St. Maarten is home to unspoiled beaches and sparkling aquamarine waters – sheer paradise for those looking to catch some rays and embrace the slow-paced Caribbean lifestyle. Make your dollar go further when visiting the Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino in St. Maarten with this exclusive offer for ShermansTravel.com readers. If booked by December 19, guests can stay seven nights in a suite, but only pay for six when traveling between January 2 and March 31. With rates starting at $245/night, this package includes a boat ride excursion for two to Tintamarre and Pinel islands complete with snorkeling, lunch, and beverages. Also featured in this deal is dinner for two on the beach or private terrace with a custom menu, a trip to picturesque Orient Beach, and a fully-stocked fridge of locally-made rum and liquor. The kicker? With this package, ShermansTravel.com readers can save over $1,800! When booking, be sure to use the promo code: SHERMT.

Located in Washington State, Olympic National Park’s beauty abounds with rushing streams, crystal-clear lakes, snow-capped mountain peaks, and a wilderness quite unlike any other. Immerse yourself in this serene setting and let Lake Quinault Lodge take care of the accommodations. The lodge, which retains a rustic yet contemporary ambiance, is offering ShermansTravel.com readers an exclusive offer that cuts 25 percent off the cost of a two-night stay. For travel through December 30, those who book their first night at the regular $109 rate will receive their second night for just $54.50. Lodge amenities include a sauna, heated indoor swimming pool, and endless outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, boating, and fishing. When booking this offer online, be sure to use the promo code: LQBOGO09.

Downtown Miami’s new Hotel Urbano bills itself as the city’s first boutique “art hotel” with an exhibit schedule directed by William Braemer, artist and Curator of Art Fusion Galleries in Miami’s Design District, who will plan seasonal art exhibitions to be displayed throughout the hotel; artwork – all from emerging artists – will also be available for purchase. An unofficial opening date is predicted for late December, but Hotel Urbano is really giving us something to look forward to in 2010 with their Grand Opening special. From January 1 through January 29, the hotel is offering rates from only $20.10 for the first night when booking two or more nights. The special includes a complimentary welcome cocktail, buffet breakfast, and the chance to win a piece of art valued at $2,010. Rates for the remaining nights go for $159. To book this deal, call 888-657-3448 or visit hotelurbano.com and use code SPECIAL.

Mexico’s unique culture and climate proves to be irresistible for American travelers looking to enjoy some rest and relaxation. And why shouldn’t it? After all, it’s home to marvelous sites, top-notch resorts, and favorable currency exchange rates. Make your dollar go further this winter at the four-star Ixtapan Spa Hotel and Golf Resort. Currently, this resort is offering an incredible Spa Classic package priced from just $616 per person that is sure to leave your skin silky smooth.

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Visit Beantown in style this fall and winter without paying a pretty penny. Ames, Morgans Hotel Group’s brand-new luxury boutique hotel in downtown Boston, is celebrating its grand-opening with special introductory rates starting at just $124/night for select stays from November 22 to January 31 – quite a bargain considering nightly summer rates are expected to be as much as $300/night. Also included in this offer are two complimentary welcome drinks. This introductory rate requires a minimum two-night stay and must be booked by December 2. Other travel dates through April 5 start at $146/night. To book this offer, call 800-697-1791 and mention promotion code SPMO25, or visit www.morganshotelgroup.com.

King Tutankhamun, the young famous Egyptian pharaoh who reigned for just nine years before dying unexpectedly, left a legacy that is still alive and well today – three thousand years later. For a limited time only, the de Young Museum in San Francisco is showcasing the Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibit – a magnificent collection of over 130 artifacts and works of art taken right out of the boy-king’s tomb. Amateur Egyptologists who don’t have the time or money to jet off to Africa might want to consider the excellent Mummy and Me package currently being offered by the Fairmont San Francisco. For $249/night, guests will receive overnight accommodations at the landmark hotel, two VIP tickets to the King Tut exhibition (a $65 value) which can be used any time – even on dates sold out to the public, as well as two Egyptian Sunrise cocktails in the hotel’s Laurel Court Restaurant and Lounge. This offer expires on March 28, 2010.

Slated to open December 16, the ARIA Resort & Casino has a little extra pizzazz, boasting a 150,000-square-foot casino, and 4,004 stylish guestrooms complete with 42-inch flat-screen televisions, stocked mini bars, soft, luxurious linens, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Sounds heavenly, right? If you’re a penny-pincher and don’t want to sacrifice on the quality of accommodations when visiting Sin City, you’ll definitely want to check out ARIA’s great introductory rates which start at just $159/night. From December 17 through April 1, 2010, guests who stay two nights at the modern resort will receive $75 resort credit which can be used at the 80,000-square-foot spa, any one of the 13 eateries, as well as other activities and services. Other resort amenities include three pools, nine bars and lounges, and a Cirque du Soleil production celebrating the musical legacy of Elvis Presley.

As if you need some convincing to see the bright lights of New York City, the soon-to-be-renamed Portland Square Hotel is getting a major makeover in spring 2010. By next fall it will re-open as the Sanctuary Hotel – a boutique hotel located in the heart of Times Square with rates starting at $309/night. A bit out of your price range? Don’t worry, little do people know, the hotel has already remodeled nine of the 125 rooms and is allowing guests to test out the four-star accommodations without the four-star price tag – at a special “dress rehearsal” rate of just $159/night until March 31, 2010.

The new guestrooms feature luxurious European linens, plasma televisions, and iPod docking stations. The overhaul also calls for exposed brick or metal beams in some rooms, as well as open-plan bathrooms and rain showerheads.

Guests who book a refurbished room at the low preview rate of $159/night and then offer the hotel feedback will receive a $50 credit towards a future stay.

If you’re interested in booking this dress rehearsal rate, visit www.portlandsquarehotel.com and use the code “DRESS1” or call 212-382-0600.

Fort Lauderdale is home to sun, sand, surf, and sumptuous spas – four things we can’t get enough of. The Atlantic Hotel is currently promoting a spa package that gives new meaning to the phrase “treated like a king and queen.” Valid until December 31, this package includes a complimentary upgrade to a Grande Deluxe Oceanfront guest room with private balcony, as well as 20 percent off all spa services. To top if off, guests will receive $100 spa credit per day. Take your pick from basic facials to full body scrubs and wraps. Rates start from $259/night.

If you’re looking to break away from traditional Christmas celebrations here in the States, consider spending the holiday in a stunning castle in Ireland. Situated on 350 lush acres in County Mayo on the banks of Lough Corrib, Ireland’s second-largest lake, the five-star Ashford Castle is offering ShermansTravel.com readers an exclusive package that is sure to make this year’s Christmas more memorable than ever.

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