Travel Smarter 2012: Use CouchSurfing to ditch your hotel addiction

by Sean McLachlan on

Hotels are so passé.

How many times have you visited an exciting destination only to find you’re staying in a generic hotel room completely lacking in local flavor? When I visited Greece last month, I stayed in affordable, centrally located hotels in Athens and Sparta. While they offered good service at a fair price, they could have just as easily been in Los Angeles, London, or Cairo.

CouchSurfing offers a better way. With a bit of online networking you can stay in a local home, and it’s free! CouchSurfing is a social networking site linking up friendly people around the world. Once you’ve created a profile, you can search through profiles in your destination and request to sleep in their spare room or couch. No money changes hands, although guests often bring an inexpensive gift from their home countries or take their host out to dinner. It’s a fun way to make friends and makes traveling a richer and less lonely experience.

As I’ve mentioned before, even though I’ve never actually surfed a couch, CouchSurfing has been hugely helpful to me. When I moved to Santander in northern Spain, the local CouchSurfers threw my wife and I a welcome party and 25 people showed up. Soon we knew the best barrios to get an apartment, where to shop, and they hooked me up with a hiking group. The group for Cantabria is pretty active and in the four months I’ve been here I’ve been to several meetings and met lots of people.More recently, local CouchSurfers gave me a ton of information that helped inform my travel series on Greece. One memorable night, two Athenians showed me around the Exarchia neighborhood. We visited some great bars I probably would have never found on my own and I got insights into the life of an area noted for its activism. The two CouchSurfers showed me a park that had been slated to become an ugly parking garage until the locals took it over and turned it into a garden.

On a more somber note, they also showed me the spot where a fifteen-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos was shot and killed by a policeman during a demonstration in 2008. The cop is serving time for murder and the spot where his victim died is now a shrine and political rallying point. Try getting that sort of information from your hotel’s concierge.

Couches can be found in some surprising places. One Gadling blogger has tried CouchSurfing in Haiti, and while I was in Ethiopia, I met someone who was going to stay with some expats in Somaliland.

CouchSurfing had a big year in 2011 that’s making 2012 the start of a new era for the organization. After having its 501(c)(3) charity status rejected, its owners decided to become a for-profit corporation. Currently, all revenues come from the verification service, in which members donate money in order to have their address verified, thus making them more trustworthy in the eyes of other members. There’s no word yet on how else the new corporation plans to make money. This change has not gone without protest, with many members pointing out that the website and network were built communally for free, and therefore should not be used for profit.

A more popular move last year was the creation of the CouchSurfing Cultural Exchange Fund, which offers grants for cultural exchanges between refugee groups and their new communities, classroom-based international information exchange and relationship building programs, and cultural understanding between ethnically or racially disparate communities.

CouchSurfing now has more than three million profiles in about 250 countries and territories–not bad for a group that only started in 2003. While you should always keep safety in mind when dealing with strangers, I highly recommend you try it. I’ve had nothing but good experiences.

[flickr image via CaseyDavid]

Want to get away for Easter weekend? These U.S. hotels are offering holiday specials

by Jessica Festa on

Are you sick of doing the same thing every year for Easter? Why not make this holiday special and do a bit of traveling? These hotels are offering packages, parties, spa discounts, egg hunts, bountiful brunches, the chance to meet the Easter Bunny and more.

Sandestin Beach Hilton
Destin, Florida

The Sandestin Beach Hilton is a family friendly resort with an array of activities, like indulging in spa treatments, swimming, shopping, fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling. From April 6-8, the property will be celebrating Easter by hosting a huge “Eggstravaganza.” Easter basket deliveries from the Easter Bunny, a coloring contest, an egg hunt and Sunday brunch will all be part of the festivities. For the adults, the Serenity by the Sea Spa is selling Easter spa baskets for mom. If you purchase a gift certificate, you’ll also be able to choose a golden egg with a prize or discount inside.

Rates vary depending on when you book. Click here for more information or call 800-559-1805. Omni Bedford Springs Resort
Bedford, Pennsylvania

Located in the Allegheny Mountain region of Pennsylvania, the Omni Bedford Springs Resort is 216-room property immersed in nature. Eight natural hot springs, hiking and biking trails, fly fishing and outdoor sports are easily accessible. This Easter, the resort is offering an “Easter Adventures in the Alleghenies” package, which includes accommodations, a chocolate bunny, an Easter egg coloring class, live entertainment, an outdoor egg hunt, crafts, a visit by the Easter Bunny, and a massive brunch held in the immaculate Colonnade Ballroom.

Package rates start at $183.50 per night based on double occupancy. Click here to book.

Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa
Lake Placid, New York

Located in the center of the Adirondacks, Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa will place you in a mixture of beautiful, mountainous surroundings and luxurious indoor experiences. Guests can enjoy a picturesque nature hike before relaxing in the heated indoor pool or indulging in a spa treatment. The resort becomes even more alluring this Easter as it is featuring an “Easter at the Inn” deal. Not only do kids stay and eat free from April 6-8, but also there will be egg coloring, an Easter egg hunt, an Easter basket scavenger hunt, and a delicious, daily breakfast.

Package rate is $315 per night for a family of up to four people. Call 518-523-2544 or click here to book.

Abbey Resort
Fontana, Wisconsin

The Abbey Resort sits on the shores of Lake Geneva and features colorful gardens and well-manicured lawns. For the upcoming holiday, they will be hosting their annual Easter weekend celebration, complete with an Easter egg hunt, holiday contests, face painting, a petting zoo, balloon animals, a visit from the Easter Bunny, and a delicious brunch and children’s buffet with complimentary mimosas for the adults.

Room rates during Easter weekend start at $139 on Friday night and $149 on Saturday night, plus tax and resort fee per night. You can also stay the entire weekend for the BOGO rate of $139 on Friday and $69.50 on Saturday. Reservations for Easter brunch required. Please call 800-709-1323 or click here to book.

The Greenbrier
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

A national historic landmark, The Greenbrier has been hosting guests since 1778. With this much experience in hospitality, it’s no wonder the property is throwing such a detailed Easter celebration, which they’re calling “the Greenbrier’s Holiday Hare.” Throughout the weekend, there will be a range of activities and events for people of all ages. Adults can enjoy art exhibits, wine tastings and seminars, and an adult egg hunt and roll. For the children, there is a kids’ fashion show, Easter egg hunt, dance party and an Easter puppet show. Likewise, fun for the whole family includes live music, family Jeopardy and an expansive buffet brunch. As an added bonus, the hotel is offering a $100 Resort Credit per room, per stay, and a 10% discount on select activities, tours, and classes.

Room rates during the weekend start at $430 per night based on double occupancy. Additionally, it is $20 per child sharing the room and $50 per additional adult. Call 866-976-3625 and mention promo code “EASTER” or click here.

The Langham, Boston
Boston, Massachusetts

For those who love luxurious weekends, The Langham, Boston features Italian marble bathrooms, plush bedding, an indoor heated swimming pool and the award-winning Chuan Body + Soul spa. This Easter, the hotel is making upscale travel more affordable by discounting rooms to $209 per night and offering complimentary access to Chuan Body + Soul to use the indoor pool, fitness center, sauna and whirlpool. Additionally, Café Fleuri will be hosting a special Easter Sunday brunch with a seafood station, carving and culinary station, omelets made-to-order, a kid’s selection, and more. Dine on house smoked maple cured salmon, cheese blintzes powdered with sugar, and apricot-glazed Easter ham while listening to live jazz. For the kids, face painting, caricature sketches and other Easter activities will be offered.

Brunch is $88 per adult, and $45 per child. For reservations, call 617-451-1900 extension 7125, or visit www.opentable.com. Click here to book a room.

The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
Riverside, California

The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa is a 238-room hotel that occupies an entire city block and has been hosting celebrities, dignitaries, and luxury travelers since 1876. While many hotels feature kid-friendly programming for Easter, this property caters to adults with their “April Celebration” package from April 6-9. On Easter Sunday, Mission Inn will host a delicious brunch, with the Easter Bunny as a special guest. The package itself includes deluxe accommodations, Champagne, an Easter-inspired cupcake for two from Casey’s Cupcakes, $125 credit to spend on either Easter brunch or spa treatments and complimentary valet parking.

Packages are $419 all inclusive. Call 951-784-0300 or click here to book.

Meadowmere Resort
Ogunquit, Maine

Located on Maine’s southern coast, Meadowmere Resort is a family-run inn and a Certified Maine Environmental Leader Hotel. Along with enjoying the Freeport Outlets, Ogunquit Beach, Perkins Cove and Marginal Way, guests of the hotel can celebrate Easter weekend to the fullest with the property’s “Easter Egg-scapes.” The getaway includes Friday and Saturday night accommodations, a wine welcome for the adults, Easter crafts for the kids, a three-course dinner, live music on Saturday night, an Easter Sunday brunch and a late checkout of 1:00 pm. There will also be an egghunt on Sunday held at the nearby Wildlife Preservation Clay Hill Farm.

Packages start at $169 per person based on double occupancy. Call 800-633-8718 or click here to book.

