Bare butt (flight) bargains in Britain

by Tom Johansmeyer on

You’ll do anything for a free flight, right? You’ll stand at the counter and yell and scream at some gate agent for half an hour while a line that stretches back to the next terminal wait with looks of increasing contempt. You’ll get up in the middle of the night to enter every online contest you can find first. But, would you strip to your skin – in the company of 998 other non-professional strippers?

That’s right. An airline – which isn’t revealing itself yet – is offering free flights from London to eight destinations for the 999 people willing to show it all (except the “rude bits,” according to the website). On March 15, all those who register will be invited to come to a central location in London and shed their threads.

There is no trace of the airline responsible. A WHOIS look up and a hunt through the website’s source code only turned up Hotcow, a marketing company that specializes in coordinating these types of stunt. So, you now have two choices: (1) read the news on March 15 or (2) register to be one of the 999!

[Via Jaunted]

Sunny discounts on Caribbean travel

by Alison Brick on

How’s this for perfect timing? It’s a great time of year to go to the Caribbean (mild weather and no hurricanes). And travel discounts there are popping up left and right–from vacation packages to cruises.

If you’re interested in a Sandals Resort vacation, you have a few ways to save. Either book directly through Sandals for their Three Free Nights promotion, plus up to 60% off (through March 31st). Or book through Orbitz and get 50% off your stay (through March 15th).

Save 50-70% off vacations at CheapCaribbean.com (through March 15th). The Today Show even mentioned one the other day: a vacation package at Punta Cana, Dominican Republic that’s $67 per person, per night (instead of $277).

Save on vacation packages through Bookit.com’s Half-Price Caribbean & Mexico Sale (through March 17th).

Or take a discounted cruise through CheapTickets’ Spring Cruise Clearance Event (through April 1st).

Pink slip relief in Vermont

by Tom Johansmeyer on

The Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford, VT is willing to share your pain. If you or your spouse has been unemployed for more than six months, send your story to Leslie and Brian Mulcahy – the inn’s proprietors – and you could win a two night getaway, with everything from candlelight dinner to a rabbit’s foot and wishes for a return to gainful employment.

Every month from April through July and November through December, Leslie and Brian will award one of these trips, called “Pink Slip Getaways,” to the most deserving story. The total package doesn’t include liquor or transportation to the inn, but that’s a rounding error compared to two nights lodging (Sunday to Thursday, non-holiday only), a gourmet dinner for two, afternoon tea and pastry and a candlelit breakfast each morning. All gratuities, service charges and taxes are included, too.

In a page or less, lay out your tale of woe, and send it to info [at] rabbithillin.com. You may win some relief!

Fare alert! Tokyo on sale for under $600

by Grant Martin on

Cherry blossom season is almost upon us, and that can only mean one thing for airfares: it’s time for the annual sale on tickets to Tokyo.

Most years there is a bit of a run on tickets to the Far East around this time of the year, but in this year’s prices, you can sense a bit of desperation. The economy is down, loads are light and the airlines are doing whatever they can to interest the American consumer in traveling again. Including slashing fares to Japan.

This round brings fares to anywhere between $550 and $600 from departure points all across the country. Plugging “flexible dates” into Travelocity, I’m finding $584 spring fares from LGA-NRT (that’s New York LaGuardia to Tokyo Narita,) while Los Angeles and Chicago are returning similar results.

All fares are on American Airlines (with some on United,) and travel appears to be good all of the way through May.

Need some help finding good tourist spots? Check out Big in Japan’s Cherry Blossom guide for a great start.

Melbourne, Australia deal saves you a bundle down under

by Tom Johansmeyer on

If you’re going to trek all the way out to Australia, you need to do it right. So, a stay at a five-star hotel is a must, and you can’t get by without the help of a skilled sommelier. A new package, “The Melbourne Deluxe: Food, Wine & Spa” puts the entire experience within reach.

For the reasonable price of $825, you can spend four nights at the Crown Towers and spend half a day on the “Evening Sommeliers Walking Tour,” set in downtown Melbourne. Dinner is served aboard the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. Of course, some time in the spa is necessary, and the deal includes to 30-minute massage treatments. To sweeten it up a bit, you’ll also have airport transportation covered in Australia.

There’s a catch … there’s always a catch. Fortunately, it’s pretty reasonable for this package. You’ll need to stay a minimum of four nights and travel by February 28, 2010 (there is no “book by” date). There are no blackout dates. So, check out the deal here, and don’t forget to use the promotional code – 81215AU01!