Sherman's Travel

After a year-long, multi-million dollar renovation, Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa in Sausalito now boasts a 3,000-square-foot spa specializing in water therapy, as well as a revamp of the guestrooms and lobby.

Originally opened in 1885, the hotel emphasizes its waterfront location in design and décor updates, including shelves made from recycled sea glass in the spa and cottage rooms and nautical accents in the lobby. So far, 46 of the 63 guestrooms have been updated (including 15 of 22 primo cottage rooms); the remaining rooms will be finished by the end of 2011.

Get a taste of the city’s food scene with Casa Madrona’s Simply Sausalito package, which includes $30 towards breakfast at CIBO (featuring local and seasonal ingredients) and $100 for dinner at Sushi Ran. The package is available through December 31; July rates start at $328/night.

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

A just-launched update to our San Francisco Travel Guide has got us thinking about a City by the Bay getaway. (Though our resident expert tells us fall is actually a better time to visit, as summers tend to be foggy and cool.) For inspiration on your San Fran escape, check out the new hotels in our guide:

• With a combination of glitzy interiors, prime city views, and a historic location, the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco is known as one of the finest hotels in the world.
• The Omni San Francisco delivers five-star service at more wallet-friendly prices, with lots of free perks (like Wi-Fi and beverages delivered to your room) to boot.
• Book a room at the St. Regis San Francisco for easy access to some of the city’s best museums, including the MoMA.

Find other top picks in our San Francisco Hotels guide.

Contact a travel agent for assistance in planning your next vacation.

While some people try to hide their age and stay away from big birthday bashes, hotels have no such qualms. In fact, celebrating a notable birthday is the perfect excuse to offer great rates and packages to loyal guests. Here are a few noteworthy anniversary specials going on now:

For its very first birthday, the Omphoy Ocean Resort in Palm Beach is bringing back its Grand Opening Rate of $149/night. In addition, the hotel has put together a Birthday Celebration Package for $199/night that includes a one-hour water sport rental, Core Fusion class at the exhale spa, and buy-one-get-one-free cocktail, breakfast, and dessert (one each). Book fast: these two deals are only available through August 31.

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Summer may be off-season in Miami, but thanks to stellar events like July’s Spa Month and a year-round party vibe, the city definitely loses none of its sizzle. As an added incentive to nonstop fun-in-the-sun, Four Seasons Miami is giving guests the third night free when they book two nights, now through the end of the year. It’s the perfect excuse to spend an extra day lounging by the pool – and an extra night at trendy lounge 14Thirty-Five.

Rates at the hotel normally start at $250/night in summer, but this special offer brings that down to $167/night once the free night is applied. Want to extend your Miami getaway just a little longer? The “third night free” promotion can be booked back to back so that you stay six nights but only pay for four. Offer is subject to availability.

Miami isn’t the only Four Seasons property with sweet deals this summer. The brand’s hotels across the U.S. from Boston to Austin to San Francisco – and even as far afield as Sydney and Mumbai – are offering the third, fourth, or fifth night free. See individual hotel websites for rates and specifics.

For more sweet savings this summer, check out our Hotel Deals.

With so many hotels touting their “green” credentials these days, it’s hard to figure out which ones are eco-friendly and which are just jumping on the eco-band wagon. Here are our picks for the best “green” hotels, as well as a few resources to find more eco-friendly properties no matter where you’re headed.

The Hay-Adams, Washington, D.C. This historic hotel located across the street from the White House was the first to be awarded the Luxury Eco Certification Standard from non-profit Sustainable Travel International. To earn the award, the Hay-Adams got rid of Styrofoam, paper, and plastic containers; uses eco-friendly cleaning products; and automatically recycles newspapers, white paper, and bottles and cans from guest rooms. To top it off, the luxury hotel recycles its linen by partnering with a local charity called Keys for the Homeless.

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