Sherman's Travel

Looking to explore a new country this fall and partake in some adventure? Getaway to Iceland for three nights from October 1-December 15 for only $777 per person. This package costs the same as current rates for round-trip airfare, essentially making the other components of the trip free. Those components include three nights at the 4-star Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura, round-trip airfare from Boston, New York, or Washington, D.C., a day long excursion that includes a glacier ice walk, a northern lights hunt, and a lobster soup dinner, and daily admission to the Natura Hotel’s Soley Spa.

You may dismiss Iceland when brainstorming fall and winter vacations due to it’s chilling name. But Iceland is actually quite mild (a modest monthly average temperature of 39°F-45°F in October-December) compared to other Nordic nations like Norway where temperatures can easily dive below freezing at the end of the year. Fall and winter also make for prime viewing of the aurora borealis which is most vivid around the equinoxes (the fall equinox occurs September 22). 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!

SHERMAN’S EXCLUSIVE

The Luxury Nature lovers would be hard-pressed to find a setting more sublime than Sedona, Arizona: radiant red rocks, green forests, and desert vegetation—all under brilliant blue skies. The luxurious Enchantment Resort encompasses 70 acres at the mouth of Boynton Canyon. Though it’s close to town, the pueblo-style suites are secluded. Resort offerings include fine on-site restaurants, the Native American–themed Mii amo spa, and kid-friendly programs. Guests can also unwind with hiking, tennis, swimming, mountain biking, and golf. Read more

SHERMAN’S EXCLUSIVE

The Luxury Best known as a winter ski destination, Telluride attracts the active crowd in summer, too, with activities like hiking, rock climbing, and horseback riding. The 95-room Capella Telluride serves as an excellent base for outdoor pursuits, providing plush amenities for tired bodies like pillow-top mattresses and marble bathrooms with soaking tubs. When you’ve had your fill of nature for the day, indulge in the Alpine-inspired spa, dine on locally-sourced dishes at the Onyx Restaurant, or sample a local microbrew at the Suede Bar. Read more

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.

Read more

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.

SHERMAN’S EXCLUSIVE

The Luxury Set on a 450,000-acre private nature reserve, set between the Namib Desert and jagged cliffs, the high-end Sossusvlei Desert Lodge consists of just 10 split-level suites built into a mountainside and featuring outdoor showers, fireplaces, and large skylights. The swimming pool is fed by an underground spring, while meals are served by lantern light on the veranda or in “surprise” locations in the surrounding dunes. Read more

Every year, more than 275 million people visit U.S. national parks, with the heaviest crowds descending between June and August. Which means if rafting through the Grand Canyon, hiking in Utah’s Zion National Park, or scaling the Half Dome at Yosemite are on your adventure agenda in the upcoming months, you should definitely keep reading – unless you like battling for a campsite, dodging video cameras, or sharing a trail with shrieking kids.

Still, with some savvy planning, you can still find a way to carve out a slice of solitude during your visit. Here, a few tips on how to avoid the masses at national parks this summer. You’ll leave refreshed, not rattled – just like nature intended. Read more

As we approach the prime season for cruises to Alaska, several cruise lines are drastically reducing rates in a final effort to fill cabins. Holland America is offering a 7-night cruise in an oceanview stateroom starting from $449 – that’s the same price as an interior cabin (no window). This deal – which represents a savings of up to 74 percent – also includes a $50 onboard credit, plus third and fourth passengers can sail for free!

The ms Statendam embarks from Anchorage on May 23 and coasts through breathtaking regions like College Fjord and Glacier Bay before arriving in Haines, a small town that is blessed with rolling hills and ice-capped mountains. Next, the ship calls on Juneau, which offers shore activities like whale-watching, zip-lining, and nature walks. Then, it’s off to Ketchikan, the “Salmon Capital of the World,” followed by a relaxing day at sea before the cruise wraps up in Vancouver.

For more information, visit www.vacationstogo.com (enter your e-mail address to view the itinerary).

A 4,000-acre playground for nature lovers, Morro Bay State Park lets patrons enjoy its undeveloped estuaries and hiking trails day and night. Take advantage of the 3-night, Spring Break Family Escape package at the Inn at Morro Bay, located right on the lush grounds of this state-appointed nature preserve. Until April 30, you and your family can explore the Pacific Coast, the famed California wineries, and much more, from the privileged, and often costly, site of a national and state treasure for as little as $399.
Read more