Dreaming of getting away for a weekend in the big city? Affinia Hotels, a group of seven boutique hotels in three of America's most-visited cities, has announced a three-day sale that will run January 11 to 13. Nightly rates start as low as $89, and are valid on stays through March 31 at Affinia properties in Chicago, Washington, DC, and New York City. The hotels boast central locations and roomy accommodations, including suites with kitchens and outdoor terraces, which can be hard to find in urban hotels.
At the newly-renovated Affinia Manhattan, in the heart of midtown, studios and suites all have kitchens, and guests can easily walk to hot spots such as the Empire State Building, Times Square and Broadway. During the sale, nightly rates start at $139, a discount of nearly 40% when compared to the lowest best available rates. When we price-checked a Saturday night stay in January, rates started at $234 a night. Similar discounts can be found at Affinia locations in Chicago (sale rate starts at $89 a night) and DC (from $109 a night).
Interested? Bide your time for a few more days, since sale rates can only be booked January 11 to 13. Blackout dates and other restrictions may apply. Book online or call 866/246-2203
and use promo code JAN3DY.
If you're going to be flying over the Christmas week, you can connect with loved ones more easily thanks to Skype. The VOIP service is offering one free hour of wi-fi at over 50 US airports between December 21 and December 27. You can use Skype WiFi to make voice and video calls to computers for free and to landlines and mobile phones using Skype credit.
You can take advantage of the offer if you've got a PC, Mac or iOS device (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch) and a Skype account, which is free. Make sure you have the
latest version of Skype, then sign in using a wireless connection in a supported hotspot, and you're good to go.
The offer is available in more than 50 major airports, including JFK, LaGuardia and Newark in the New York City area, Boston's Logan
Aiport, Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports, Jackson Hole, and
Miami. For a full list, see the interactive map.
'Tis the season for shopping and school concerts and holiday parties and frazzled nerves. If the crazies have hit and you're dreaming about an escape, listen up: Hilton Hotels is running The December Sale, which promises savings of up to 33% at participating Hilton properties around the globe when you book by New Year's Day and stay before January 8, 2012.
Turns out that "savings of up to 33%" doesn't mean you'll always be able to chop a third off your hotel bill. When we test-booked the offer at two family-friendly properties, we found actual savings hovering closer to 20%. At the Embassy Suites Washington D.C. at the Chevy Chase Pavilion, which boasts a location directly on the Metro Red Line, a two-bedroom suite runs $127 a night, which is a savings of 20% off the best available nightly rate of $159. Want something warmer? Take a look at the Grand Vacation Suites at Sea World. At that all-suite resort, we found December Sale nightly rates that were also 20% less than the best available rate: $119 for a one-bedroom suite and $199 for a two-bedroom suite (compared to best available rates of $149 and $249, respectively).
As always, there's plenty of fine print. The rates are non-refundable, full payment is due at the time of booking, there's a seven-day advance purchase requirement, and blackout dates may apply. Book online or call 800/HILTONS.
Feel like a plush holiday getaway in the big city right about now? The Ritz-Carlton Chicago, located on the Windy City's Magnificent Mile, offers lush rooms and suites with marble bathrooms, twice-daily housekeeping service, and a full-service spa. Families are welcomed into the
mix with an indoor pool, babysitting services, complimentary baby gear (think bottles, strollers, diapers), special in-room amenities for kids, and the option for an in-room campout with a kids' tent and s'mores. This month, the hotel rolls out the red carpet for the holidays with dive-in holiday movies and cookie-baking for the kids. Also on the table through December 31: a Third Night Free offer.
The offer lists starting nightly rates of $233 after the third night credit is applied. The room rates are the same with and without the offer, which means this is a straightforward 33% savings. We found a superior room—the least expensive room category—with a nightly rate of $350 in December. With the third night free offer, a three-night stay will cost $700 instead of $1,050, effectively reducing the nightly rate to the advertised $233.
Got an only child? This offer is right up your alley. For the rest of us, not so much. The Ritz's least pricey rooms are limited to families of two adults and one child under 18. A family of four would have to book a suite, the least expensive of which is an executive suite at $495 a night. With the offer, the tab would come to $990 instead of nearly $1,500, bringing the nightly rate to $330. But that's still nearly $100 more a night than the superior room category.
