Sherman's Travel

Was one of your New Year’s resolutions to spend less money? We hear you. Studies show that it’s one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend all of your free time staying home and twiddling your thumbs. With these hotels under $200 per night (and 4-star hotels, at that), you can afford to enjoy yourself while keeping one of those oft-broken resolutions.

With its surprisingly spring-like weather in the winter months, San Francisco makes for a great destination this season. The San Francisco Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf starts from just $129 per night from January 10-15, and $142 per night throughout the month of February, which saves over 45 percent on rates in the spring. Enjoy local California cuisine and weekly wine and cheese receptions at this culinary-centric hotel, which is just two blocks from both famous Fisherman’s Wharf and the shopping and restaurants in Ghiradelli Square. Read more

Tom Popper, as portrayed by Jim Carrey in Mr. Popper’s Penguins, puts himself through considerable hassle before becoming comfortable with the idea of adopting six penguins.

Knowing a good marketing opportunity when they see one, the Marriott Hotel & Spa in Groton, Connecticut, and the Mystic Aquarium have teamed up to demonstrate that adopting a penguin need not be a hassle. It’s as easy, in fact, as booking a room.

Through the end of the year, if you book the Marriott’s Adopt a Penguin package (promo code FML), the main inclusion is one of the aquarium’s African Penguin adoption kits (a $50 value) that includes an adoption certificate, a photo of your adoptee, and some informational materials. Also part of the deal is one aquarium adult admission ticket (a $29 value; you can purchase additional tickets at the front desk) as well as your own copy of the Mr. Popper DVD, which has a list price of $29.98.

Read more

Marriott International announced today that it will open five new hotels for Edition – the company’s boutique, luxury lifestyle brand – on three continents. Plans are underway for Editions in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Bangkok, while contracts have been signed for additional hotels in Los Angeles and Gurgaon, India. Marriott Edition enlisted the help of Ian Schrager, hotelier and real estate developer, to pioneer the creative design and positioning of the hotels. Schrager is well known for Studio 54 and the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood, among others.

Manhattan’s Clock Tower building, on Madison Avenue, will be home to the New York Edition; the renovation and transformation of the historic building are set to begin in late 2012. The Bangkok Edition, opening in 2015, will be in one of the tallest buildings in the city, and will be part of a mixed-use development. Read more

Relax on the sun-soaked beaches of St. Kitts this winter with the Sand Dollar package from the St. Kitts Marriott which offers guests booking four nights a starting nightly rate of $164, with the fourth night free! Additionally, guests will receive daily breakfast for two. The upscale resort is set on four miles of pristine beach, and showcases three free form pools and a full-service spa, making it a perfect place to getaway and relax. Those looking for a little more adventure can try their luck at the 35,000-square-foot Royal Beach Casino, or play a round on the Royal St. Kitts Golf Course. This deal is valid through December.

THE VALUE: Receive your fourth night free, plus breakfast for two, a $21 daily value!

THE CATCH: A four-night stay is required.

THE DETAILS: To book the Sand Dollar package, visit www.stkittsmarrriott.com and use promo code S29.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find low rates on flights to St. Kitts.

Check out our St. Kitts Travel Guide to help plan your trip.

In Mexico and the Caribbean, the summer is never really over, and now you can experience that firsthand with Marriott’s Endless Summer Sale. Book a room at select Marriott and Renaissance Resorts by August 31 and save up to 40% off regular rates, with rooms starting from just $109 per night! Additionally, guests will be able to travel now through December 20, 2011. Nine resorts are participating in the sale, including the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa, the Curacao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino, and the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort. With this sale, you can plan that last summer getaway, or look ahead to relax on the beach during the first snowfall back home.

THE VALUE: Save up to 40% at nine Mexico and Caribbean resorts!

THE CATCH: Travel is not valid over Thanksgiving, and rooms rates are based on availability at the time of booking.

THE DETAILS: To see all the participating hotels and to book your vacation, visit www.paradisebymarriott.com.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Search price comparison tools to find low rates on flights to your desired destination.

Peruse our Travel Guides to find a destination that inspires you.

