We’ve said it before, but in this era of great deals, it’s worth repeating: Get to know the tourist boards. If you want to go to a destination—say, Hawaii—but don’t know yet where to stay, check out the web site of the area’s tourist board or CVB (Convention and Visitors Board) to look for local deals.

Exhibit A: The Kauai Visitors Bureau has just posted a list of spring specials for island hotels and some activities. It's an impressive collection, featuring both big brand names and smaller spots, and lots of family-friendly condos.  We found a few solid deals, including:

• 36% off at the Castle Makahuena at Poipu, on the island’s southernmost tip. These oceanfront, one-, two- and three-bedroom condos have kitchens, washer-dryers and access to pools and barbecues. We saw special rates starting at $169 a night for a two-bedroom unit.
• free nights at the Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation, a 35-acre garden resort right by the beach, which offers condos with kitchens, daily housekeeping, and two on-site restaurants if you’d rather not cook. The Kausi Vistors Bureau site promises rates starting at $205 a night, but when we checked it out, it got even better. Turns out that every third night is free.
• $10 and a free t-shirt if you book a rafting, catamaran or whale-watching tour with Captain Andy’s Sailing Adventures. It's not a huge break, but if you want to do something like this anyway, why not save $10 a head (which often amounts to about 10 percent) and get a free souvenir shirt, too.