Sherman's Travel

Stay in a spacious suite at an exciting Las Vegas resort this season. The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino is offering 50% off their Masquerade Suites, starting from just $129 per night. This 1600-square-foot suite includes a formal dining room, a wet bar, a private Jacuzzi, and views of the Las Vegas strip.

The upscale Rio certainly doesn’t lack in grandeur: among its amenities include four pools, two nightclubs, a world-class spa, and a private beach and lagoon. The Rio’s Masquerade Village Shops offers over 60,000 square feet of shopping, gaming, and dining, and the Rio Entertainment Court offers nightly shows of famous Vegas acts, including Circus Vargas and Penn & Teller.

THE VALUE: Save 50% on a luxurious Las Vegas suite, in this resort with endless activities.

THE CATCH: This is only valid for travel through the end of February.

THE DETAILS: Visit the Rio Las Vegas to learn more, then visit their Special Offers page to book this deal.

WE’VE GOT MORE: For general trip-planning information see our Las Vegas guide, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on hotels, flights, vacation packages, and more travel deals.

Start the New Year off right on a spa retreat in Southern California – with mom by your side. The Oaks at Ojai, a health and wellness spa in the colorful Ojai Valley outside of Los Angeles, is offering a special package for every guest traveling with his or her mother from January 1 through 13. Each son or daughter sharing a room with mom will pay only $119 per night – a savings of 40% on current resort rates. In addition, both guests will receive three meals a day, a choice of 15 fitness classes per day, and evening entertainment and seminars.

The Oaks at Ojai is a relaxing and rejuvenating escape from the stresses of everyday life. With a focus on healthy weight loss and overall wellness, the resort offers a wide range of fitness classes, including hiking, yoga, Pilates, and strength training. It also features a delicious low-calorie menu made with local ingredients and fresh herbs from the resort’s garden. For an extra cost, indulge in one of the many luxurious treatments at the on-site spa. Plus, this is Southern California, so you’ll find no shortage of opportunities for lounging in the sun or exploring the local artistic community of Ojai.

THE VALUE: Bring your mom with you on a healthy spa retreat, and you’ll save 40% on current resort rates.

THE CATCH: Only the daughter or son gets the discount; mom has to pay full price. (But, if you split it, you’ll still each receive a 20% discount.)

THE DETAILS: Visit The Oaks at Ojai and choose the Mother Daughter Discount, or call 800-753-6257 and mention the same discount.

WE’VE GOT MORE: See our California Travel Guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights, packages, and more travel deals.

Fly throughout the country this December with low holiday rates from Jet Blue. Fares start at just $34 for one-way flights!

See the holiday windows in New York City, the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C., shop on Newbury Street in Boston, or ski down snow-capped mountains in Denver.   Looking to escape the cold instead?  Soak up the sun on beaches in Fort Lauderdale, Tampa or Long Beach, or enjoy family fun at the Disney World parks in Orlando.

Sample One-Way Fares this December:

• Las Vegas–Long Beach: $34
• Boston–New York City: $41
• Boston–Washington, D.C.: $46
• San Francisco–Long Beach: $59
• New York City–Washington, D.C.: $64
• Washington, D.C.–Orlando: $72
• Washington, D.C.–Fort Lauderdale: $75
• New York City–Orlando: $92
• Portland–Long Beach: $99
• New York City–Fort Lauderdale: $99
• Boston–Denver: $104
• Orlando–Austin: $112
• Boston–Orlando: $114
• Tampa–New York City: $114
• Austin–Boston: $134

* Travel is valid on select dates in December. All prices listed above were valid at the time of publication. Restrictions, taxes and fees apply.

THE VALUE: Pay as little as $34 on this holiday season airfare from Jet Blue!

THE CATCH: These rates apply to one-way travel only, before taxes and other fees.

THE DETAILS: Visit www.jetblue.com to book these flights.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Guides for holiday trip-planning ideas to these destinations, including New York City, Orlando, and Denver.

Stay at The Sebastian, a luxury Vail resort this ski season and receive two free lift tickets on each day of your stay – an added daily value of $160!  With this exclusive deal from ShermansTravel, you’ll also receive two spa treatments, daily breakfasts, and welcome drinks.  Stays at The Sebastian start at $250 alone, meaning you essentially receive the lift tickets and amenities for free.

The Sebastian is Vail’s newest boutique hotel, a 4.5-star resort in the heart of Vail Village.  It offers luxurious room accommodations, an indoor pool and hot tubs, a fitness and wellness center, a full-service spa, a variety of upscale and casual dining, and much more.

Book by November 30 to snag this exclusive luxury deal!

THE VALUE: Save hundreds of dollars on lift tickets, spa treatments and extra amenities from this luxury Vail resort.

THE CATCH: A minimum stay of three nights is required.

THE DETAILS: Call 800-863-2325 and mention ShermansTravel.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Visit The Sebastian online, then see our Vail and Beaver Creek Travel Guide for more information and trip-planning tips.

Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates and travel deals on flights to Vail.

Last summer Marriott was among the chains pushing free breakfast, and that’s still the case at their Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn & Suites, and SpringHill Suites properties. Likewise, select JW Marriott and Marriott Hotel & Resorts will feed breakfast to a couple of adults and all kids under 12 through September 5 for stays booked before August 22.

My kids’ problem with breakfast, especially on the road, is that it’s the meal that commands the least amount of interest, so by 11:30am they’re lobbying for lunch, and for my brood that’s easily sixty bucks. If your family’s like mine, then you might already be a fan of Holiday Inn, where up to four kids 12 and under eat free any time of day at the hotels’ on-site restaurants.

The Holiday Inn deal has three terms that are fairly typical of such offers: Kids need to order off the children’s menu; at least one grown-up has to order a qualifying entrée off the regular menu; and room service is not part of the deal.

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While the concept of casual destination restaurants isn’t new in the British capital (Terence Conran, the Galvin brothers, and Mark Hix, to name a few, have been pursuing it for years), a spate of recent debuts is signaling a sea change in the city’s dining scene. Increasingly, top London chefs are trimming the foams and fancy emulsions from their menus and instead serving uncomplicated but still delicious fare – often with a Provençal influence – at prices that won’t cause indigestion. Read on for our London Bistros Spotlight, which uncovers the hottest of these low-key eateries.

See our London Travel Guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights, hotels, packages, and more travel deals.

July 2011 will mark a significant milestone for Machu Picchu, the mystical Incan village high in the Andes Mountains of Peru: the 100th anniversary of its discovery by North American explorer Hiram Bingham, a Yale lecturer.

To commemorate the event, several adventure travel companies have planned July itineraries to the site, which is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and our pick for one of the globe’s Top 10 Sacred Places. One to consider: Adventure Life’s eight-day Machu Picchu 100th Anniversary Celebration, which starts on July 20. (And, exclusive for our readers, you’ll get 10 percent off the $2,045 price tag when you mention Sherman’s Travel when making the reservation.)

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One of the world’s most intrepid globe-trotters, Virgin Group CEO Richard Branson talks about his new hotel venture, his favorite London restaurants, and the final frontier.

We’re excited to see the first four-star Virgin Hotel open later this year in a major U.S. gateway city like New York or Los Angeles. How will Virgin Hotels stand out?
Our loyal customers have grown addicted to our attention to detail and brilliant customer service. They have a good idea already of what our hotels will offer because they know and appreciate how our airlines, travel, and wellness companies have beautifully reimagined airplane cabins, airport lounges, gyms, and other spaces—they’ve become places we actually look forward to [visiting].

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Are you watching the royal wedding, not to see Kate’s gown, but in the hope of catching a glimpse of London scenery? British Airways’ spring and summer sale lets you see the city without spending a royal amount. This deal features airfare from a number of cities nationwide starting as low as $267 (one-way) and a free London Sightseeing pass, which gives free admission to over 55 attractions, including Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and Windsor Castle! Best of all, this sale is valid for travel May 3 through August 31, which is the magical time of year when London is likely to be sunny and warm, and not gray and rainy. Book by May 5 to get this deal!

Sample Fares to London (O/W):

•    Philadelphia: $267
•    New York City: $304
•    Boston: $304
•    Chicago: $341
•    Miami: $341
•    Houston: $341
•    Denver: $366
•    Los Angeles: $366

THE VALUE: Tickets to London in May on other airlines are over $800, so this sale saves you over $200 on airfare alone. Plus, the London Sightseeing pass is valued at around $70, saving you even more!

THE CATCH: Taxes and fees are not included, and prices are one-way, based on round-trip purchase.

THE DETAILS: Click here to book with British Airways.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Find a great London hotel deal with our Travel Search price comparison tool. Then figure out the best things to visit with your free sightseeing pass with our London Travel Guide.

Earlier this month, American Airlines debuted non-stop service from JFK to Budapest, currently the only year-round flights to the Hungarian capital from the U.S. (Delta has seasonal non-stop flights). Budapest often flies under the radar for Americans planning a European vacation, yet offers a thrilling mix of history, beautiful architecture, and eclectic restaurants and nightlife. It’s also much cheaper than other European capitals – the city was one of our Top 10 Value Destinations for 2010, and remains a relative bargain for U.S. travelers.

Fly by June 30 and AA will sweeten the deal with bonus AAdvantage miles: Earn 15,000 extra miles for round-trip business class tickets, 10,000 miles for full-fare economy, and 5,000 miles for discounted economy. Use the code NYBUD at www.aa.com/offers.

If you can, the splurge to business class is definitely worth it. At about 8 hours, the NYC-Budapest flight is a bit longer than a jaunt to London or Paris, and the extra room and near-flat seats make a huge difference. Plus, the JFK Admiral’s Club is serving a selection of Hungarian wines to promote the new flights, for a taste of Budapest before you even get on the plane.

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