If you ever needed a stress break, now’s the time. But given the economic turmoil, you may not be in the mood for spending.
There’s no need to drop big bucks. Hotels and travel suppliers are feeling the pinch, too, and luring travelers with discounts on cruises, hotels and travel packages good through the fall — and in some cases, even during the holidays. Some include resort credits that can make an upscale hotel stay a relative bargain; others offer a fourth or fifth night free.
Some of the best take you far away — but include airfare.
Here’s a selection of top offerings. In all cases, prices are subject to availability and may change; blackout dates may apply. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Scour the Web and watch for sales (even the hard-pressed airlines are cutting some fares) and call travel suppliers directly. They should be happy to hear from you.
Free gas from choice hotels: Stay at three Choice hotels (including Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn, Quality) through Nov. 30 and get a $50 gas card. To qualify, you have to join the free Choice rewards program (choicehotels.com).
Jackson Hole airfare: Purchase three airline tickets to Jackson Hole, Wyo., and the third ticket is free. Restrictions apply, and the purchase must be made over the phone (888-838-6606).
Granby Ranch passport: Love to hang out in Granby, two hours from the Front Range? The Granby Ranch Passport costs $899 and nets a family of four season ski passes to SolVista Basin at Granby Ranch, bike-park passes, four foursomes at Headwaters Golf Course and 2 1/2 days of private fly fishing on the Fraser River. Passport must be purchased by Jan. 10 (888-850-4615, ).
Stay in Miami: Through Dec. 31, guests pay $225 per night on stays of three nights or more at the Four Seasons in downtown Miami. Not available during Art Basel or Christmas (fourseasons.com/miami; 305-381-3381).
Captiva: Stay three nights or longer and get 30 percent off regular rooms rates at the popular Tween Waters Inn; mention “The Big 3-O” when you reserve. Offer good through April 2; some dates restricted. Regular rates through Dec. 18 start at $190 (Tween-Waters.com/30; 800-223-5865).
Palm Beach: The Chesterfield’s B&B package costs $199 per night in a queen room through Dec. 15. (chesterfieldpb.com; 800-243-7871).
Tampa: At the Intercontinental, get a third night for $1 when you pay for two previous nights at the prevailing rate, which starts at $139. Good through Dec. 29. 866-915-1558; ask for rate code IPAHD; .
Club Med: Through Dec. 22, the all- inclusive Club Med Sandpiper at Port St. Lucie offers a three-night package for a family of four in a two-bedroom suite for $999. Throughout the Caribbean, the Club Med resorts offer a variety of deals this winter, including two nights free with three paid nights and room upgrades. Details vary by date and resort (clubmed.us).
Cruise: Children 17 and under sail free this winter on Caribbean sailings on Costa Cruise Lines when sharing a cabin with two adults. The offer includes all of the line’s seven- day sailings from Fort Lauderdale, including holiday voyages. Rates for adults start at $669 per person, double occupancy; with taxes and surcharges the cost is $791-$810, depending on the sailing (costacruise.com; 800-GO-COSTA) MSC Cruises has a similar offer; ask about rates for Boomers and seniors (msccruisesusa .; 800-666-9333.)
Las Vegas: Just about every hotel in Las Vegas is offering deals right now, and if you’ve always wanted to stay at the Wynn, Mandalay Bay, Venetian, etc., now’s the time to check rates. Samples per night (plus tax) include Bellagio starting at $149 (888-987-6667, .); Mandalay Bay starting at $110 (877-632-7800, .); Excalibur at $42 (800-937-7777, .); The Mirage at $90 (800-929-1111, .); Circus Circus at $37 (800-937-7777, .); New York-New York at $70 (800-693-6763, nyny .); Treasure Island at $69 (800-288-7206, treasureisland .); MGM Grand at $90 (800-929-1111, .); Monte Carlo at $60 (866-934-1242, monte .); Luxor at $60 (877-386-4658, .).
Aruba: Through Dec. 18, rates at the Aruba Radisson start at $206 per night — a 25 percent savings over regular rates. Stay five nights and get a $150 resort credit (radisson.com/ aruba).
Belize: Through Dec. 14, Tranquility Bay in Ambergris Cay offers a 25 percent discount off regular rates, with a one-bedroom cabana at $139, a two- bedroom for $169, for stays of four nights or more. (501-220- 5880; .).
Dominican Republic: The Victoria Golf & Beach Resort on the north coast of the Dominican Republic is offering rooms from $130 for a double room through Dec. 23; guests can add $20 per person per night to upgrade to the all-inclusive meal plan. (809-320-1200; .).
Mexico: A number of hotels on the Riveria Maya are offering favorable fall rates and a fourth night free through mid-December. Among them: the luxury Paraiso de la Bonita Resort (paraisodelabonita.com; four- nights double including many meals and a massage, from $2,400).
Great Exuma: Get a fourth night free with three paid nights at the Four Seasons Great Exuma through Dec. 18, some dates excluded. (four .).
Amazon: Cruise the Amazon for four nights. Package includes cruise, all meals on board and guided excursions, plus two nights in Quito (beginning and end of trip) and airfare from Miami for $1,870, double occupancy. Sunday departures. (taratours .; 305-278-4464).
Paris: Tourcrafters offers a four- night package to Paris including airfare from Miami for $684 per person, double occupancy, plus taxes and surcharges that bring the total to $961 per person. The package is valid from Nov. 1-March 31, but many December dates are blacked out (tourcrafters.com; 800-482-5995).
Spain: Central Holidays offers a 14-night air-hotel package including air from Miami and hotel on the Costa del Sol for $1,650 including taxes and surcharges. The price applies to departures on Nov. 10 and 17; Dec. 1 and 8; and in 2009, Jan. 5, 12, 26; Feb. 9 and 23, and March 2. (800-935-5000; .).
Turkey: Gate1travel’s Istanbul package including air from New York, four nights hotel and breakfast daily, starts at $749 per person, double, plus taxes and fees, through March (gate1travel.com).
China: Ritz Tours is offering up to $400 per couple off packages booked by Dec. 15. One option: 10-day Beijing, Xian and Shanghai starts at $2,177 including discount per person, including fees and surcharges (ritz .).
Denver Post travel editor Kyle Wagner contributed to this report.
