Sherman's Travel

With this edition of our Monday Deal Alert, we’ve compiled some of the best airfare currently in the market, from West Coast escapes to journeys to Eastern Europe. Rates start from as little as $69, so whether you’re looking for a quick weekend getaway or a long vacation, we’ve got plenty of ways for you to fly away this fall.

Virgin America’s current fall sale features amazing one-way rates between West Coast cities, like $69 between San Francisco and Las Vegas, $89 between Los Angeles and Portland, and $109 between Seattle and San Francisco. The sale doesn’t only apply to West Coasters, though: you can also fly one-way to Los Angeles from Chicago, Dallas, and Philadelphia for $139, or from Orlando, New York City, or Boston for $159. Just book your getaway fast – this sale ends at midnight tonight. Read more

We here at ShermansTravel hope you’re spending the long Labor Day weekend somewhere fabulous. But if you want to score the best deals and rewards perks for busy travel times in 2013, here’s a heads-up: Factor in some time over this holiday to start planning your next trip, especially if it falls during peak travel times like Spring Break and Thanksgiving.

If planning (or booking) so far ahead seems a little extreme, consider that scoring affordable airline seats – whether through rewards programs or good deals themselves – will require even more energy, savvy, and patience than ever before. Recent airline mergers have cut capacity and reduced routes; adding to the problem is the explosion of credit-card rewards programs. The bottom line is that there are more travelers scrambling for fewer seats these days.

Fortunately, there are some ways to help travelers score the seats and travel times they want. Here, a few tips that will have you headed for takeoff in 2013, without losing your sanity (or a chunk of your life savings) in the process. Read more

To celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 60-year reign, Buckingham Palace is gearing up for The Diamond Jubilee celebration, which kicks off on Saturday, June 2 and continues through Tuesday, June 5, 2012. During this official 4-day weekend, London will be abuzz with festivities.

There will be a Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on Sunday, June 3 (a 1,000-strong flotilla on the Thames with the Queen’s royal barge as the centerpiece) as well as a Thanksgiving service at St. Paul’s Cathedral with a formal carriage procession by the Queen from Westminster Hall to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, June 5 (you can find details on Jubilee events here). London’s finest hotels are rolling out the red carpet and offering special packages to revelers. The following are a few of the best:

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You’re going to spend money on your vacation. It’s unavoidable and, quite frankly, necessary. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to just throw it away. There are bad deals, inflated prices, and unnecessary splurges lurking everywhere you travel. When you’re away from home and out of your element, it can be difficult to avoid these all-too-common money traps. The more you know, the better equipped you are to keep your vacation on track and your bank account full.

1. Distance Keeps Your Wallet Fatter

There’s nothing wrong with checking out the tourist hotspots. However, business owners know how close they are to those landmarks and look to cheat visitors. After a morning at the museum or day spent exploring ruins, put some distance between you and the crowds before stopping for a meal, drink or souvenirs. Even the gift shops charge a premium and you can often find the same products elsewhere at discounted prices. Read more

Does the trill of a songbird remind you of a diva crescendoing against a dance beat? Is that eruption of color in a bed of tulips conjure images of an unfurled rainbow flag? It’s official: You’ve got Pride fever. And Hilton Hotels has the cure with their new “Stay Hilton. Go Out.” package, now available at 140 properties worldwide (including the Grand Vacations brand). Never too early to start planning for the season.

Booking entitles you to celebration-friendly amenities such as:
- Reduced room rates (more beer money)
- Double Hilton HHonors points (quicker access to the fab life)
- Late check-out (when available, hangover be damned)
- Free high-speed Internet (Facebook won’t know what hit it)
- Free 1-year digital subscription to OUT (the world’s leading magazine for the world’s leading gays)

Also, as a premier partner of events such as London WorldPride 2012, The Advocate 45th Anniversary, and the IGLTA gay travel association, they are offering one lucky winner a free 6-night VIP getaway to Gay Days Orlando – including airfare – from May 29 to June 4. Read more

Carnival Corporation is having a rough week, from ship fires, to armed robberies, to barred ports of call. Coupled with the Costa Concordia disaster, it’s understandable that travelers may be a bit more reluctant to book a cruise for their vacation time. But despite the bad press, and perhaps to some extent because of it, this is a great time to find cruise deals; and scores of them are available right now.

