Escape The Cold With These Warm-Weather Travel Deals

By Kaeli Conforti
February 26, 2014
Hilton Hawaiian Village
Courtesy Hilton Hawaiian Village

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for spring. With more snow on the way this weekend for parts of the northeast, nothing sounds better right now than a quick getaway to somewhere—anywhere!—that is warm. Here, we've rounded up some great vacation deals, hotel specials, and travel sales to help you thaw out this winter.

Hawaii

• Picture yourself relaxing on the beautiful, legendary shores of Waikiki Beach. Hilton Hawaiian Village on Hawaii's island of Oahu (pictured above), is offering room rates from $199 a night, with access to Waikiki Starlight Luau, five luxurious swimming pools, and the longest waterslide in Waikiki. You'll also be able to try your hand at playing the ukulele or dancing the hula during your stay.

• The Plantation Inn in Maui is offering more than 20 percent off with their "Moment in Time" package. You'll get three nights' accommodations in a Deluxe Lanai room, daily breakfast, dinner for two at Gerard's Restaurant on the night of your choice, a bottle of champagne with two glasses to keep, His and Hers Hawaiian robes to keep, and daily car rental, from $852 per couple.

• You can find lots of hotel rates on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island for less than $200 a night when you book through this website—you'll also save 10 percent on your vacation by booking with promo code AstonLife and sharing your #AstonLife experience on social media. Must show your #AstonLife post to hotel staff for validation.

Save 10 percent on your stay at various Aqua Hospitality hotels in Hawaii and Guam when you "Rock a Shaka" at check in.

• Still craving that dream trip to Hawaii? Flights from the west coast between February and May range from $358 to $553 round-trip, while other travel deals to Hawaii can be found by visiting the Hawaiian Airlines website, the Alaska Airlines website, or by visiting Delta Vacations or United Vacations for great air and hotel (and sometimes rental car) deals.

Florida

• Enjoy rates from $144 a night when you book the Hilton Orlando's 30 Hour Day package, which gives you overnight accommodations, eary check-in at 10 a.m. and late check-out at 4 p.m., discounts of 15 percent at The Spa, and a 20 percent discount at the gift shop. When the theme park fatigue sets in, head to Hilton Orlando's lazy river, veg out at one of their two swimming pools, or take on the water slide. Valid thru Dec. 25, 2015.

Check out these special deals and vacation packages in Daytona Beach, including promotional rates during Bike Week Mar. 6-15, 2015.

Arizona

• Book three or more nights at The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa in Tuscon, Arizona, by Mar. 30th and travel Mar. 2nd thru Apr. 6th and score rates from $189 a night—and a $50 gas card per stay. Kids will love The SlideWinder water slide, while adults can take on the resort's 27-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature course. Call 866-716-8108 or book online. Mention promo code LPPKG1 to get the special deal.

Puerto Rico

• Escape to Puerto Rico with stay at the Doubletree by Hilton San Juan for from $179 a night. You'll also receive fresh bakec chocolate chip cookies and handmade gourmet chocolates upon arrival, complimentary parking, breakfast, and admission to the Puerto Rico Museum of Art as part of their "Sweet Treats" package. Valid thru Mar. 31st.

• Treat yourselves to Isla Verde Beach Resort's "My Puerto Rico Experience" package. You'll receive a 20 percent discount on a car rental, a 20 percent discount on Dragonfly Adventure Tours, and a special $75 resort credit per stay. From $185 a night; package is valid thru Dec. 21, 2015.

• Book your stay at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino now thru March to score rates from $175 a night this winter.

• The Copamarina Beach Resort & Spa is offering rates from $150 a night for a romantic package that includes a one-night stay, daily breakfast at Las Palmas restaurant, a one-hour sunset cruise, couple's massage, one romantic dinner, and sparkling wine with chocolate covered strawberries upon arrival.

Curaçao

• Don't miss the "Relax A Little Longer" package at the beautiful Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort in Curaçao. You'll save 25 percent on stays of four nights or more and breakfast for two at Medi, the resort's Mediterranean restaurant. From $157 a night. Please call 855-590-2266 or book this deal online.

Bahamas

Don't miss the Ultimate Spring Getaway package at the Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina in the Out Islands of the Bahamas, which gives you five days / four nights' oceanfront accommodations; two days of round-trip water taxi rides to nearby Guana Cay and Elbow Cay; daily breakfast; dinner for three nights at Angler's Restaurant; and complimentary use of the resort's tennis courts, fitness center, non-motorized watersports, and yoga classes; from $873 per person. Based on double occupancy; valid on stays between Feb. 27th and Apr. 12, 2015.

Dominican Republic

Don't miss this package from CheapCaribbean.com that gives you airfare to Puerto Plata, six nights at the Lifestyle Tropical Beach Resort & Spa with access to their special VIP beach and parties, from $589 per person when you book by Mar. 31st for travel between May 1st and Aug. 31st.

Mexico

CheapCaribbean.com has two great packages to Mexico: choose from one with airfare from Ft. Lauderdale to Cancun with four nights' accommodations at the Villa del Palmar Cancun Luxury Beach Resort & Spa from $769 per person (book by Feb. 28th for travel thru Apr. 30th), or one with airfare from Ft. Lauderdale to the Riviera Maya with four nights' accommodations at the all-inclusive Barcelo Maya Colonial and Tropical Beach Resort and $1,200 in resort credits per stay, from $669 per person (book by Mar. 23rd for travel between May 1st and Jul. 2nd).