Ever wanted to pay .50 cents for a luxury hotel room? Now’s your chance with the Name Your Own Rate sale from Harbor Beach Marriott  Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale. Stay three nights, including a Sunday night, and guests can name their own price for Sunday – with no minimum. Rooms at this newly renovated property normally cost $349 a night on weekends. Plus, this deal is good now through December 22 (including Labor Day weekend) so you can escape to the resort’s 16 acres of private beachfront property for the perfect three-day weekend.

THE VALUE: Save $229 on Sunday nights.

THE CATCH: The “name your own price” is only valid for Sunday stays as part of a three-night stay. Rates for the other two nights start at $229 per night.

THE DETAILS: Visit the Harbor Beach Marriott’s website and enter promotional code DOD.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates and travel deals on flights to Ft. Lauderdale.

For general trip-planning information, see our Florida Travel Guide.

Take off to Costa Rica this summer and fall and enjoy a fourth night free at participating Marriott Resorts. Nightly rates at the Residence Inn San Jose Escazu start from just $120! Guests staying three nights will receive a fourth night free as well as daily breakfast for two adults and two children! Other participating Marriotts are available at an additional cost and include, Courtyard San Jose Escazu, Los Suneos Marriott, and the Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San Jose. Stay in the bustling capital of San Jose where museums, cafes, and parks are in abundance, or relax on long stretches of black sand beach in Herrradura, located on the central Pacific coast. Travel is valid through November 9, 2011.

THE VALUE: Depending on the resort, guests can save over $200 on the fourth night free. The breakfast is valued at $100 for two adults and $150 with two children.

THE CATCH: A three night minimum is required.

THE DETAILS: To book your stay, visit www.marriott.com, using promo code S29.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find low rates on flights to San Jose, Costa Rica.

Start planning your vacation with our Costa Rica Travel Guide.

Here’s a deal we won’t resist: To properly kick off sandal season, Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico resorts is doling out free pedicures, massages, and pairs of Lindsay Phillips flip flops to New York City-based fans who “like” the brand’s Facebook page.

Masseuses, foot reflexologists, and pedicurists will set up shop June 23 at 25th Street and Fifth Avenue, next to Madison Square Park. Attendees just need to “like” the Marriott page on Facebook, print the invite or show it on their phone, and settle in for some midday bliss.

Read more

Last summer Marriott was among the chains pushing free breakfast, and that’s still the case at their Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn & Suites, and SpringHill Suites properties. Likewise, select JW Marriott and Marriott Hotel & Resorts will feed breakfast to a couple of adults and all kids under 12 through September 5 for stays booked before August 22.

My kids’ problem with breakfast, especially on the road, is that it’s the meal that commands the least amount of interest, so by 11:30am they’re lobbying for lunch, and for my brood that’s easily sixty bucks. If your family’s like mine, then you might already be a fan of Holiday Inn, where up to four kids 12 and under eat free any time of day at the hotels’ on-site restaurants.

The Holiday Inn deal has three terms that are fairly typical of such offers: Kids need to order off the children’s menu; at least one grown-up has to order a qualifying entrée off the regular menu; and room service is not part of the deal.

Read more

Show dad some real appreciation on Father’s Day with the Championship Unlimited Golf package from the Doral Golf Resort & Spa, just outside of Miami, Fla. For just $119 per night, guests will receive garden view accommodations, daily breakfast at Terrazza Restaurant, 18 holes of golf on one of three courses which include complimentary replay, and unlimited driving range usage. Guests will also get 50 percent off select club rentals, complimentary access to the Spa at Doral and 15 percent off any spa treatments (excluding salon). This 4-star Marriott Resort is set on 650-acres with five 18 hole golf courses and is just 13 miles from downtown Miami! Travel valid through October 8, 2011.

THE VALUE: Accommodations alone start from $129 per night! Daily breakfast is a $30 value, the 18 holes of golf is a $65-$85 value, and spa access is a $30 value, all per person, per night!

THE CATCH: Blackout dates apply, advance reservations required.

THE DETAILS: To book your package, visit www.marriott.com and use promo code GFP.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find low rates on flights to Miami.

Take a look at our Miami Travel Guide!