Sherman's Travel

Stay at Mammoth Mountain in California and make the most out of your vacation starting at just $218 per night — that’s only $109 per person. Plus, get a $200 resort credit per adult to help customize your vacation. The lead price was found at The Mammoth Mountain Inn but you can choose to stay at Tamarack Lodge & Resort, Juniper Springs Resort, or The Village Lodge. Take advantage of this deal now through July 6 –including July 4th weekend.

THE VALUE: With the flexible $200 resort credit you can ski the last snow falls of the season, golf at the Sierra Star Golf Club, explore the new Adventure Center, or enjoy the dining, shopping, and nightlife in and around Mammoth.

THE CATCH: A three night minimum is required.

THE DETAILS: Click here to book a reservation with Mammoth Mountain.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Need a flight to California? Use our Travel Search Price comparison tool to find the best rates.

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Scotland has long been a draw for hard-core adrenaline junkies, but for the average traveler, trying to spot the Loch Ness Monster was about as adventurous as a trip here would get. Not anymore. This small island country has exploded in popularity among a wide range of adventure travelers, with more than $1.4 billion spent annually on trips there. Forecasters are also predicting a 70 percent jump in visitors over the next three years, according to figures from the Adventure Travel Trade Association.

If you haven’t yet been, why not add Scotland to your 2011 travel calendar? Here, some popular excursions in what is fast becoming the newest go-to destination for outdoor adventures.

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For college football enthusiasts, fall is the Holy Grail of seasons. But you don’t have to be a face-painting, mascot-worshipping fanatic to make a weekend getaway to a college town, which are equally enticing to adventure enthusiasts with their outdoor offerings.

College towns are a natural fit for outdoor meccas because of their populations of active students eager for a break from studying. The following places, however, are stand-alone gems for outdoor pursuits, from hiking to biking to canoeing with alligators.

One word of caution: During game weekends, especially at larger universities, accommodations fill up fast. You’ll probably have better luck staying a few miles outside of town, though you can also try calling for last-minute cancellations. Read more

The ShermansTravel Deals team hand-picks the special breed of deals that promises free perks ? no strings attached. Looking for that enchanting getaway? Try your luck in Marrakech, Morocco, where guests staying one night at the plush Hivernage Hotel & Spa (with rates starting at $296) will receive a second night free! This extravagant hotel nestled in the heart of the city, with the Atlas Mountains as a backdrop, also offers children under 12 a free stay with paying adults. This deal is valid through September 9, 2010 and can be booked at www.ddhrm.com. 

Summer’s not over, so celebrate and bring your friends along to the beach! The Omphoy Ocean Resort in Palm Beach, Florida is now offering the Friends Stay Free package in which travelers booking a minimum four-night stay (with rates beginning at $299/night) will receive an additional room absolutely free for each of those nights!  For a luxury oceanside vacation with family and friends, book your stay between now and September 30, 2010, at www.omphoy.com.

Travelers making a final push for a summer vacation will find plenty of incentive at the Beaches of South Walton, where vacationers booking a minimum three-night stay will receive a free $250 gift card valid for future travel with Southwest Airlines or shopping at the Silver Sands Factory Stores in Destin, Florida. Choose an official lodging partner at one of the 15 immaculate beach communities along a 26-mile stretch of the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast. Travel is valid through September 30, 2010, and accommodations can be booked at www.beachesofsouthwalton.com.

Know before you go with our Marrakech and Palm Beach Travel Guides.

Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find airfare to these great destinations.

FOUND A FREEBIE? Tell us about it!

Sure, Patagonia deserves its reputation as one of the most stunning, adventure-rich spots on the planet. But there are plenty of other places to visit throughout the country for hiking, biking, camping and all sorts of other active pursuits. And with a stellar airfare sale from South American airline LAN extended through August 11, it’s a great time to check them out.

The sale offers direct flights to cities including Mendoza, Cordoba, and Buenos Aires in Argentina; Ecuador’s eco-haven, the Galapagos Islands; and Lima, Peru. Tack on a few extra days to the Labor Day Weekend, and you can wrap up summer with a brag-worthy trip.

Here, a few can’t-miss options: Read more

Clear your mind of the city with the crisp mountain air at the Sundance Resort in Utah, located on Mount Timpanogos, part of the Wasatch Mountain Range. For the remainder of the summer, those booking a two-night stay or longer at a rate of $229/night will receive free daily breakfast at the Foundry Grill and a complimentary activity voucher for use at the resort.