Even though this offer does translate into savings of a solid 33% off regular room rates, families of four or more will still pay a minimum of $330 a night. Yet if you're looking for an upscale family city getaway, this promo does deliver it for less. Restrictions apply; book online or call 800/621-6906 and ask for the "Third Night Free" offer.
Racking your brain for the perfect present for a special family? Consider giving the gift of travel.
We're giving away a $500 gift certificate for Tauck Bridges, the leader in guided family travel. Tauck is known for putting together inclusive, fun family vacations for every age to enjoy together in the
United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe and Africa. Tauck Bridges family
travel adventures are all about shared enrichment and inclusive value,
meticulously planned and seamlessly orchestrated so all vacation plans
and details are handled for you so your family enjoys ease of family
travel.
To enter, visit our Facebook page. You can enter through December 17, 2011.
On your marks, get set, shop! While you're online today, take advantage of the great travel sales to land a great deal on a family vacation for 2012. Here's a round-up
of great Cyber Monday sales:
What's better in the Bahamas? Savings, for starters. Save $450 on an air-inclusive package when you visit Bahamas.com, select the resort of your choice and use the promo code CYBER450 to receive an instant savings on an air-and-hotel package. Travel must be completed by February 29, 2012.
Frontier Airlines is slashing 10% off every airfare today. Use promo code CYBER10.
Alaska Airlines is offering fares as low as $40 each way for travel December through February.
Orbitz's weekend sale is still on, offering 50% savings at popular hotels in destinations such as Orlando, San Diego, New York, Miami and Hawaii.
Marriott is holding a Cyber Monday sale for savings of 25% at select Florida resorts for stays through January 8, 2012.
Shell Vacations Hospitality's Black Friday sale continues, promising up to 50% in savings at its 23 family resorts in the US, Canada and Mexico.
DirectAir is having a BOGO sale through today: Buy one ticket, get one free! Good for airfare through September 2012.
Funjet's
weekend sale showcases the 10 best deals of the season,
promising big savings on vacations in Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii and
Las Vegas when you travel through February 6, 2012.
In Southern California, save 35% through today at the plush Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Like to ski? Liftopia.com's sale runs through today and offers up to 81% off lift ticket packages for your next ski vacation.
Today between 9am and 9pm EST, there will be a new deal every three hours at Yuupon.com,
with savings of up to 90% (no, that's not a typo) on vacations to
destinations all over the world. Sign up for their e-mail alerts for an
advance schedule of the sales.
CheapCaribbean.com's Cyber Monday sale promises up to $100 per person in instant savings on trips to Mexico and the Caribbean.
Santa, baby, how about sticking a family vacation under the tree? We've rounded up a selection of great Black Friday travel sales that can help the big guy score a great deal.
CheapCaribbean.com is offering discounts of up to $500 per person on Caribbean packages that include airfare. Sale ends Sunday.
Orbitz is offering 50% savings at popular hotels in destinations such as Orlando, San Diego, New York, Miami and Hawaii. Sale runs through Monday.
Shell Vacations Hospitality's Black Friday special lets you save 50% on vacations at its 23 family resorts in the US, Canada and Mexico.
DirectAir is having a BOGO sale for Black Friday: Buy one ticket, get one free! Good for airfare through September 2012.
BookIt.com's Black Friday specials promise savings of up to 70% on vacations to Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Funjet's Black Friday weekend sale showcases the 10 best deals of the season, promising big savings on vacations in Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii and Las Vegas when you travel through February 6, 2012.
Sterling Resorts is holding its annual blowout sale, with savings of up to 60% on condos at popular beach resorts along Florida's Gulf Coast.
Heading off on a Disney vacation next year? Buy your souvenirs now at the Disney Store and save 50% on top of 20%! Use promo code THANKS.
In Southern California, save 35% through Monday at the plush Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Like to ski? Liftopia.com's sale runs through Monday and offers up to 81% off lift ticket packages for your next ski vacation.
There will be a new deal every hour at Yuupon.com, with savings of up to 90% (no, that's not a typo) on vacations to destinations all over the world. Sign up for their e-mail alerts for an advance schedule of the hourly sales.
One lucky family will soon be packing for the Windy City! We’re excited
to be giving away a two-night stay for a family of four at the
luxurious Swissôtel Chicago,
located where the Chicago River meets Lake Michigan. The prize includes
two nights in a Swissôtel Kids Suite; four VIP access tickets to your
choice of museum (Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, or Adler Planetarium);
breakfast for four in Geneva Restaurant; and complimentary use of the
hotel’s 42nd floor fitness center and pool.