• Escape to the CasaMagna Marriott Puerta Vallarta Resort & Spa with rates from $109 a night when you book by Feb. 28th for stays thru Jun. 30th.

Las Vegas

• You can save on a trip to Las Vegas this winter by using the following promotional codes on Vegas.com when you book now thru Mar. 19th for travel by Jan. 31, 2016: Enter promo code WINTER25 to get $25 off your purchase of $250 or more; enter promo code WINTER50 to get $50 off your purchase of $500 or more; and enter promo code WINTER100 to get $100 off your purchase of $1,000 or more.

Costa Rica

• Head south and embark on an eight-day Costa Rica Sky to Sea biking tour from Access Trips. You'll get seven nights' accommodations, biking instructions according to your level by expert teachers, six days of biking through Costa Rica's scenery, all breakfast, three lunches, all transfers and ground transportation within the country, the services of a local naturalist guide, a river safari, and entrance to Costa Rica's National Parks. Land only package starts at $2,090 per person and does not include international airfare, bike and helmet rentals, or gratuities. Based on availability for departures on Mar. 22, May 17, Jul. 19, Nov. 1, and Dec. 20, 2015.

Australia

Qantas Vacations is offering several air-inclusive packages like the 11-Day Best of Australia: Melbourne, Reef, and Sydney package—from $2,559 with airfare from L.A., three nights in Melbourne, three nights in Cairns, and three nights in Sydney among other perks—and the 10-Day Best of Australia's Outback package—from $2,959 including airfare from L.A., two nights in Alice Springs, two nights near Uluru, and four nights in Sydney.

Other Great Hotel Deals

Red Roof Inn is offering several ways to save: You can save up to 20 percent at select Red Roof Inn properties thanks to their Snowbirds promotion—use promo code 618909 when booking your stay now thru Mar. 31st. Are you a veteran or active duty military member? You and your family can save 15 percent on regular rates with promo code 619091 when you book and stay by Mar. 31st. The Red Roof National Pet Discount gives you 15 percent off rates at participating hotels when you stay now thru Feb. 28th with your four-legged friend (use promo code 605422).

• Save up to 20 percent at 31 participating Marriott Resorts in California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas with their "More is Less" sale. Book by Mar. 5th for stays thru Mar. 31st and use promo code D3Q. Remember, the longer you stay, the more you'll save!

• Rates at the Hilton São Paolo Morumbi, Hilton Barbados Resort, and the Caribe Hilton in Puerto Rico start at $99 a night and include a $50 per night on-property credit to use towards hotel restaurants, spa facilities, and golf, when you book one of their Leisure Escape packages.

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How does it feel to live in the Coolest Small Town in America? Ask the folks in Berlin, MD, the winner of Budget Travel's 9th annual America's Coolest Small Town contest! Berlin's citizens—and fans from around the U.S. and beyond—helped get the town nominated last fall when Budget Travel solicited suggestions from tens of thousands of online readers. The editors tallied up the nominations, added a dash of editorial discretion for regional and cultural diversity, and came up with a list of 15 finalists—cool burghs from Upstate New York to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California, from northern Colorado to the Everglades, and, of course, the Maryland shore. Now, after more than a month of online voting, Berlin, MD (population 4,563), has earned the title of "Coolest." Berlin not only has a dedicated citizenry and fan following (it grabbed more than 28 percent of the votes among the 15 finalists), but it's also a truly spectacular place to visit or put down roots. Like the beautiful backdrops in the films Tuck Everlasting and The Runaway Bride? Thank Berlin, where both movies were shot. Ready for a getaway that includes Maryland's awesome Ocean City beach and boardwalk and gorgeous Assateague Island? They're just a few miles from Berlin's downtown (a National Register Historic District), which plays host to fun events all year long, from the regular farmers market to one-of-a-kind bashes like the Berlin Fiddlers Convention, New Year's fireworks, Victorian Christmas (complete with horse-drawn carriages), and even bathtub races! Whether you're a beach lover, hiker, kayaker, bird watcher, or history aficionado, put Berlin on your list of small-town must-sees (in fact, put it at the top of your list—we just did!).   So, congrats to the people of Berlin, MD, and its mayor, William "Gee" WIlliams III (who just earned a growler of craft beer from second-place finisher Cazenovia's mayor, Kurt Wheeler). And let's join them in a rousing chorus of "Cool Berlin," by local songwriter Steve Frene, written especially to promote the town's campaign for the top spot. Here are the top 10 towns in Budget Travel's 2014 America's Coolest Small Town contest. (Online voting among 15 finalists began in mid-January and ended at 12 a.m. Tuesday February 25. Total votes cast were 137,819, with the winner receiving 39,285 votes.) Each of these 10 towns will be honored in an upcoming feature on BudgetTravel.com and an upcoming story in Budget Travel's tablet edition: 1. Berlin, MD 2. Cazenovia, NY 3. Buckhannon, WV 4. Travelers Rest, SC 5. Mathews, VA 6. Nevada City, CA 7. Rockport, TX 8. Estes Park, CO 9. Galena, IL 10. Elkin, NC

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Food Lover’s Guide to Paris

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How To Do Lima On A Budget

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