Hyatt Gives Away Vacation Via Twitter

Twitter. You know you want to know what's going on with it. And now you have an excuse -- you want to win a free, paid vacation to the Hyatt Regency Tamaya.

That's right. It's "social media FTW" time; Twitter isn't just for nerds who like to engage with the world in bursts of 140-character, pedantic (and sometimes snarky) messages. It's for people who like to win vacations too!

What can you win? Excellent question. How about a 3-night stay for two persons in a luxury suite at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya, airport transportation, daily breakfast, one dinner, two spa visits and 18 holes of golf (or a trail ride; if you select the latter, just sell me your golf.)

Now, of course, there is kind of a catch. See, you have to have a Twitter account (duh) and you have to provide your Twitter name, Twitter password (boo), email address (quadruple boo) and your name.

The Twitter password isn't a huge deal because basically, the Twitter-Contest page will just automatically tweet the news that you entered the contest, which I believe is a requirement. What creeps me out is the email address ... because I have a hunch that you might suddenly be getting some Hyatt newsletters. Of course, I'm much too lazy to read the terms and conditions, but I bet if I did, there would be something about opting-in found within the small print.

However, if you like free stuff and you don't care about emails relating to Hyatt hotels, hit it up. What's the worst that can happen? (Answer: Spam! Upside: Free vacation!)

FareFinder: Wednesday April 29

Miley Cyrus (aka, Hannah Montana) and Atlantis, Paradise Island are teaming up for the "Miley Cyrus Weekend in Paradise" package, which includes accommodations and tickets to an exclusive Miley Cyrus concert on May 16. Rates start at $499 per person, $209 per child (ages 11 years and under). No word on whether Jaimie Foxx is scheduled to appear.

Princess Cruises' Escape the Economy sale going on now. Offers include 2-for-1 deals on select cruises and free upgrades.

The state of Colorado wants you to visit, so much so that the state's tourism board has launched HOTDEALSCOLORADO.com, providing vacationers easy access to more than 250 great vacation deals from throughout the state.

Your weekly Continental.com last-minute airfare deals include roundtrip airfare from Houston to Acapulco for $159. Combine that with some really great deals on hotels and you've got a cheap vacation all set.

Delta.com's weekly web fares include LA or San Francisco to Kennedy for $99 each way.

FareFinder: Tuesday, April 21

MSC Cruises has rolled out its lineup of Theme Cruises, which include a Baseball Greats cruise, Golf cruises and cooking cruises. Also, the cruise line's Balcony Bonanza promotion for European sailings has been extended through May 31.

Aer Lingus Vacations is offering an Ultimate Affordable Luxury package that includes roundtrip business class airfare to Dublin, six nights in a suite at the Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt, full-size rental car for a week with unlimited mileage and GPS Navigation, dinner at celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's restaurant at Powerscourt and more for $2,999 per person.

Your Continental.com last-minute airfare specials for the week, plus some from JetBlue and Delta.com.

Last-minute cruise special from Royal Caribbean: Three-night Bahamas cruise departing Miami on Friday for $249, or a seven-night Caribbean cruise departing San Juan on Saturday (disembark in Norfolk, VA) for $549.

FareFinder: Tuesday, April 14

Walt Disney World offers up The Magical Mother’s Day Weekend Package, starting at $499, and includes three-day/two-night stay at the Swan and Dolphin Resort, a 50-minute Swedish massage for mom and more.

The Buckingham Hotel in NYC offering two art lover's packages, one for the Museum of Modern Art and another for The Museum of Arts and Design. Each include accommodations and tickets to museums and start at $249 a night.

Princess Cruises offering specials on its 12-day Emerald Isles & Russian Splendors May sailings onboard its Tahitian Princess, starting at $799 with promo code UEF. Ask an agent for details.

Your weekly Continental.com airfare specials.

Starting June 28, Southwest Airlines flies from LaGuardia to Chicago for $89 each way and Baltimore/D.C. for $49 each way. And the flights are filling up fast.

FareFinder: Thursday, April 2

Time sensitive special from JetBlue: $14 flights from San Fran to JFK or Long Beach. Today only, so act quick. If you miss that deal, then check out their Spring Sale, which also ends today.

InterContinental Chicago offering a baseball lover's special that includes accommodations, rooftop seating across from Wrigley Field and an open bar for $249 per night, per couple. That and other specials available online.

Southwest Airlines redesigns its Special Offers page. And by the way, it has really good specials through Monday.

Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard in L.A. offering a "Doggy & Me" package that includes accommodations in a Junior Executive Suite on the Spa Level, in-room massage for guest and their four-legged loved one, dog treats specially created by OnSunset restaurant’s Executive Chef and more for $575 a night.