THE VALUE: Activities vouchers are valued at $90 while the daily breakfast, which features an entree and beverage, is valued at $18.

The voucher, which features activities for those wanting that relaxing mountain escape as well as the adventure seeker, includes:
•    60-minute massage
•    60-minute facial
•    Spa manicure or pedicure
•    Two-hour art class
•    One-hour yoga class
•    One-hour guided hike
•    Two-hour bike clinic
•    Bike rental with a full day lift pass
•    Two-hour horseback ride

THE CATCH: The nightly rate of $229 does not include taxes and additional fees, which can be as high as $90.

THE DETAILS: This package is valid through September 7, 2010 and can be booked at www.sundanceresort.com.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find low fares to Utah.

Take a look at our Utah Travel Guide before you go.

Here are the Daily Deal’s favorite ShermansTravel deals from the past week. Become enamored with Costa Rica’s effervescent cities and attractions on a six-night vacation that is priced from just *$579 per person. Save 50 percent and get round-trip airfare from the U.S., rental car, six nights’ of hotel stays and a free Safari Float tour or an Arenal Volcano hike.

Park City, Utah, isn’t just for skiers — in the off-season, it offers loads of outdoor activities like hiking, fly-fishing and horseback riding. Nearby Newpark Resort serves as a great jumping-off point for all of it. The exclusive ShermansTravel offer slices the resort’s nightly rates down to $82 for a Deluxe Hotel Room, but one- and two-bedroom suites as well as townhomes are available.

Air Tahiti Nui customers are being rewarded for booking round-trip flights from Los Angeles to New Zealand, with prices starting as low as $1130, by receiving a free, three-night stopover in Tahiti! This vacation within a vacation is valid at the Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti and the Sofitel Tahiti Maeva Beach Resort, for travel between August 15 and March 31, 2011.

A New York City hotel debuting in July, Andaz 5th Avenue is located directly across from the New York Public Library, and is ideal for window shopping on 5th Ave or catching an outdoor movie in Bryant Park after the sun goes down. The special preview rate of $295 is now available for stays from July 25 through September 1 – a great rate for any upscale New York hotel, let alone a brand new one. After that, prices go up to $463, so this offer saves you $168/night for peak-season travel.

Park City, Utah, isn’t just for skiers — in the off-season, it offers loads of outdoor activities like hiking, fly-fishing and horseback riding. Nearby Newpark Resort serves as a great jumping-off point for exploring the 300 miles of trails and the nature preserve that’s practically the resort’s backyard. An ideal family destination, Newpark Town Center has shopping for moms, a state-of-the-art rec center for kids, and golf for dads. This offer slices the resort’s nightly rates down to $82 for a Deluxe Hotel Room, but one- and two-bedroom suites as well as townhomes are available.

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A strange phenomenon is occurring in the cruise industry. As ocean cruise lines continue to build larger, flashier ships, a number of passengers are seeking a quieter, less crowded vacation. It’s no wonder that river cruising continues to gain popularity each year in Europe with all-inclusive pricing, a casual onboard environment, and an emphasis on the ports of call. Unbeknown to many travelers is the small-ship cruise lines in North America that offer similar experiences right here in their own backyard. These under-the-radar voyages offer a timeless glimpse into a bygone era on legendary waterways like the Mississippi River, St. Lawrence Seaway, The Great Lakes, and along the coastal bluffs of Maine. Autumn itineraries grant and opportunities to bring back homemade pumpkin pies, apple cider, and other comforting harvest indulgences, while summer sailings can evoke a nostalgic feeling as American as a Fourth-of-July barbeque at the lake house. Here’s a sampling of homegrown cruise lines setting sail this year:

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Explore the Colorado Rockies sans snow this summer with free guided nature hikes up and around Vail Mountain, fly fishing, kayaking, and more. Best of all, primo resorts like The Arrabelle at Vail Square and The Lodge at Vail have slashed their prices for summer guests, from $199/night and $149/night, respectively (that’s over 50 percent less than standard winter rates!). Aside from taking advantage of all the free summer activities on the mountain, Vail also plays host to a few cultural festivals like the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival and the Vail International Dance Festival. Be sure to check out Hot Summer Nights Tuesday Free Concert Series and Thursday jazz concerts outside the Arrabelle at Vail Square and Sunday jazz concerts at the Vail Farmer’s Market. Discounted prices and free perks are available through Labor Day. Visit rockresorts.com to book.

For more trip-planning info, see our Vail and Beaver Creek Travel Guide.