6 Travel Deals for April and May Starting At $90

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After a winter of record high and low temperatures, we’re looking forward to spring — especially with great deals on travel. Here’s where and how you can save in April and May.

From $90: Hotel Allegro (Chicago, IL)Fresh off a major makeover that channels 1920s glam, this Kimpton property in Chicago’s Theatre District is celebrating the 90th anniversary of Route 66 by offering $90 rates for Sunday night stays through the end of the year. Sunday night rates are usually from $188 — so the savings are at around 50 percent. (Blackout dates for the offer include April 3, May 22, June 5 and 12, September 11, October 16, and November 6 and 27.)

From $129: The Arizona Inn (Tucson, AZ)To celebrate its 85th anniversary, this Tucson mainstay — which has hosted celebrities like Frank Sinatra, the Kennedys and Katherine Hepburn on its 14-acre property — is rolling back rates to as low as $129 per night. While we could only find the $129 rate for standard rooms on May 30 and 31, the $179 rate for the nights of May 15-30 is still a steal when you consider rates in March are from $299.

From $232: JW Marriott El Convento Cusco (Cusco, Peru)If you can manage a spring trip to this luxe property — whose high season starts in June — rates are around $232 if you pay in full in advance. Those can be nabbed for the nights of May 1-3, while the price jumps to $254 May 4-6; later in the month, it spikes to $280-$314. With pre-Inca walls and historical items throughout the property, history buffs will be right at home here.

From $290: Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa (Tuscany, Italy)Here, the Tuscan Wine and Culinary Experience package includes goodies like daily breakfast, wine tasting, a trip to a local market and culinary experience with the resort’s chef, diplomas, and souvenir aprons. Rates are from $290 per night in a classic guestroom.

From $416: Hyatt Ziva Cancun (Cancun, Mexico)Until April 30, this new all-inclusive property is offering 50 percent off rates for stays through December 20. After taking a peek at dates in April and May, we found nightly rates from $416-$436. Even though the price sounds steep, keep in mind that there are 18 restaurants on property, and there’s the bonus of this being a months-old resort.

From $448: Santa Catalina Island Company (Catalina Island, CA)Just off the coast of Long Beach, life slows down on Catalina Island. The Santa Catalina Island Company’s Unlimited Fun package includes unlimited access to activities and tours on the island (such as a glass-bottom boat cruise and a ziplining tour), lodging at one of three hotels, $100 dining credit per person, and round-trip boat transportation. The offer is valid on two-night stays, and runs from $224 per person, per night — or $448 for two guests.

By Kristine Hansen
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Jumping Ship: Carnival’s New Money-Back Guarantee Explained

Contributed by Donna Tunney

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Carnival Cruise Lines endured a negative media frenzy earlier this year when its Carnival Triumph lost power due to an engine room fire and became stranded in the Gulf of Mexico. Shortly after, propulsion and power problems affected two other Carnival ships, causing the suspension of a cruise and missed port calls.

In order to convince potentially weary consumers to book a cruise, the line has launched the “Great Vacation Guarantee,” a policy that enables dissatisfied passengers to disembark the ship and end their voyage early. They’ll also receive a 110 percent refund, free transportation home, and a $100 credit for a future sailing – that is, if they weren’t sufficiently spooked to never book again.

Taking a closer look at the new “guarantee” policy, a few things jump out:

To qualify for the refund, transportation, and $100 credit, passengers must notify the ship’s guest services desk within the first 24 hours of the voyage. That’s not much time. The first day of a cruise tends to be chaotic. People are unpacking, finding their way around the ship and recovering from travel. A Carnival spokesman said the clock starts ticking when the ship departs the port, and that’s typically 4 p.m. Twenty-four hours is probably not enough time for most passengers to make an informed decision about whether to stay or go. (But just enough time to make them think they can).

That being said, refunding 110 percent of the cruise fare paid is a nice bonus, albeit a small one. On a five-day Western Caribbean cruise from Miami in mid-December, for example, an inside cabin sells for $219 per person via the Carnival website, thus entitling the customer to an extra $21. Book a suite on that same cruise, for $699 per person, and the bonus refund is close to $70 – pocket change to some, but it could offset some portion of the onboard bill, which is not reimbursed under the guarantee.

The cruise line also pledges to cover return air fare, ground transportation, and hotel costs, if necessary, for those who call it quits. Consider that hotel rates are particularly high in the Caribbean during winter season, when a last-minute stay in a mid-range property can easily run $300 a night. As a result, this actually can have a lot of value, potentially worth hundreds of dollars, depending on the passenger’s final destination and whether an overnight is involved.

As a part of the guarantee, Carnival will handle the return arrangements. And if your vacation is coming to a close after just one day, you probably don’t need any more aggravation. Let the cruise line figure it out for you.

Our conclusion? The Great Vacation Guarantee is a solid, valuable offer that will entice mostly first-time cruisers to give Carnival a try, without fear of losing money or time.

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5 Cruise Myths, Debunked

Contributed by Donna Tunney

Christian Lambert Photography

Of all the vacation trip choices out there, cruising appears to have the greatest need to defend itself. Non-cruisers often are misinformed about shipboard life, landlubbers are anxious about the possibility of seasickness, and those who dislike closed spaces will avoid cruise ship cabins — just to name a few. But we think that these “obstacles” shouldn’t dissuade consumers from booking a vacation at sea. Here are five cruise myths, debunked:

1. Mass market ships are just party boats.
While it’s true that many cruisers aboard  lines such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean International are looking for a festive atmosphere, others who want peace and quiet can easily find it on those very same lines. Today’s cruise ships are large enough to provide tranquil spaces, in the form of adults-only pool and lounge areas, out-of-the-way bars, and intimate dining venues. Passengers can read a book, sip a drink, or enjoy dinner well away from the mayhem in all of these spaces. If you are looking for extra relaxation, take a look at a ship’s deck plans and review public area descriptions to see if the facilities fit the bill.

2. Cabins are claustrophobic.
Cruisers have a wide range of cabin choices these days. For those who don’t like closed spaces, a balcony cabin is the answer. Of course, not all vacation budgets can accommodate such staterooms — but options like a partial-view porthole cabin provide a less-cramped ambience at very small increases in cost. (A partial-view cabin refers to one that has a window that’s partly obstructed by something outside, such as a lifeboat.) Disney Cruise Line also boasts “magical portholes” in many of its inside cabins, featuring screens displaying outside views to give the illusion of a window.

3. Cruises are more expensive than land trips.
Cruise rates change very frequently, based on occupancy levels day to day and week to week. The industry currently is offering some of its lowest rates in years on summer and fall Caribbean cruises, many as low as $50 or $60 per person, per day. Considering that all meals and entertainment are included in the fare, consumers are likely hard-pressed to find a better value. (Tip: You can find one if not more of such cruises in ShermansTravel’s weekly Top 25 deals.)

4. I’ll get seasick.
High winds and rolling seas can make a cruise ship tilt from side to side as it steams toward its next port call. But anti-seasickness medications are always available — for free — from a ship’s medical office. Passengers have also had luck with anti-seasickness wristbands, found in any pharmacy and reusable.

5. I’ll be bored on a ship.
This statement may have been true 20 years ago, but certainly not today. Outdoor activities on many ships include ropes courses, climbing walls, basketball courts, mini-golf courses, dive shows, and more. Inside, a vast array of music performances, movies, games, and sports bars provide hours of entertainment. That’s not to mention shore excursions where cruisers can stretch their legs dockside (a weeklong cruise will typically have at least three ports of call).

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