The Travel Ringer

When I say hot, I mean REALLY HOT and I don’t just mean the prices. It’s no secret that Arizona boasts some of the hottest summer temperatures in the US. This being my first full summer hear, I am beginning to wonder what God was thinking.  Perhaps, He just wants to keep us all in line, thinking that if its this hot here, we’ll do anything to stay on the right side of hell

Some people (my wife) truly love the heat, and some (me) enjoy the scenery from a nice office window or from an air-conditioned car.  The upside is that nearly everywhere you go, you will find swimming pools teeming with crystal clear blue water, and many have the accompanying picturesque rock water falls. We spent much of yesterday in one of those which made it much more bearable, in fact, I was amazed that 114 degree air actually feels cold against a wet body.

All things considered, more people than not choose to vacation in Arizona in times other than the summer months. This leaves the local hotels a bit on the lean side.  The good news for both Arizona residents and those brace enough to visit during the peak heat is that you can get some excellent summer deals at many of the luxury hotels in Phoenix and surrounding regions. I have provided a list, starting with the hotels that I have personally visited:

Pointe South Mountain Resort
- This was where my wife and I stayed for our honeymoon.  The honeymoon package is awesome if somehow you find yourself getting married in AZ.  The service was outstanding and the golf course looked amazing. We will definitely go back just for a weekend getaway

Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa
- This hotel features one of the country’s only 5 Star restaurants and happens to be located next to the Wild Horses Pass Casino, for your gaming pleasure.

Chaparral Suites Resort
- A local resort, ideal for a weekend getaway. There is more than meets the eye and this hotel is one of those “best kept secrets” that your travel agent may not know about. When we moved here last year, we took advantage of the summer special and just spent the weekend there even though we lived just a few miles away.

The Phoenician
- This is where the elite travelers stay, and although they boast rooms in excess of several thousand dollars per night, they do have summer specials. Oh yeah, and the Sunday brunch buffet is highly recommended.

The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
- A very classy hotel, with all of the amenities you would want - including a library.

I have not personally visited the following hotels, but now I may just have to get out and check them out one by one:

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North

Royal Palms Resort and Spa

Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Gainey Ranch

JW Marriot Desert Ridge

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

Camelback Inn

Biltmore

Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa

Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort

Hermosa Inn

Mondrian Scottsdale Hotel

Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa

Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa

One thing to keep in mind is that some of these offer specials to all visitors, and some will offer even better deals to locals just to try and get them to stay a night or so when they don’t really need to, so if you live in the Phoenix area, make sure to ask about summer hotel specials for locals.

Let me know how you enjoy your trip by coming back and posting a comment or a review.

Greenville, Maine was called the “home of the Moose, solitude and adventure” by Yankee Magazine and is often considered the most ideal Maine vacation destinations.  The reason is simple – no matter what the season, there is something to do in Greenville.

Located on the southern tip of Maine’s largest body of fresh water - Moosehead Lake, Greenville is an often-overlooked vacation destination, however it is ideal for a vacation getaway all year round and one of New England’s best-kept secrets.

What Will You Find in Greenville?
For nature lovers, Greenville boasts nature and Moose tours where you will see brilliant foliage and potentially get an up close photo of a Moose. Additionally, there are hiking trails, scenic waterscapes, and the tranquility of Moosehead Lake.

For the Outdoor Enthusiast, there is just about every outdoor activity you can imagine - hiking, hunting, bird watching, snowmobiling, kayaking, horseback riding, canoeing, fishing (including ice fishing) and general outdoor exploring.  Greenville features notable sites such as Baxter State Park, Maine State Park, Borestone Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, Mount Katahdin, the Moosehead Historical Society, Lily Bay, the Moosehead Marine Museum, and Big Squaw Mountain..

For those Seeking R&R, Greenville is a phenomenal getaway spot and ideal for honeymoons, babymoons, or a relaxing weekend.  For a cozy atmosphere, try one of Greenville’s lakeside cabins such as The Cozy Moose – one of Greenville’s most sought after places to stay since 2000.

