Sherman's Travel

Escape to New York’s bucolic river country and bed down (for less!) at Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa, a gorgeous hideaway located on 70 wooded acres fronting the Hudson. The upscale, intimate inn offers everything from stunning scenery with apple orchards, lush river banks, waterfalls and ponds; a working farm, home to peacocks, llamas, and alpacas; a topnotch spa; and an excellent farm-to-table restaurant. Accommodations are just as unique, ranging from charming, modernized rooms in the main house, which dates back to 1764, to private cottages and a slick riverfront three-bedroom house.

Buttermilk has crafted a package just for ShermansTravel.com readers that will save you 30 percent on a two-night stay in a suite. Plus, the deal gets you a $250 spa credit per stay, and a 3-course tasting dinner for two with wine pairings at Henry’s restaurant. Though the offer is valued at $1150, you can take advantage of our exclusive discounted package rates: $800 per two-night stay, including spa and dining perks. Travel is valid November 1 through March 15. To book, call 845-795-1310 and mention the Sherman’s Travel Hibernation Holiday or visit www.buttermilkfallsinn.com.

For general trip-planning info, see our New York Travel Guide.

Fly north to New England to see the beautiful fall foliage, or south to Puerto Rico to capture warm weather, with this nationwide and international flight sale from JetBlue. Fares start at just $49 each way, and cross-country seats are only $149!

Book by August 16 and fly September 7 through November 16.

Sample One-Way Fares:

•    Boston – Newark: $43
•    Washington, D.C. – New York: $63
•    Orlando – San Juan: $77
•    Austin – San Francisco: $133
•    Fort Lauderdale – Los Angeles: $149
•    New York – Burbank: $159
•    And more!

THE VALUE: These fares can save you over $100 each way compared to regular prices on these routes.

THE CATCH: Taxes and fees are not included.

THE DETAILS: To book your flight, visit JetBlue’s website.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find great rates on hotels in your destination city!

Not sure where to go? Look to our Travel Guides for some inspiration.

Book your room at least 21 days in advance and score savings of 20 percent at the Hudson New York. We ran through several dates in late July and August and found that prices remained in the $194–$230/night range. The Hudson Hotel still maintains bragging rights for its 15^th-floor sky terrace and fantastical style, courtesy of Philippe Starck. Rooms are small, but it’s hard to beat the dreamy atmosphere in the library, with its sky-high bookcases, or the peaceful private park, especially in the warm summer months. The Midtown West location puts visitors in close proximity to Central Park. To get the deal, rate must be fully prepaid and can not be refunded. www.hudsonhotel.com

For general trip-planning info, see our New York City Travel Guide.

Dreaming of an exotic vacation to China, but don’t have enough money or time? Maximize both with this incredible two-city package from China Spree. For just $899 this January or February, get non-stop, round-trip flights from San Francisco (other gateways available), round-trip air from Beijing to Shanghai, luxury hotels, many meals, guided tours and entrance fees.

This Two Great Cities Package includes:

• Non-stop, round-trip airfare from San Francisco [non-stop from New York City available for $1,229, or fly via San Francisco from DC or Chicago ($1,199) or Houston ($1,149)] to Beijing
• Round-trip flights from Beijing to Shanghai
• 6 nights’ 4-star hotel accommodation
• Daily American breakfast, 4 lunches, and 1 dinner
• Guided tours and many entrance fees including: a tour of Tienanmen Square, the Forbidden City, a rickshaw ride through hutongs (traditional neighborhood alleys), a visit to a courtyard home and local market, a dumpling making demonstration, the Sacred Way of Ming Tombs, the Great Wall of China, the Temple of Heaven (featuring Ming architecture),  the Summer Palace, a 16th-century bazaar, the skyscrapers of Pudong, and the Oriental Pearl Tower (with 360-degree city views).

THE VALUE: Flights alone in January and February are around $900 just to Beijing, and the hotels included in the package cost over $880 for six-nights. Factor in the included domestic air, tours, and meals, and this deal saves close to $1,000 per person.

THE CATCH: You’ll pay an extra $257 to cover not-included air taxes and China visa fees. Also, prices are based on paying by check or money order — booking by credit card will cost $200 extra.

THE DETAILS: To book your stay, visit China Spree’s website. This deal is available until sold out.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Start planning your vacation with our China Travel Guide.