January through March is what the cruise industry refers to as “wave season” and it’s the time of the year that the most aggressive deal and advertising campaigns are launched and, consequently, when most cruise reservations are made. Even so, demand for the season isn’t down and deals abound; the industry still wants to fill its cabins. What this means for you is that your cruise deal options are wide and varied. What you want to watch out for especially are flash sales and special offers and rates.

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Millions of people will be indoors watching the Super Bowl this Sunday, but Liftopia is offering exclusive lift ticket deals to get you out on the slopes – be quick, though, because the offers are limited. Currently, savings range from 20 to 76 percent and you can find deals at over 80 resorts, from Alaska to New England, organized by location.

Liftopia is an online lift ticket retailer that offers deals throughout the year and around the world, from small ski resorts in the Midwest, to big names like Sun Valley and Mammoth. The Game Day sale is Liftopia’s biggest sale yet, but be sure to check out the site (or use their iPhone app!) for great deals on lift tickets throughout the ski season.

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

Very few experiences are quite as romantic as dancing cheek to cheek in a passionate tango. Learn the art of this seductive Argentinean dance at Strictly Tango.

The level 1 beginner course focuses on fundamentals like posture, dance etiquette, and musicality, as well as basic steps and sequences.

Strictly Tango welcomes couples and singles alike, as no partner is necessary when signing up.

With an emphasis on traditional Argentinean tango, free of influences from other dance styles, Strictly Tango has built a reputation for fun, authentic classes with accomplished and dedicated instructors.

Our ShermansTravel Local Deal gets you a month’s worth of beginner classes – at a 50 percent discount – as well as a free CD of tango music and discounts for additional courses and training.

THE LUXURY Explore the relatively untouched-by-tourism wilderness of Southern Tanzania, where the boutique Selous Safari Camp, set on the shores of Lake Nzerakera, offers guests prime access to the Selous Game Reserve. The reserve boasts a birdwatcher’s paradise and one of the greatest concentrations of wildlife on the African continent, providing haven for over a million large animals, including half of Tanzania’s elephant population. At the Jongomero Camp, meanwhile, a 1.5-hour flight away, this solitary camp in the region is set on the doorway of a remote section of Ruaha National Park, known for its diverse flora and fauna, with elephants, zebra, and giraffe just a few of the native species to call the reserve home.

THE VALUE Africa Odyssey has put together an exclusive deal for ShermansTravel.com readers for travel this June or July, featuring 32 percent off 8-night safari packages that incorporate stays at both the Selous Safari Camp and Jongomero Camp. Rates start from $4,797 per person and represent a sizable savings of $2,279 per person. Rates includes internal flight transfers, four nights at both safari camps with full board; game-viewing drives and walking and boat safaris; and concession and park entrance fees.

THE CATCH The package price excludes international flights, which can easily top $1,500 round-trip from East Coast departure points. Also note that early June marks the tail end of rainy season, so guests who opt to travel during that time frame can expect the odd rain shower.

THE DETAILS Visit www.africaodyssey.com for more information, but you’ll need to call 866-356-4691 and mention ShermansTravel.com to actually book the special offer.

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

Romance is revving up all over the place during the month of February, from sun-kissed beaches to sophisticated big cities. Here are 25 deals and packages – from Fort Lauderdale to Fiji, Maine to Madrid, and St. Kitts to Sedona – that you can still book to make this Valentine’s Day the most memorable ever:

IN THE U.S. & CANADA
The Grand Del Mar: Unplug and relax with the “Disconnect Package” at the luxurious The Grand Del Mar near San Diego (shown above at left) and you’ll get one night’s accommodations (with the room TV unplugged and upgrade upon booking if available), berry-infused champagne cocktail upon arrival, choice of a 60-minute couples massage, or a 2-hour horseback ride for two, breakfast in bed for two, and late checkout, from $795/night. Read more