What are you waiting for? Book your Maine weekend getaway today!

In the midst of a weak economy and at a time when airlines are nickel and diming us all, there are still ways to find great deals on airfare.  In particular, Southwest Airlines continues to offer great deals to their email subscribers and through their desktop application - DING.

I recommend visiting the website for whatever airline or airlines that you fly most frequently are register for both the frequent flier program and any email subscriptions they may offer.  Here are two examples of email specials that I received in the past few days:

• Spirit Airlines continued to offer super airfare deals, such as their “$8 fares”.

• Recently, I got an email from Southwest about their upcoming anniversary special this Wednesday where they are going to offer some great fares.

So here are your steps to getting in the know and finding travel deals.

1. Visit the website for the airlines you use the most and either enroll in the frequent flier program. If you are already in,  then make sure your information is updated because many will also send you specials by mail.

2. Enroll in any subscriptions they offer to be kept up to date with specials they are having.  It certainly works - you want cheap travel and they want to fill seats.

3. Download DING from Southwest.com if you are a Southwest traveler.  DING is a desktop application that notifies you immediately through your computer whenever they post specials for your specific selected cities.  I don’t know of any other airlines that offer such a service, but if you do, I’d love to hear about it.
NOTE: You may not be able to install this on a work computer depending on your companies policy on downloads. If this happens, I would explain to your IT department what the application is.  Also, if you travel for business, they should want to allow you to use this as it will save the company money. You could always just refer them to this post and the DING page at Southwest.com.

Personally, I am hoping to get a deal tomorrow on my upcoming Vegas trip on Southwest.

Happy Travels

~ The Travel Ringer

GUEST POST by Kimberly of Jet Set Life

With the prices of everything increasing, it’s hard to find good deals on luxury hotels, rental cars and especially airfare! The American Express Platinum Card has so many benefits, but their Platinum Travel Benefits are my absolute favorite!

Fine Hotels & Resorts: A collection of the world’s most exclusive hotels. These hotels and resorts are the leaders in luxury. If you book the hotel through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) you’ll get the amenities. They include:

• Complimentary Room Upgrade (when available, and it usually is)
• Complimentary Breakfast for Two (each morning you are there)
• Guaranteed 4pm Late Checkout (great for afternoon flights)
• A Special Amenity such as Lunch for Two, $100 Resort Credit, $100 Spa Credit

These amenities are a wonderful bonus and they really can add up to great savings, especially for a weekend getaway! In my experience, the Amex FHR hotel rates are the same or slightly more than the going rate direct through the hotel. And worth every penny!

Domestic Companion Airfare: Want to bring your best friend, husband or girlfriend on your next trip? This is the perfect solution. Basically it’s a buy one get one free. Up to four times a year you can take advantage of this offer through American Express Platinum Travel Services. Six major US carriers, coach fares only, and it starts at $299.

Airport Club Room Access: Ever get stuck in the airport food court, in an uncomfortable chair with people banging into your luggage? Not a member of one of those airline clubs? No problem. If you are flying American Airlines, Northwest, Delta or Continental, all you have to do is flash that Platinum Amex and you’re in! Easy as that! Free drinks, snacks and most even have an airline representative that’ll keep checking on that complimentary upgrade for you!

Premium Car Rentals & Insurance: You can enjoy the VIP amenities and be enrolled for free in Avis, Hertz and National car rental programs. You’ll receive discounted car rental rates and complimentary Loss & Damage Insurance so you are always covered when in the US!
Want a real life example of how using your Platinum Amex can save you $$$?
Here’s an example of how I plan to use my platinum Travel to save almost $650.00 on a trip I’ll be taking a trip to the The Island Club Hotel in Orange County, California.

Now you know why Platinum American Express the only card in my wallet (and how I manage to travel twelve times a year)!
Ciao!

Kimberly

Co-Creator of Jet Set Life
Excuses are over. It’s time to Live!

My “All Top” Ranked Blog: My Jet Set Life