FareFinder: Tuesday, March 31

Spring is here, which means golf season is, too. Marriott Vacations and the Faldo Golf Institute are offering “Class Is In” packages starting at $955 for 3-Day Golf Schools and $635 for 2-Day Golf Schools, which includes villa accommodations, personalized instruction and three rounds of championship golf in Orlando or Palm Desert, CA.

In honor of its 50-year celebration, the four-star Caravelle Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is offering 50% off hotel rates through 2009 when you book your stay online in the month of May.

Your weekly, last-minute airfare specials from Continental.com and Delta.com for the week.

Carnival Cruise Lines' summer sales include $50-$120 in onboard credit for select Caribbean cruises.

Last-minute cruise deals on Royal Caribbean International ships include a five-night western Caribbean sailing for as little as $349.

FareFinder: Friday March 27

Love breakfast? The good people at the Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau have a slew of breakfast-themed hotel packages for you.

Vail Resorts offering three- and six-night all-inclusive "Epic Summer" vacation deals that include tours with experienced guides, accommodations in Keystone or Breckenridge, transportation to/from Denver International Airport and all meals.

Speaking of Colorado, The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs is touting a Spring Break for Families package that starts at $85 per person, per night, that includes discounts and resort credit for multiple night stays.

Mandarin Oriental, Riveria Maya, offering a five-night beach package for $2,170 through November, which is $60 less per night than their Web-advertised "Delight" special. Need to call hotel at 52-984-877-3888 or toll free in the United States at 1-866-585-8575.

FareFinder: Monday March 23

(Ed. Note: This was scheduled to run on Thursday, and we apologize for the delay. My bad.)

Golf.VisitNC.com offers a sweepstakes for golf lovers. Enter to win the dream golf getaway now through March 31.

Radisson Edwardian's 12 hotels in London and Manchester are offering an Advance Purchase promotion, which gives you 20% off the best available rate.

Divi Carina Bay Resort & Casino in beautiful St. Croix offering specials during the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience, which is April 14-18.

South African Airways once again offering its "Planes, Trains and Safarimobiles" special for September, which is basically a 10-day all-inclusive vacation in South Africa (airfare, most meals, accommodations, tours, etc.), for $2,999 plus tax.

FareFinder: Thursday, March 12

Divi Resorts offering a five-day Girlfriend Getaway Package at its Little Bay Beach Resort on St. Maarten starting at $585, which includes a $100 spa treatment, a $50 gift certificate at the resort’s on-site jewelry store and a $100 boat trip to island-hop over to St. Barthelemy for the day.

MSC Cruises extending its Caribbean Spring Sale aboard the MSC Liricia's March 24 and April 13 eastern Caribbean sailings. Interior cabins start at $60 per person, per day for the 10-day itineraries. Plus, kids sail for free when traveling with two adults.

Last-minute airfare deals on Continental and Delta for this weekend.

With March Madness one week away, tickets are still available for 2009 NCAA Tournament games in Greensboro, NC (first and second rounds) and Indianapolis, IN (Sweet 16 and Elite Eight).

FareFinder: Tuesday, March 10

Professional Travel Guide and Apple Vacations offer you the best all-inclusive vacations in Mexico.

Southwest Airlines has unveiled its Spring Fever Sale with deals starting at $39 each way.

VegasPassport.com offering a $99 Bachelors Package that includes admission to the hottest clubs in Las Vegas.

Sonoma Valley Sommelier Experience Package includes three nights at the The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, meals, wine tastings and more.

The San Diego CVB is rolling out the red carpet for those looking for a stress-free Spring Break trip, including hotel specials, packages, attraction discounts and more.

FareFinder: Thursday, March 5

Sceptre Tours offering 6-night Ireland getaway at Blarney Golf Resort for as little as $599, including airfare.

Ridiculous Hawaii travel deals from Blue Sky Tours include four nights for two at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa for under $1,200.

Did you miss JetBlue's one-day sale? Here are some alternatives from Continental and Delta.

Speaking of JetBlue, they've just discounted some of their vacation packages with the new "Beachy Keen" promotion.

And while it's not a FareFinder, I pass along this contest: If you're looking for a vacation home on the cheap while helping the non-profit Veterans Retreat, check out this raffle for a 850-sq-ft Miami condo overlooking Star Island.

FareFinder: Thursday, February 26

Sandals Resorts offering last-minute getaways, including four nights in the Bahamas for as little as $2,100.

Hurtigruten slashes prices on 17- to 21-day Greenland cruises, including airfare from NYC.

In response to AirTran specials, airlines rush to discount competing fares. Case in point: this Continental flight from Raleigh-Durham to Newark-Liberty.