These hotels are helping guests celebrate the end of the world with Mayan-inspired packages

by Jessica Festa on

The Mayan calendar’s 2012 end of the world prophecy isn’t all bad news. In fact, the Mayans believe people on Earth will experience a positive spiritual enlightenment and connection to the universe. Along with the possibility of a profound new awareness, travelers can also benefit from the Mayan predictions by taking advantage of the special hotel packages being offered in honor of the event throughout the year.

Hotel Maya, a Doubletree by Hilton
Long Beach, California

What better way to experience Maya 2012 than at a Mayan-themed hotel? The Hotel Maya is a waterfront property that sits on the harbor in downtown Long Beach. A mix of Latin American and Southern California style, the hotel uses vibrant Earth tones, an indoor-outdoor design, and lush tropical flora to give an exotic yet modern feel. In honor of the 2012 Mayan calendar, the hotel is offering a “Live Your Life to the Fullest” package, which includes waterfront accommodations for two, breakfast for two, a $50 resort credit per stay, and free parking and internet. The hotel is also running monthly giveaways, guest lectures, food and drink promotions, themed movies, and Mayan cultural events throughout the year. Furthermore, on December 21, 2012, the day the world is supposed to end, Hotel Maya will be hosting an “End of the World” party at their onsite restaurant, Fuego.

Package rates start at $169 per night, per room with a two-night minimum, and runs from now until December 21, 2012. Call 562-435-7676 or click here to book. Hotel Teatro
Denver, Colorado

Located in downtown Denver near the Convention Center and Denver Center for Performing Arts, Hotel Teatro is a historical property built in 1911 that combines “the grandeur of yesterday with the modern conveniences available today.” To ensure guests live their lives to the fullest before the end of the world, Hotel Teatro is featuring a “Live While You’re Alive” package until December 21, 2012. The lavish deal includes a night in Hotel Teatro’s Chancellor’s Suite, stocked with Dom Pérignon and caviar, private butler service, a six-course tasting menu and wine pairing for two in Restaurant Kevin Taylor, in-room massage for two, a one-hour private helicopter ride over Denver with private limo service to and from the airport, and a $25,000 Oster Jewelers Cherry Creek shopping spree with a personal shopper. Furthermore, if you’re still around next year, the property is offering a complimentary night in 2013 and a celebratory Dom Pérignon champagne toast.

Package rates start at $35,000. Call 303-228-1100 or click here to book.

Blancaneaux Lodge
Cayo District, Belize

The Blancaneaux Lodge is a secluded property located at the base of the Maya Mountains. Surrounded by waterfalls, turquoise ponds, and tropical jungle, the luxury hotel is a great place to relax and unwind in a natural setting. To commemorate the end of the Mayan calendar, Blancaneaux Lodge has launched five cave explorations to help guests learn about Belize and the Mayans by visiting the natural underworlds where they once dwelled. The excursions range from easy treks like the dry and well-lit Rio Frio Cave, to the more challenging Actun Tunichil Mucnal Cave, which is difficult to access and forces you to squeeze through tight spaces, climb over jagged rocks, and swim in 12 feet of water. Although difficult, you will be rewarded with Mayan artifacts, rock carvings, and the crystal maiden, “a victim of ritual sacrifice from the Late Classic Period.” Other cave explorations include: the Offering Cave, ‘Caves Branch’ Nohuch Che’en Reserve, and Barton Creek Cave.

Excursion prices vary depending on cave choice and group size. Click here for more information or click here to book.

Hacienda Petac
Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico

Hacienda Petac is a private estate and spa offering resort service without the crowds. Located in the Mayan countryside, guests will have access to all-inclusive meals, a spa, and a workout facility while also being immersed in lush vegetation and artifacts from the Mayas. To help guests experience the Mayan Yucatán even further, the hacienda is offering a complimentary “Mundo Maya” package for 2012. The packages includes seven nights of pampering from a staff of 23 (maximum 10 guests), Mayan-inspired meals, a personal driver and guide, a tour of the area’s backroads with a swim in a cenote or a stop at a local market, and three guided Maya-related excursions.

Price for rental is $357 per person, per night (5 person minimum) for seven nights. Package is also available for four nights minimum. Click here to book.

Condo Hotels Playa Del Carmen
Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Condo Hotels Playa Del Carmen isn’t just a hotel, but a group of four upscale properties located in the popular Riviera Maya. Renowned for their beautiful location and luxurious amenities, El Taj, Porto Playa, Maya Villa, and Villas Sacbe each include spas, health cafes, fitness centers, hot tubs, swimming pools, and beach access. As the brand has traditionally observed important Mayan holidays and celebrations by offering specials to guests, it is no surprise that on December 21, 2012, the hotels will be offering rooms at no charge. By offering visitors a free stay, they are inviting travelers to partake in the festivities, traditions, and ceremonies that will be taking place during this time at the hotels and all over town, making it a fun and enlightening trip.

