bahamas Resort, located on the Bahamas‘ Grand Bahama Island, is the closest Caribbean resort to the U.S.’s East Coast at just 75 miles from Florida. Book a stay at this beach resort for the summer (starting June 1) and pay $99 per night, saving you 45 percent on spring rates at the same property. Enjoy 15 on-site restaurants and bars, along with three pools, two golf courses, a spa, a fitness center, water sports, a tennis center, and more amenities that the whole family can enjoy. A three-night minimum stay is required for this Early Bird Bonus; use the promo code “EBB” when booking.

Want to spend your summer vacation on the island of Manhattan instead? Book a room at the Hotel Belleclaire in New York City‘s upscale Upper West Side. This historic hotel is celebrating its 110th anniversary with rooms for $110 per night, a savings of over 50 percent on its usual summer fares. This flash sale is only available to book for 12 hours, from noon to midnight on April 19 – so mark your calendars, and get ready to save big on a Big Apple escape. Call 877-468-3522 on April 19 and mention the “Belleclaire Birthday” promotion.

Once school’s out, win Parent of the Year by taking your kids to Disney World. Stay at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa – a 4-star hotel inside of the Walt Disney World Resort – for just $119 per night. Plus, with this Summer Escape Special, you’ll receive a $50 hotel credit if you stay two nights, $75 for three nights and $100 for four nights or longer, which you can use at the eight on-site restaurants and bars. No matter how long you stay, kids 12 and under always enjoy a free buffet breakfast each morning.

Or, escape far away from home with a summertime European adventure. Visit Madrid, Spain’s vibrant and historic capital,  and stay at the 4-star Hotel Praga Madrid for just $62 per night, a 20 percent savings (you must stay two nights or longer and book at least 15 days in advance). The hotel is just minutes from some of the city’s major attractions, like the world-famous Prado Museum and Reina Sofia National Centre of Art, and the new Caja Magica sports complex. Or, head to the majestic Greek Isles and stay at the Paros Agnanti Hotel, a 4-star property nestled on the beach on stunning Paros Island, for just $81 per night this summer.

So don’t delay – book your summer vacation now, and forget about stressing later.

Now through April 14, locals and tourists gather hoping to get a glimpse of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival’s beautiful trees. The cherry blossoms scattered throughout the city were a gift to the United States from Japan over 100 years ago (in 1912), and symbolize the friendship between the two nations. But, unlike the enduring relationship between America and Japan, the cherry blossoms don’t stick around for long – the season only lasts a few weeks, if the weather cooperates. Peak bloom time for the trees is early April, and with forecasts predicting pleasant weather in the 50s and 60s this season, now is the ideal time to make the trip to D.C.

Obviously, the main draw of the festival is the flowers themselves, so taking a stroll around the Tidal Basin, through East Potomac Park, or exploring the grounds of the Washington Monument – where the trees are planted – is always a safe bet. For those who need a hand scoping out the most photogenic spots, there are a number of cherry blossom tour options. Since D.C. is one of the top 10 bike cities, it’s no surprise cycle enthusiasts can pedal through the petals with a Bike and Roll tour; maybe you’ll snag some prime shots from the road! DC The Blossoms! Tour is the official bus outing of the festival, while cruise tours such as The Odyssey offer unique views from the water.

As the Cherry Blossom Festival is a celebration of U.S./Japanese relations, now is a wonderful chance to learn more about Japanese culture and customs. (After all, you’ll need something else to do once you’ve seen your fair share of flowers after an entire day of strolling through the trees.) The 53rd annual Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival is on Saturday, April 13, and promises musical performances, martial arts demonstrations, art displays, and more than two dozen food vendors. The Freer|Sackler galleries (The Smithsonian’s Museums of Asian Art) will also present a number of Japanese-centric events and activities. Learn to make your own Japanese book, catch the anime marathon, or take a look at a number of Japanese art exhibits. Whatever your preference, Washington D.C. is sure to have fun in full bloom.

Will you be attending the festival this year? Have you been before? Tell us in the comments!

New York
Ask a native New Yorker what they think the city’s signature scent is, and the answer is likely going to be unsavory. But you don’t have to spritz on Eau de Hot Garbage: Bond No. 9 is an entire fragrance collection that pays homage to the city that never sleeps. The collection includes scents for men and women inspired by favorite neighborhoods and landmarks (Central Park West, Bryant Park, and Little Italy to name a few), as well as scented candles, body washes, and lotions (prices vary).