Five-star Dolder Grand Hotel in Zurich celebrates it re-opening anniversary with buy-one, get-one up to four nights.

Today is Carnival Cruise Line's one-day sale. Specials include a 5-day Caribbean cruise from Galveston for $279.

FareFinder Extra: Summer price wars beginning early

It's no secret that the airline industry is hurting for business. More and more airlines are slashing prices and offering weekly specials and Web fares.

Now, according to the Associated Press, Atlanta-based AirTran Airways is about to jump-start a price war that will give consumers even more of a reason to fly:

In a sign of great uncertainty about demand for air travel this year amid the deep U.S. recession, discount carrier AirTran Airways launched a fare sale to all its destinations Tuesday for flights through the middle of the fall. ... AirTran, a unit of Orlando, Fla.-based AirTran Holdings Inc., said its sale fares, starting as low as $39 one-way, are available for purchase through March 5 for travel through Nov. 4. The biggest discounts are for travel on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

According to the story, American, Continental, United, US Airways and Delta "quickly matched on routes where they compete with AirTran, and JetBlue said it would do the same."

Coupled with deep discounts from hoteliers, cruise lines and other industry services, there might not be a better time to travel.

FareFinder: February 10

With poor economy comes great responsibility. Or something ridiculous like that. Farefinder brings the best deals around the web to lighten the travel weight on your wallet. 

Continental.com specials for the week

Southwest Airlines Yes You Can! sale offers $49 one-way flights

NCL's Freestyle Resolution: Up to $250 on-board credit and $99 sailings

Princess Cruises continues its Balcony Bonanza deals

Single in NYC? Mandarin Oriental has a plan

Tips for traveling in a bad economy

Ramsey Qubein is Travelin' Light's on-the-road correspondent.

If your travels follow the direction of your bank statement, then read quickly and look South. The economic instability of the United States is not isolated to this great land. Over the past few weeks, the long-inflated Euro (to the dollar) has softened providing an ease on the pocketbook for American travelers while the Southern Hemisphere has become an amazing bargain seemingly overnight.

But, there are other destinations that provide more bang for the buck. While they require a bit more effort to reach, they can prove to be big money savers once one arrives. South African Airways and Delta Air Lines both fly nonstop to the African continent and frequently offer discounts (especially from Washington DC and New York where the competition is intense). South America often sees deals emerging from New York and Miami among other cities.

South Africa is the perfect example. As I write this post, the rand is 10 to the dollar, providing an incredible value. We’re talking an entire steak dinner (including an obligatory South African Meritage) for under $10!!! Add up local transportation costs, local hotel rates, and souvenirs and you arrive at a reasonable figure that competes with a European vacation while offering the cache and distinction of a more exotic locale. Imagine perusing the safari lands outside Johannesburg or strolling the V&A Waterfront of Cape Town for only a fraction of the cost. Now is the time to go.

Try a side trip to Namibia for the day or even for a few nights. The local currency is equally priced, and the locals are amazingly welcoming.

Another locale is the incredibly romantic confines of Buenos Aires where the economic instability has yet to catch up leaving prices severely undercut for the American traveler. The Australian Dollar is similar with record lows to the dollar equaling huge savings for Americans.

Even sunny Aruba has gotten in on the action with discounted fares and creative packages to lure Americans closer. They count on almost 70% of their inbound tourism as Americans meaning that when the USA has a cold, Aruba can quickly develop pneumonia so look south for vacation plans this year!

Airstream Campers: the perfect vegas vacation

Though people generally think of RVing as being reserved for Griswald-esque family vacations, there's one brand that, quite simply, has always been cool. The Airstream dates all the way back to the 1930s when Hawley Bowlus (chief designer for Charles Lindbergh's "The Spirit of St. Louis") came up with the original design, which was then perfected, renamed and mass-produced by Wally Byam in the form we know today.

But enough with the history lesson, you're perfectly capable of reading Wikipedia yourself. The Airstream found a new ritzy home when the KOA (Kampgrounds of America) location at the Circus Circus in Las Vegas started renting the trailers out for the night.

Under a new promotion with Kampgrounds of America, hipsters and nostalgia
buffs can stay in a new, 27-foot Airstream — the aluminum-sheathed,
aircraft-inspired travel trailer that's been a king of the American road since
the 1930s and a favorite of such Hollywood stars as Matthew McConaughey.

Ten of Airstream's Flying Cloud models, which sleep up to four and retail
for an average $53,000, are available at KOA's Circus Circus campground. Five more at KOA's location in Sugarloaf Key, Fla. (near Key West) rent for $170-$220 a night, and the program will be expanded to Bar Harbor, Maine, in May.

