Sherman's Travel

The clock is quickly ticking, but all you lovebird procrastinators (or maybe you’re just spontaneous) still have 19 days to book a last-minute Valentine’s Day getaway. The big day falls on a Monday this year, making it perfect for a long weekend. My inbox has been flooded with possibilities – from great deals to extravagant splurges. Here are 14 packages worth perusing:

1. Cities Across North America: The “Magnifique Romance” package at Sofitel (www.sofitel.com) – which includes accommodations, chocolates, flowers, champagne, and room-service breakfast – is available throughout North America (Montreal, New York, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Miami, Chicago-Water Tower, San Francisco, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles) with rates starting at $140/night if booked by February 13.

2. Riviera Maya: Ceiba Del Mar Beach Spa and Resort, located on Mexico’s Caribbean coast just south of Cancun (shown above at left; courtesy of Ceiba Del Mar Beach Spa and Resort), has a four-night “Romance Experience” package that includes accommodation in an oceanview suite, a champagne cocktail welcome, a private candlelight dinner for two with a bottle of wine, and a 50-minute couples massage, from $1,440 for four nights.

Read more

The animal kingdom must have a vendetta against the airline business. In October, a plane crash survivor blamed an escaped crocodile for a jet’s mysterious plummet from the skies above the Congo; that same month, officials at the Denver International Airport accused rascally rabbits of chomping on soy-based car parts in its Pikes Peak Shuttle parking lot; and yesterday, a Manchester Terrier who bit two people onboard a US Airways flight from Newark to Phoenix convinced the pilot to make an emergency pit stop in Pittsburgh.

The pooch – a 12-pound dog named Mandy, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – was let loose from her carrier mid-flight and bit one passenger and one flight attendant. Although the bites were minor, the pilot decided to land and find medical attention for the two victims.
Read more

In a program called Holiday Photos on the Fly, Southwest Airlines and Microsoft are bringing a little extra holiday cheer to your busy travel schedule: Santa Claus will be set up at 26 U.S. airports to pose for free holiday photos with passengers, young and old. Santa’s helpers from Microsoft will not only provide travelers with a free photo print, but also show customers how to edit and share their pictures. The program will run for the three weekends preceding Christmas in December (Dec. 2-5, Dec. 9-12, and Dec. 17-20) from 8am to 7:30pm. You can seek out Santa at the following Southwest airports: Albuquerque, Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Boston Logan, Chicago Midway, Dallas Love Field, Denver, El Paso, Fort Lauderdale, Houston Hobby, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Oakland, Ontario, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, San Antonio, St. Louis, Seattle Tacoma, and Tampa Bay.

Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on hotels, airfare, packages, and more.

SHERMAN’S EXCLUSIVE

The Luxury Trendy Scottsdale, Arizona, to the northeast of Phoenix, is a desert playground of spas and golf courses, and the Scottsdale Resort is no exception with 36 holes of golf and the massage-centric Amansala Spa. The 326 guestrooms include 60 sumptuous Casitas suites separated from the rest of the resort, with a private swimming pool and golf course views. Dine at the upscale American restaurant Palm Court or casual Sangria’s lounge.

Read more

Allegiant Air has announced a one-way flight sale between Phoenix and select U.S. cities with fares starting as low as $49.99! Phoenicians looking for a quick getaway can find great, off-the-beaten-path vacation destinations in Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Illinois, and more. Turn the weekend into a full-blown adventure at Whatcom Falls Park outside of Bellingham, Washington; the Redmond Caves in Redmond, Oregon; or Rapid City, South Dakota ? the gateway to the Black Hills. Likewise, residents of the aforementioned states looking to plan a quick trip can escape to the bustling oasis of Phoenix. Tickets must be purchased by May 19 for travel through January 31, 2011.

Sample One-Way Fares To/From Phoenix (Taxes Not Included):
•    Redmond, Oregon: $49.99
•    Wichita, Kansas: $59.99
•    Rapid City, South Dakota: $59.99
•    Missoula, Montana: $59.99
•    Eugene, Oregon: $69.99
•    Bellingham, Washington: $78.88
•    Cedar Rapids, Iowa: $89.99
•    Peoria, Illinois: $89.99
•    Grand Rapids, Michigan: $99.99
•    And more!

Visit www.allegiantair.com to book your flight.

Hawaiian Airlines has just launched a fare sale on spring and early summer flights starting from $360 round-trip (before taxes). However, upon closer inspection, we found flights that depart from West Coast cities that are up to $100 less than the lowest advertised sale rates! Flights from Seattle in early June can be had for as little as $322 – after taxes! This offer is valid on airfare to Maui and Honolulu through June 10, but tickets must be purchased by May 17.

Sample Fares (Round-Trip, After Taxes):

•    Oakland?Maui: $322
•    Seattle?Maui: $338
•    Seattle?Honolulu: $342
•    Portland?Maui: $347
•    San Francisco?Honolulu: $352
•    Los Angeles?Honolulu: $362
•    Portland?Honolulu: $366
•    Oakland?Honolulu: $392
•    Phoenix?Honolulu: $396
•    Las Vegas?Honolulu: $455
•    And more!

Come November 1, Southwest will be touching down at Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport. The budget carrier has scheduled at least one flight daily between Milwaukee and Baltimore, Kansas City, Orlando, Las Vegas, Tampa, and Phoenix – intro fares will start from just $35 (sale ends June 26). Officials at Southwest and Mitchell alike hope that the new service will reinvigorate travel in and out of the Milwaukee area, bringing much needed income to the region, while also offsetting the plunge in revenue reported by Southwest in the first quarter of this year.

Read more