Sherman's Travel

After the holidays, we tend to get stuck in winter slumps. For many of us, as the temperatures drop and the sun goes down earlier, we’re left counting down the days until spring. But instead of hiding inside all winter, use the post-holiday months as a time to travel somewhere new, whether it’s to a relaxing beach, a ski resort out West, or Walt Disney World. All of the deals below are valid for travel throughout January – just in time to nip those winter blues in the bud.

January is one of the best months to visit Orlando, especially later in the month, when crowds at the theme parks are down after the holidays, and temperatures are in the perfect mid-70s. Hotels follow suit and dip down in pricing, like the 4-star Melia Orlando Suite Hotel, which starts at just $125 per night in January – a 45 percent savings on high season rates. The Melia is the closest all-suite hotel to the Disney Parks, and includes a full kitchen in each unit, plus a 360 -egree infinity pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and complimentary breakfast. Dozens more 4-star Orlando hotels are available for low rates in January, like the Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orlando – Orange Lake Resort from $80 per night, the Westgate Lakes Resort and Spa from $97 per night, and the Mystic Dunes Resort and Golf Club from $105 per night. Read more

Set in the pristine Wasatch Mountains, the Waldorf Astoria Park City offers luxury accommodations at one of the premier resorts in the nation. Act now to take advantage of the hotel’s very reasonable rates before the holiday rush: Rates range from $135 to $179/night during the fall months but skyrocket to at least $500/night in mid-December. With over $300 in savings, head to the Beehive State before it’s too late!

All guestrooms feature gas fireplaces, flat-screen TVs, iPod docking stations, wireless Internet, and Waldorf Bed and Bedding accompanied by Salvatore Ferragamo bath and amenity products. Onsite dining options include a restaurant, café, dessert bar, and room service.

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New residents of Utah’s ski havens of Park City and Salt Lake City say they came for the winter and stayed for the spring and summer. I got a taste of what they meant on a trip there this month.

The spring is arguably the best time for a recreational skier to visit a few of the seven ski resorts within an hour of the Salt Lake City airport. There’s still snow on the ground, but lodging prices are much lower than in peak season. For example, a room at the exclusive, ski-in/ski-out St. Regis at Deer Valley starts at $199 a night instead of $599 during the height of winter. The rate for a king room drops from $750 to $550 at the Washington School House, a newly renamed and revamped luxurious boutique property that is a stone’s throw from the action on Main Street (and ski-in/ski-out from Park City Mountain Resort). That includes a fine, home-style breakfast and all the après-ski snacks, microbrews, and wine you’d like – a rarity in this resort town.

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The 2012 ski season has kicked into gear, so if you’re looking to hit the slopes with your partner, but are also seeking romantic aprés-ski ambience and excellent dining, here are my suggestions for the best U.S. ski resorts for grown-ups – from the Adirondacks to the Rockies.

Jackson Hole, WY: Combine a funky cowboy-town vibe with world-class resorts – and add in a majestic setting against the stunning Grand Teton peaks – and you have Jackson Hole. Read more

With the heralded Sundance Film Festival just around the corner, many of the top-tier, priced-at-a-premium lodging options in Park City are being snatched up accordingly. However, while everybody else is preoccupied with the holidays, smart travelers can still nab one hard-to-come-by deal that we’ve just come across at the four-star Hyatt Escala Lodge (which SKI Magazine named one of the top resorts in the country in 2010). Their “Movie Madness” rates coincide with the January indie film fest, knocking off 25 percent from their best available rates, effectively slashing standard rates of $399/night to as low as $300/night. Read more

Enjoy a free night’s stay this ski season at a 4-star Park City lodge. Pay as little as $119 per night when you travel now through December 14 and receive your third night free – a savings of 33% on current rates. Or, travel between December 15 and March 31, pay the same rates, and receive the fourth night free – still a 25% savings.

The Hyatt Escala Lodge is a luxury slope-side property owned by the Canyons Resort. It’s located just minutes away from the Park City mountain, which is Utah’s largest ski resort, as well as minutes from charming downtown Park City. Amenities at the resort include ski-in/ski-out access to the mountain, a hot tub and sauna, a fitness center, and free WiFi access.

Book by December 9.

THE VALUE: Get a free night’s stay when you book a room now at this upscale Park City lodge.

THE CATCH: You must book this deal by tomorrow, December 9.

THE DETAILS: Visit the Hyatt Escala Lodge and enter the promotion code SONSEL.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights to Salt Lake City, Utah (35 miles from Park City).

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

This season there are several snow-filled directions to head in to get your ski on. We’ve chosen five of the tip top spots where the spas certainly rival the slopes.

Montage Deer Valley – Deer Valley, Utah
This classic Craftsman resort tucked in to the forested slopes of Utah’s Deer Valley Resort with its ski-in/ski-out access is a truly evocative spot, reminiscent of the great North American mountain lodges from another era.

The resort is a mere 36 miles from Park City International airport and minutes away from the charming and historical town of Park City, the epicenter for cinematic and celeb activity every January with the Sundance Film Festival.

Check in to one of Montage Deer Valley’s 154 guest rooms or spacious 66 suites with gas fireplaces and sweeping mountain views. Then walk out your door and onto the slopes of Deer Valley Resort with its 2,026 acres of skiable terrain on six mountains with 100 exciting trails and an annual drop of 300 inches of fresh powder each year. If you need some ski assistance, simply call the on-site ski-concierge.

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Plan a leaf peeping or early winter getaway with this two-for-one offer from the Sky Lodge in Park City, Utah, a Condé Nast Traveler and Robb Report recognized boutique property. Book a room by October 15 and receive a second night free, cutting the price to just $150 per night! Travel is valid between October 3 and December 15, 2011.

Park City is one of the leading mountain resorts in the country and fall is a great time to visit and take in the breathtaking colors of the changing foliage. There are plenty of activities to keep you occupied, from  hiking in the surrounding trails, riding a bike through the hillside, or strolling along the avenues of Old Town Park City, just steps from the hotel. The picturesque mountain town is also home to not just one but three superb ski resorts, a perfect opportunity for some early season skiing.

After a day of exploration or hitting the slopes, unwind at the hotel’s rooftop bar, Sky Blue, which overlooks the beautiful mountain scenery. Enjoy a hand-crafted cocktail, craft beer and a bite to eat or relax at the fireplace or hot tub while taking in the stunning views.

THE VALUE: With the two-for-one offer, guests save 50% on a  two- night stay at this 4-star property.

THE CATCH: Hurry, you need to book by October 15 to take advantage of this deal.

THE DETAILS: Go to www.theskylodge.com to book, or call 435-658-2500.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates and travel deals on flights.

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

Here you thought skiing was all about, er, skiing. Au contraire! For every libation, there’s a perfect place to imbibe by the slopes.

Beer
Stowe, Vermont
The hills are alive – with the sound of clinking beer steins in Stowe, Vermont. Opened last spring, the brewery at the Trapp Family Lodge (founded by the cele­brated musical family that emi­grated from Austria, www.trappfamily.com) turns out the lagers that Johannes von Trapp enjoyed in his homeland. Try the Golden Helles or Vienna Style Amber.

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