Sherman's Travel

In Chun’an County, Zhejiang, China, you’ll come across one of the most beautiful man-made reservoirs in the world. Thousand Island Lake (Quiando Lake in Chinese) is one of the best scenic attractions in the county. Quiando gets its name from the 1,078 islands that exist across the lake. Read more

Don’t let the Carnival Cruise Line’s recent newsworthy items deter you from hitting the high seas. There are millions of cruises that sail each year without making the news. They have great customer service, activities for families, couples, and seniors, onboard entertainment, and unique ports around the world. Today we’ve rounded up the best of the best, from exotic international cruises to the always-popular beach destinations. Read more

While we’d all love to travel more than we do, silly things like money, jobs, children, and crippling anxiety keep us trapped in one place (often our homes that are filled with old newspapers). Thankfully, modern technology allows us to experience the world more easily than ever before. We can Skype with our friends on other continents, tour museums on our phones, and experience just about anything online. But what if you want to explore other cultures and places more tangibly and can’t hop around the globe like Indiana Jones? Well, if you have space in your yard (and don’t mind your home resembling the SkyMall Tuesday headquarters), then SkyMall has everything you need to bring the world to you. Rather than break the bank and exhaust all of your vacation days on constant travel, why not surround create a menagerie of handsome lawn sculptures that allows you to live internationally without ever leaving your house? Read more

Travel to the Garden City of India and stay at a trendy, 4-star hotel located in the shopping and business district of Bangalore. Take in the panoramic views of the Indian metropolis, including the spectacular Ulsoor Lake, when you stay at the Ista Bangalore for just $100 a night – a savings of 25 percent on competitor sites.

With Ista Bangalore’s Business Saver promotion, you’ll also receive complimentary breakfast for two every morning, free Wi-Fi, and half off drinks from 7-9pm each night. The hotel’s contemporary rooms feature king beds, luxurious bathrooms, large bay windows, and LCD TVs. The property includes two restaurants and one bar, each with its own distinct character.

Outside the hotel, experience the culture and modernity of Bangalore, visit local markets and upscale boutiques, or relax in one of the city’s many parks (hence its “Garden City” nickname) to see how cosmopolitan this city has become.

This deal is available for any four-night stay in a Superior King Room or Premium King Room. These low rates with the Business Saver promotion are available for bookings made by September 30. To book, visit Ista Bangalore and enter the promotion code PKGBUS.

See our India destination guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights.

Though we’re all glad for the warmer weather in summer, when temperatures spike too high it can really be a drag on your vacation. Not anymore! With a bevy of hotel discounts tied to the outside temperature you’ll be praying for a scorcher.

Book a two-night stay at the Colonnade Hotel in Boston from June 29 to July 8 and you’ll receive a discount on the first night based on the temperature at 5pm that day. Plus, you can always beat the heat at the hotel’s swanky Roof Top Pool. Rates for the July 4 Summer Meltdown Package.

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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.

In a similar vein to sister brand W Hotel’s Bliss spas, Sheraton now has its own exclusive spa concept it’s calling Shine. Guest feedback played a big role in developing Shine, which eschews the snobbish air of some spas while keeping the feeling of luxury. The announcement also follows a $6 billion revitalization effort of the Sheraton brand.

Each Shine spa offers five signature treatments – a massage, facial, body treatment, manicure/pedicure and a treatment for two – as well as a full complement of treatments unique to each location. Many spas will draw on local ingredients and traditions for treatment inspiration. Germaine de Capuccini was tapped as the product partner for Shine.

For now, most Shine spas are limited to Sheraton properties in Asia: Those with spas currently up and running include hotels in the Maldives (pictured), China, Vietnam, and Slovakia. Sheraton plans to roll out the concept at a dozen new hotels in China and India in the next year or so, eventually expanding into North America and Latin America.

Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates and travel deals on hotels, flights, vacation packages, and more.

Backpackers flocking to Southeast Asia for its cheap accommodations, favorable climate, and dazzling natural scenery can trade in crowded hostels for five-star comfort. Sample delectable Balinese curry, dance the night away in Singapore, and watch the sunset on the shores of the Bali Sea from just $1,703 (with fuel surcharge) when you book your package through Singapore Airlines Vacations. Travelers can fly out of every Singapore Airlines gateway around the U.S., including Los Angeles, New York, and Houston.

THE VALUE:
•    Round-trip airfare
•    Airport and hotel transfers
•    Two-nights’ accommodations at five-star Swissotel The Stamford in Singapore
•    Three-nights’ accommodations at five-star Nusa Dua Beach Hotel in Bali
•    Daily breakfast in Bali
•    Half-day Singapore city tour
•    Full-day Bali city tour, including lunch
•    Complimentary bus pass in Singapore

THE CATCH: You’ll have to recruit a travel buddy, as rates are based on double occupancy. Taxes of $110 are not included in the package price.

THE DETAILS: Visit www.singaporeairlinesvacations.com to book through August 31. Travel between September 1, 2010 and November 30, 2010, or January 1, 2011 and March 31, 2011.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Browse other International Vacation deals.

Know before you go, with our Singapore and Bali travel guides.

Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find other great deals on vacation packages, airfare, hotels, and cruises.

FOUND A BETTER DEAL? Tell us.

Singapore Airlines just announced the mother of all fare sales that’s setting a new standard for international airlines. The company is offering flights from the U.S. to 35 of its destinations in Europe, Australia, and Asia starting from $579 round-trip with taxes, fees, and fuel surcharges factored in! Some destinations included in this “World at Exceptional Value” sale are Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Moscow, Frankfurt, Manila, Bali, Hanoi, and many more. Travel is valid from July 1 through November 30, but tickets must be purchased by June 28. Read more

The popularity of cruises in Asia has given the European-based cruise line Costa, the ability to add another ship to its year-round Far East itineraries. The Costa Classica joins its sister ship, the Costa Allegra, to offer another viable option for travelers looking to explore this part of the world.

The Classica will sail from Singapore as well as Chinese ports of Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tianjin, providing customers with both short and long schedules. In addition to the more elaborate 14- to 15-night itineraries, the Classica will sail 4-6 night voyages to Japan and South Korea. Costa will also present passengers with a special voyage between China and Taiwan – a first for the cruise industry.

Gazing down the horizon a ways, Costa will also be christening two new ships, the Luminosa, and the Pacifica on June 5, in Genoa Italy, followed by the Allegra’s replacement, the Costa Romantica in March 2010.

For more details on these new ships and itineraries, visit costacruise.com.