Free room is available with a minimum of three nights stay. Click here to book.

Acanto Hotel
Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Acanto Hotel is a new boutique property featuring a tropical courtyard, Jacuzzi, pool, sundecks, lounge chairs, and everything you will need to relax and unwind in an exotic setting. To coincide with the Mayan calendar, the hotel is offering a “2012 Mayan Message” package, which includes five nights in a luxury two-bedroom suite, a One Day Pass Plus for two people to Zcaret Eco Park offering hiking trails and Mayan history, complimentary wine flights at the onsite wine bar (value $100), VIP beach club access, and airport transfer. The package also includes the chance to visit the site of the Mayan Time Capsule in the jungle of Quintana Roo to leave a message about the future.

Package rates start at $2,050 for five nights based on double occupancy. Click here to book.

JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa
Cancun, Mexico

Located in the heart of Cancun’s hotel zone, the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa is a beachfront property with 448 spacious rooms, four world-class restaurants, and their Mayan Inspired Spa, which offers body wraps, mani-pedis, soothing massages, and more. From now until the last day of the Mayan calendar, the hotel will be offering an “Escape! Mayan Experience” package, which includes luxury accommodations, tour for two of Chichen Itza, two 80-minute Mayan-inspired spa treatments, daily $50 resort credit, a Mayan-themed welcome amenity, and free internet access.

Package rates start at $399 per night based on double occupancy. Call 800-228-9290 or click here to book.

CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort
Cancun, Mexico

A sister property of the above mentioned Marriott hotel, the CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort is located on the vibrant hotel strip and offers well-appointed rooms with views of the Caribbean or Nichupté Lagoon. Like the JW Marriott, CasaMagna is offering an “Escape! Mayan Experience” package through December 21, including the same luxury accommodations: a tour for two of Chichen Itza, two 80-minute Mayan-inspired spa treatments, daily $50 resort credit, a Mayan-themed welcome amenity, and free internet access.

Package rates start at $399 per night based on double occupancy. Call 800-228-9290 or click here to book.

Atlanta loses a Rosewood, gains a Mandarin Oriental

by McLean Robbins on

Atlanta is losing its signature Rosewood hotel, the Mansion on Peachtree, and gaining Mandarin Oriental when the hotel changes management in May of this year. The hotel will be rebranded and operated by Mandarin Oriental, but no major overhauls of the hotel are planned. The hotel will now be called The Mandarin Oriental, Atlanta.

The Peachtree area hotel is primed to get new restaurants (Del Friscos, according to the Atlanta SkyRise blog), as well as a transition to a signature Mandarin Oriental Spa. The hotel’s 25 private residences will also be rebranded as Mandarin Oriental Residences.

Forbes Travel Guide reports that Mandarin had planned a hotel in Midtown in 2007, which failed after the economic downturn.

Outside magazine’s inaugural ‘Travel Awards’ winners

by Laurel Miller on

With twenty-three categories and every continent up for consideration, the competition is fierce, but today Outside magazine released its picks for its new Outside Travel Awards. The winners include everything from travel companies and locales to cameras, suitcases, hotels, and apps, road-tested by those in the know (you know, those people).

Amongst the chosen is Seattle-based Mountain Madness, a mountain adventure guide service and mountaineering school, for its new Tsum Valley trek in Nepal, named “Best Trip in the Himalayas.” Known in sacred Buddhist texts as the “Hidden Valley of Happiness,” the Tsum Valley lies on the edge of the more visited Manaslu Conservation Area, which opened just three years ago to tourism.

Best travel company Geographic Expeditions (GeoEx) has “consistently taken travelers to the most remote regions of the world, from Everest’s north side to Patagonia’s glaciers to the far reaches of Papua New Guinea. This year its trailblazing new terrain with a 27-day trek to the north face of K2 ($11,450).” Bonus: “the price of every GeoEx trip includes medical assistance and evacuation coverage from Global Rescue and medical-expense insurance through Travel Guard.” Not too shabby.

Also making the list: Myanmar is the “Best New Frontier;” Canon Powershot G-12 makes the “Best Camera;” the “Best New Adventure Lodge” is the Singular, outside of Puerto Natales, Patagonia, Chile; and the “Best Eco-Lodge” is the architectural marvel, The Mashpi in Ecuador.

[Photo credit: Flickr user tarotastic]