Vacationist

Gone are the days where you have to wait for the Sunday paper to get the coupons that could lead to savings.  Now we get daily coupons emailed to our inbox in form of restaurant deals, spa deals and (right up our alley) travel deals.  Even the high-end places are getting into it.  Well Vacationist is a new one I have found.  

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Hotel Raito Vietri sul Mare, Italy Just east of the famous ceramics town of Vietri sul Mare, the Raito's wide tiled terraces and stately eggshell-colored buildings can be seen looming above the Mediterranean amid citrus and olive groves. The hotel makes the most of its location; its three restaurants, two alfresco swimming pools, and spa all have stunning panoramic sea views. So do many of the 77 sleek, high-ceilinged guest rooms, which are crisply upholstered in white and nautical blue.

Ace Hotel New York New York, New York Just as the Ace arrived on the northern edge of Manhattan's Flatiron District, its host neighborhood was being named by critics and real estate agents: NoMad, or "North of Madison Park." Taking over a once seedy hotel from the early 1900s, the Breslin, Ace New York brought in downtown edge with 260 modern and masculine spacious rooms, paying tribute to the area with its own "outside-the-box" cool: guest bathrobes are "boxing robes" (the basement used to be a boxing ring) and closets are simply garment racks (homage to the nearby Garment District).

La Plage Resort Taormina, Italy "The Beach" occupies the triangle of land between the coastal railroad tracks and the bathtub-size bay of Isola Bella, a taxi, bus, or cable-car ride from the town of Taormina, high on the cliff above. Overhauled in 2010, it is a five-star resort with nine rooms and suites and 52 tiny villas, all with soft, clean white lines and wood and wicker appointments. Enjoy bay views from inside the Italian-Asian Fusion Restaurant, or brave the mosquitoes for a romantic table on the terrace.

The people who bring you Travel and Leisure magazine operate Vacationist, which is one of my favorite travel magazines.  There are 3 sections:  vacationist, luxury link and family getaways.  I have been watching it for the last month.  The deals have a wide range.  There is stuff on there that is still light years out of my price range and other places that are amazing deals, places that I would otherwise not be able to consider.  For example, I have seen 5 star hotels for $100 a night for a suite in many major cities across the US and Europe.  That is a pretty good deal.  Right now there are lots of places in warm climates and Europe, but there are also amazing looking resorts in Turkey and S.E. Asia.  Make sure to read the fine print for blackout dates and expiration dates, but all in all it is worth signing up for to watch for great deals on hotels that may pop up in a destination where you were planning a vacation.  You might just get a glimpse of what is like to vacation in luxury for a price that will fit your budget.  Now that is what I call a deal.

Extra tip:  You have to be accepted or invited by friends to join.  Then invite friends and get $25 for each friend who joins.  I am a member so  use my name to join (Susan Molloy)and tell them Don't Forget Your Undies sent you!

Living Social's vacation coupons

We are now living in the world where we get coupons on line.  We get coupons to Barnes and Noble, Bed, Bath and Beyond and every other major chain around.    But I a big fan of coupons for social activities like Groupon and livingsocial.  

If you don’t know what these sites are you should check them out.  They are fantastic because you can get spa deals, restaurant deals, classes and many other things at sometimes majorly discounted prices and it’s free to join.  You can sign up for any city that they offer.  So that is great if you are going on vacation or a weekend getaway.  You can get a coupon to get a massage in Boston when you are there for the weekend or 50% off at a restaurant in London that you heard about. 

Well, livingsocial.com is now offering weekly “Escapes”.  I have been watching over the last several weeks and some of the deals are great.  They have deals for places that are within driving distance as well as those that would require you to fly.  They just had one for a Mexican resort (Mayan Riveiera) for 5 nights, 2 people for $900.  The resort looked amazing (they have lots of pictures) and you can usually get a cheap flight to Mexico.  This week they have resort deals in the Dominican Republic, Florida and California as well as some other great places like Vail and Virginia.  I haven’t committed to anything yet because I have my next off-the-beaten-track vacation planned for February.  (The hint:  it is a South American Country with no time change and a travel time of about 5 hours.  I will share after the holidays) But, if you are looking for a discounted getaway, check out livingsocial.com.  You might just find a bargain that gives you the much needed break you deserve.

They currently have discounts for the US, UK, Ireland, Australia and Canada.