Normally, everyone should be strongly opposed to following any example set by Matthew McConaughey (we'd've all been better off if his entire career was confined to Dazed and Confused... I mean, seriously... The Wedding Planner... Fool's Gold?), but these trailers are new and improved.

They've got contemporary interiors with halogen lights and flat-screens. Not to mention the rental includes Adirondack chairs and a couple of plastic pink flamingos. Next time you're headed to Sin City, consider spending a few nights in an Airstream, they're cheaper than most of the hotels on the strip and make for a more memorable vacation than an Econo Lodge.

FareFinder: Wednesday, January 7

We love celebrities almost as much as we love travel deals. Just imagine our joy when found a combination of the two:

Concert at Sea: Carnival Cruise Lines's March 27 sojourn to Cabo is gonna be rocking. Literally. John Mayer (okay, "rock" is a stretch), as well as a host of other musicians will perform on board the Carnival Splendor when it docks in Cabo. No word on whether Jennifer Aniston will make an appearance. Cabins available through January 31.

Canadian wilderness tour: The luxury tour group Horizon & Co. is offering discounted rates and free airfare for booking its 8-day Great River Journey by January 15. The only catch is that you must take the tour in June.

Jet-set with JetBlue: Weekly airfare deals for the unencumbered (i.e. Can get away from the kids, job, wife, etc.) are all over the place. JetBlue's weekly specials include flights between Long Beach and Vegas for $39 each way, West Palm and Newark Liberty for $84 each way and JFK and Phoenix for $129 each way. Book by January 14.

Aruba resort deal: A PTG Editor's Pick, the Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa is offering the Larimar Spa Package, which includes accommodations for two guests for four, five or seven nights and choice of spa treatments or rounds of golf based on number of nights. Rates starting at $2,375 and available through April 18.

Photo cred: E! Online

United Sells Planes to Raise Cash

Airlines, among many industries, have struggled with cash flow problems since the economy began roiling early in the year. While many companies have turned to downsizing, cancelling programs or reducing inflated corporate salaries, United Airlines has taken a different approach.

In a move to increase the airline's cash flow, United has sold 15 Boeing 757s to East Shore Aircraft for $150 million.

United will lease the planes back from East Shore, continuing to operate and maintain them.

Although other airlines have not yet gone as far as United (i.e. selling planes), they've all made strides in 2008 to increase their liquidity in anticipation of reduced air travel. So far, they're predictions have been accurate and their preparations have paid off with airlines across the board reporting significant slows in traffic throughout October and November.

While no one wants to think about splurging at a time like this, the fact is, there's no better time to travel. Airfare, which is usually one of the most expensive parts of any vacation, should slowly fall with decreased demand. Last-minute deals to major cities in the U.S. and overseas should get even cheaper and more frequent. Additionally, the economic trouble in Europe has allowed the dollar to regain some of it's lost value. So before you write off a 2009 vacation, consider that it may be the most affordable time to travel in the past several years.

FareFinder: Key West Coupon Craze

We're all about the specials and deals here at FareFinder. So imagine my delight when this email from Key West, Florida landed in the Farefinder inbox:

The Florida Keys & Key West tourism council has launched a program designed to enhance visitors' vacations through a wide variety of value-added offers from Keys lodging entities, restaurants, attractions, watersports operators, dive excursions, charter fishing boats and other businesses.

"No doubt, many travel consumers are seeking vacation experiences that maximize their dollar during these unsettled times," said Keys tourism council director Harold Wheeler. "Our 'ValuCation' program makes vacationers aware of Keys incentives during traditionally peak travel periods."

Coupons range from nice ($2 off admission to numerous local attractions, BOGO -- "Buy One, Get One" -- at restaurants and bars) to sweet (discounted room rates at the four-star Sheraton Suites Key West, for one) to cool (one night free accommodations for each day you book a fishing charter). It's not a tremendous boon to the wallet, but at the same time, every dollar counts.

FareFinder: Continental.com discounts make Weekend Warriors happy

Continental.com offers special eDeals on its Web site for weekend travelers, and depending on your preferred destination, there are some good airfares to be had directly from the airline.

Continental offers Saturday through Monday/Tuesday tickets on the cheap roundtrips for selected cities each week, mostly traveling out of the their main hub in Newark, which also serves the New York City region and Houston, with a majority of these fares falling in the $119 to $179 range.

This week's specials include:

Houston to West Palm for $179
Newark, NJ to Montreal for $128
Houston to New Orleans for $119
Newark, NJ to Greensboro for $119

There are about two dozen deals this week, which change on a weekly basis, so keep an eye out, but as always, Farefinder will keep you updated when more hot deals come down the pipeline.