Named to the prestigious T+L 500, Travel + Leisure magazine’s
list of the 500 top hotels in the world, the Swissôtel Chicago is a
four-diamond landmark hotel where luxury meets family-friendly giggles
and grins. Each room at the Swissôtel Chicago features a specialty
Swiss Comfort Bed and a 37-inch high-definition split-screen plasma TV.
The Swissôtel Chicago is blessed with a fantastic address near popular
family attractions, including the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Lincoln
Park Zoo, Adler Planetarium, Navy Pier, the American Girl store and
ESPN Zone. The hotel offers a wonderful array of child-friendly
amenities, including specially designed Kids Suites, a fabulous 42nd
floor pool, and children’s menus at onsite restaurants. Young guests
are treated as VIKs—Very Important Kids with their own VIK check-in
area where they can draw, color, read and play. Each kid receives a
fun-filled welcome packet detailing fun things to see and do in
Chicago, plus kids eat free at the hotel’s Geneva Restaurant.
For a chance to win this family getaway,
just head to our giveaway page. You can enter once a day through December 21, 2011. So come back again tomorrow!
What's better than a family movie night while you're on vacation? A family movie night when the movie is absolutely free! To make a whole lot of family getaways more fun, we're giving away free DVD movie or game rentals from Redbox to 25 (count 'em, 25!) of our Facebook fans.
Step 2. Visit WeJustGotBack.com's wall and click 'share' below our Facebook update about this Redbox giveaway. Share the update on your own Facebook wall.
Step 3.Check in after 5pm EST on Monday, October 31, to see if you're one of our 25 lucky winners. [Note that giveaway period has been extended.]
This giveaway ends at 5pm EST on Monday, October 31, 2011. Winners will be chosen at random using random.org. After the contest period ends, winners will be announced on WeJustGotBack.com's Facebook wall and in an updated version of this post.
Good luck!
-----------------
Update: Congratulations to our winners!
Winners will be contacted on Facebook. Winners, please also email blog@wejustgotback.com so that we can forward your promotion code.
Dreaming of getting away for a weekend in the big city? Affinia Hotels, a group of seven boutique hotels in three of America's most-visited cities, has announced a three-day sale that will run January 11 to 13. Nightly rates start as low as $89, and are valid on stays through March 31 at Affinia properties in Chicago, Washington, DC, and New York City. The hotels boast central locations and roomy accommodations, including suites with kitchens and outdoor terraces, which can be hard to find in urban hotels.
'Tis the season for shopping and school concerts and holiday parties and frazzled nerves. If the crazies have hit and you're dreaming about an escape, listen up: Hilton Hotels is running 
Feel like a plush holiday getaway in the big city right about now? 
On your marks, get set, shop! While you're online today, take advantage of the great travel sales to land a great deal on a family vacation for 2012. Here's a round-up
of great Cyber Monday sales:
Santa, baby, how about sticking a family vacation under the tree? We've rounded up a selection of great Black Friday travel sales that can help the big guy score a great deal.
One lucky family will soon be packing for the Windy City! We’re excited
to be giving away a two-night stay for a family of four at the
luxurious 
Named to the prestigious T+L 500, Travel + Leisure magazine’s
list of the 500 top hotels in the world, the Swissôtel Chicago is a
four-diamond landmark hotel where luxury meets family-friendly giggles
and grins. Each room at the Swissôtel Chicago features a specialty
Swiss Comfort Bed and a 37-inch high-definition split-screen plasma TV.
The Swissôtel Chicago is blessed with a fantastic address near popular
family attractions, including the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Lincoln
Park Zoo, Adler Planetarium, Navy Pier, the American Girl store and
ESPN Zone. The hotel offers a wonderful array of child-friendly
amenities, including specially designed Kids Suites, a fabulous 42nd
floor pool, and children’s menus at onsite restaurants. Young guests
are treated as VIKs—Very Important Kids with their own VIK check-in
area where they can draw, color, read and play. Each kid receives a
fun-filled welcome packet detailing fun things to see and do in
Chicago, plus kids eat free at the hotel’s Geneva Restaurant.
What's better than a family movie night while you're on vacation? A family movie night when the movie is absolutely free! To make a whole lot of family getaways more fun, we're giving away free DVD movie or game rentals from Redbox to 25 (count 'em, 25!) of our Facebook fans.