So you’ve done the Hamptons scene, surfed in Montauk, drank yourself silly on the North Fork wine-tasting circuit – and you’re looking for a more unchartered Eastern Long Island escape? The answer: Shelter Island. Floating between the two eastern forks, the 11 square-mile isle is home to pebbled beaches, sandy bluffs, the Mashomack Preserve (which protects wildlife and takes up nearly a third of the island), a smattering of private homes, and now La Maison Blanche, a new 8-room boutique hotel serving all fleeing urbanites now through summer (actually, it’s open year-round). Located near lovely Crescent Beach and dating back to the 1800s (the property was formerly known as The Old Country Inn), the historic hotel’s new look says “contemporary beach chic.” There’s a lounge, garden bar, and cuisine by Chef Charles Le Tous, of L’Absinthe and Bistro Vendome fame. La Maison Blanche also has a bakery on site and offers complimentary bicycles to guests. The only way to Shelter Island is by private boat or ferry from Greenport or North Haven. Rates from $325/night for summer weekends and from $225/night for summer weeknights;  maisonblanchehotel.com.

Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find low rates to New York.

Make the most of the waning days of summer or beautiful early fall with this European air sale from American Airlines. Book by June 27 and travel August 14 through October 27 to get this deal. Depart from your choice of cities across the United States, including New York, Boston, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Orlando, Chicago, Houston and Albuquerque, and fly to a number of great European destinations including London, Brussels, Helsinki, Madrid, and more. Finish summer with a bang by spending it in Paris, or fly to Frankfurt and take a train to Munich for Oktoberfest — this sale is flexible on dates and locations.

THE VALUE: The same routes cost over $1,000 in summer on other airlines, so this deal saves over $400 on round-trip tickets.

THE CATCH: Travel must be completed by November 24, and taxes and fees of up to $190 are not included.

THE DETAILS: Click here to book online with American Airlines.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Find the best place to stay in Europe with our Travel Search tool, or check out what to do when you get there with our European Travel Guides.

Built on the edge of Green Island on beautiful Lake George, The Sagamore offers grand Victorian accommodations and family friendly activities like golfing, water skiing, fishing, and plying the waters in a replica 19^th century tour boat. The resort dates to 1883 but recent updates include spiffed-up guest rooms, a new mini-golf course, and the Pavilion restaurant.

Now through August, guests can save 30 percent off weekday rates (Sunday through Thursday) with rates starting at $238/night. Call 866-385-6221 or visit www.thesagamore.com by June 30 to book and use promo code SMART.

From the Spring/Summer 2011 issue of Smart Luxury Travel magazine by ShermansTravel.com.

Only 46 of the massive, double-decker Airbus A380 (launched in 2007) planes are in operation, so when Emirates invited me to tour the world’s largest passenger jet at JFK last week, I happily accepted.

Quite simply, the double-decker plane is a beast: Baggage handlers look like dolls next to the oversized jet engines; the wingspan is wide enough to host a soccer game; and a nudge of Air France’s own A380 infamously sent a Delta plane twirling 90 degrees at JFK in April.

Despite the size, the planes consume 20 percent less fuel per seat than the next-largest aircraft, are more fuel-efficient per mile than Toyota’s Prius, and produce less than half the noise of a Boeing 747-400 – no wonder then that Emirates operates 15 of the machines and has an additional 75 on order.

One walk through the aircraft convinced me to try and nab a seat on any A380 for my next long-haul flight. Here’s what to expect if you fly Emirates:

Read more

While Manhattan just went through a serious hotel boom (with 15 or so hotels opening in 2010), neighboring boroughs like Brooklyn and Queens are following suit. The Sheraton Brooklyn (www.sheratonbrooklyn.com) seems to have jump-started the borough trend when it opened as Brooklyn’s first new full-service hotel in 12 years last May, and four more newbies are set to debut this spring and summer. Here’s a quick rundown of the openings, the on-trend digs, and the phenomenally affordable prices that are well worth the bridge or tunnel trek. Read more

Fly to Finland this month and save hundreds with this round-trip air deal for $525, including tax. This flight from New York to Helsinki typically costs over $1,200. Spring is a great time of year to visit Helsinki. Temperatures hover in the mid-60s, and there’s plenty of daylight – about 14 hours a day – to enjoy lots of sightseeing in this chic northern capital.

THE VALUE: This deal saves hundreds on peak spring fares.

THE CATCH: These flights will get snapped up fast, so book now for the widest selection of dates.

THE DETAILS: Click here to book your flight online with our Travel Search price comparison tool.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Find a hot Helsinki hotel on our hotel reviews page, or check out what to do when you get there with our Finland travel guide.