Sherman's Travel

Free breakfast may be standard at many hotel chains, but what about something to pick you up at the end of the day? With Sheraton Hotels rolling out a new premium wine program in partnership with Wine Spectator, we’ve rounded up a few of the other spots to get your drink on without stepping out the front door.

Available at 240 properties worldwide, Sheraton’s initiative features Social Hour wine tastings three to four nights a week where you’ll be able to sample vintages from the new Wine Spectator-approved menu. However, be warned that the tastings cost $5 in North America.

All Kimpton hotels (except Sir Francis Drake in San Francisco) do a nightly Wine Hour where guests can meet the general manager and enjoy a glass of vino.

Similarly, Embassy Suites properties host nightly Manager’s Receptions with beverages and appetizers. Note not all hotels are able to serve booze, due to individual state liquor laws.

Hyatt House, the newly rebranded extended stay concept, has an Evening Social, with days and inclusions varying by location. It could consist of a cheese tasting as well as wine and beer.

Promoted as something of an “anti happy hour,” the Affinia Comfort Hour is a chance to partake in free snacks and drinks, as well as try out items from the “comfort cart” like specialty pillows or an Xbox Kinect.

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

Summer is just around the corner, and with it the return of the time-honored New York tradition of outdoor happy hours. Why not switch up your regular post-work routine this season with an evening cruise around Manhattan?

After Work Cruises depart each Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and feature a DJ spinning fun dance beats (and a cash bar) to help you unwind – everything you need for the perfect happy hour outing with friends or coworkers!

After a long day at the office, gain a new perspective on the world’s most famous skyline as you view sights like the Empire State Building and the Brooklyn Bridge from the water.

For a great offer on two cruise tickets, see our New York City Local Deals.

For general trip-planning information, see our New York City destination guide.

Cheers! The American Airlines “5@5 Happy Hour” – the same in-flight drink deal it offered in December – returns for May, this time as a thank you to customers for flying on the airline. Beginning May 1, domestic travelers and passengers heading to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Canada can knock $1 off all beers and $2 off wine and liquor (including Cinco de Mayo margaritas on the holiday) if their flight departs between 5pm and 5:59pm – making the price just a Lincoln for each adult beverage. Even better: Unlike your local watering hole, happy hour prices are valid for the duration of the flight, not just until the strike of six.

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

Tucked away on an unremarkable block in Chelsea, Mexican restaurant and bar, Las Chicas Locas (attached to but not affiliated with the Four Points by Sheraton), has kept a fairly low profile since opening in 2008. Sure, the occasional celebrity wanders in now and again – Tiger Woods (pre-infidelity), Derek Jeter, Anthony Mackie (I saw the latter two there myself on separate occasions) – but this often dubbed “neighborhood hangout” is headed towards stardom of its own. A new partnership with two-star Michelin Chef Christopher Lee, currently of Charlie Palmer’s Aureole, brings a redesigned menu á la Chef Lee, featuring creative yet affordable tapas-style Mexican fare, and a well-placed kitchen staff, including Executive Chef Kathryn Busch, intent on serving quality meals consistently. Read on for the scoop and the Sherman’s Travel free drink offer.  Read more

I don’t usually like to mix spa treatments with alcohol. I’m already woozy after a massage, it defeats the purpose of detoxifying scrub and body wrap, and my skin during a facial usually gets way more antioxidants than a glass or two of pinot noir. But I might change my mind about spa happy hour. When everyone is rushing to their cars or the subway after work, many spas are offering deals on relaxing massages and rejuvenating facials. Guess which group is going to age better? Even more common are communal treatments like manis and pedis, where you can socialize and sip a cocktail (responsibly) then head home when the traffic has thinned.

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On a recent trip to Argentina, I stayed a night at the lovely Sofitel Buenos Aires. It’s on a quiet, leafy street that’s lined with galleries and antique shops. It provides all the comforts (and great food) that one expects of this luxury French brand but with a distinct sense of place (the landmarked building was the city’s first skyscraper when it was built in 1929 and the handsome rooms are trimmed in biker bar-levels of Argentine leather). The elegant cafe–Cafe Arroyo–off the lobby was modeled after Buenos Aires’ distinguished jockey clubs of the early 1900s. Here, guests can find a singular amenity.
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