Egypt
Egypt was the birthplace of perfumery, and so it’s and obvious choice for this list. Un Jardin Sur Le Nil (The Garden on The Nile) by Hermes is a unisex fragrance that smells of mangoes, lotus, and frankincense – reflecting the cool, refreshing atmosphere that banks the Nile River (from $90).

Paris
Perfume may have originated in ancient Egypt, but France was – and remains – one of the premiere perfume manufacturers in the world. Field Notes From Paris by Ineke brings to mind an autumn stroll through the city ($88), while Yves Saint Laurent’s Paris (from $65)  smells like the city of lights in the spring.

Japan
Ancient East Asian perfumes were based around incense. Today, Comme des Garcons’ Incense Kyoto isn’t far off with an earthy scent: The fragrance transports wearers to respected temples, where incense was burned to honor ancestors ($85). Taking its cue from the lush springtime blooms the country has to offer, Sake by Fresh combines notes of fruits and florals, such as white peach and lotus, to create a light and sweet mixture (from $38).

Scent of Departure
Can’t pick your favorite destination, you’re in luck. The Scent of Departure collection by Gerald Ghislain and Magali Senequier, allows travel lovers to traipse across the world, without leaving their vanity. The collection has 20 fragrances, each emulating a different location and embodying that city’s essence. Dubai, Milan, Seoul, and Munich are among the options, with a 50 ml bottle priced at $45. You may not be able to escape to your favorite cities on the regular, but at least you can smell like you do.

MORE from ShermansTravel:

Four travel-inspired perfumes to try

Need a laugh? Check out our (bad) travel jokes

Looking for a traditional warm-weather cruise? Plan ahead and you’ll save the most. Stay five nights aboard the Celebrity Constellation, with its upscale restaurants, lounges, and staterooms, for just $349 per person in February 2014. That comes out to just $70 per person per night! The Constellation leaves from Fort Lauderdale and docks on the island of Cozumel and in vibrant Key West, Florida, so you can experience the heat of the Caribbean without straying too far from home. Travel to the Bahamas instead for three nights this November aboard Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas and you’ll spend just $199 per person while sailing to Nassau, home to the famous Atlantis Resort, and Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean’s private island. Or, you can sail to upscale Bermuda on the Norwegian Dawn in October 2013 or 2014 with 7-night cruises beginning from $479 per person – that’s $69 per person per night.

Consider a cruise as your next European getaway: Mediterranean and northern Europe cruises are affordable ways to visit the countries you’ve always wanted to see without spending the euros on a hotel room. A weeklong cruise to Italy and Greece aboard the Costa Mediterranea is an astounding $399 per person in June, bringing you to unforgettable ports like Rome, Athens, and the Greek Isle of Santorini. Sail round-trip from Barcelona on Holland America’s ms Ryndam for $599 per person for seven nights, and travel to unique places like Monte Carlo, Monaco, and the island of Sicily. Or discover the incredible fjords of Norway on Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas cruise to Scandinavia this May for only $519 per person for seven nights.

For an even more exotic cruise, take a one-of-a-kind trip from Mumbai to Athens aboard the Azamara Journey for $494 per person for 14 nights – amazing value at just $35 per person per night. Or sail to Thailand and Vietnam next winter from just $585 per person on a 7-night RCI cruise.

MORE from ShermansTravel:

For even more offers, see our Cruise Deals

Use our Travel Search price comparison tool and enter your travel dates

The site’s goal is to pair up passengers – who may not get to date much because of their frequent traveling –- looking to grab a bite to eat with someone new. And it’s not limited to romance, either: Many users utilize the site to find friendship, a travel companion, or  networking purposes. MeetingAtTheAirport.com already has 60,000 members (even though it only launched in 2011), and in a recent survey conducted by the site, most users found the East Coast to be superior to the West for finding a hook-up. The East Coast tends to have worse weather, leading to more flight delays, but compensates by stacking its airports with excellent amenities. Big airports are also prime pick-up grounds, as their poor on-time departure record means passengers can spend more time in the hub’s restaurants and bars.

Members ranked Orlando International Airport as the best, due to its 54 restaurants and bars and an on-site Hyatt Regency that offers a reasonable day rate for displaced or delayed fliers. Hubs in Miami, Newark, Boston, and Philadelphia rounded out the top five.

Whether you’re hoping to meet the one before boarding, or just someone to commiserate with during a long delay, MeetingAtTheAirport might help you find what you’re looking for. Even if it doesn’t work out, at least you’ve got a great story.

Would you sign up for a chance encounter?

MORE from ShermansTravel:

Once you’ve met the one, go on a romantic getaway together

Other airport news: Delta introduces Sky Decks!