Abercrombie & Kent one day sale, Thursday, May 6

by Annie Scott on


Abercrombie & Kent, the legendary tour company providing extraordinary experiences and private guides all over the world is having a big, awesome, one day sale on their Once in a Lifetime packages. And this time, they’re catering to a younger set: there’s a special preview for fans of their Facebook page.

From 8:00 – 9:00 AM Central Time on Thursday, May 6, Facebook fans will have exclusive first-access to the big, 18-itinerary sale including destinations in Europe, Jordan (above), Chile, East Africa and South Africa for travel between June and September. The preview sale will give fans 25 percent off the usual A&K prices.

Not on Facebook? Not a problem. At 9:00 AM Central Time, they’re having one of their “Countdown Sales,” where the savings will start at 5 percent and continue to rise by 5 percent every 30 minutes until everything is sold out (yes, it happens). The sale ends at 3:00 PM Central Time with a maximum savings of 60 percent — so check and see if the itinerary you want is still available at 2:30; it’s a steal.

Click here to become an A&K fan on Facebook, or here to access the big Abercrombie & Kent sale on Thursday, May 6.

Five travel gift ideas for Mother’s Day

by Tom Johansmeyer on

You need options – fast. Mother’s Day is less than month away, and moms want to travel. They want to get out on the road, be treated like royalty and experience all the luxuries for which they don’t have time day to day. With a whole world at your disposal, how do you choose? Well, I poked around and thought you might be interested in the following deals for Mother’s Day. Here are five ideas that will at least get you started.

1. Residence Inn by Marriott
At all 588 hotels, Residence Inn will be dishing out 50 red roses for moms – that’s 29,400 red roses you don’t need to remember to buy! Also, all guests – kids and dads included – will get free hot breakfast every day, free internet access and plenty of space in the guestrooms.

2. La Posada De Santa Fe Resort & Spa
Art, culture, fine dining and pampering are the norm in Santa Fe, and La Posada does it right. With its Mother’s Day Celebration package, good from May 1, 2010 to July 5, 2010, the resort kicks in a $200 spa credit (good at the RockResorts spa), a pair of specialty turquoise margaritas at the Staab Lounge and a bottle of champagne with chocolate-diped strawberries.3. ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa
Is there a stylish mom you need to take care of next month? ONE Bal Harbour has the answer. Ship her off with her friends for a girls-only getaway, where she can truly get away from the demands of motherhood for a little while. The resort’s “Sun, Stay and Shop” package includes two cocktails at the hotel bar, breakfast every day and a VIP shopping experience that’s got a car service, personal consultation and a special discount at Saks Fifth Avenue’s 5th Avenue Club.

4. Concorde Hotels & Resorts
Get mom off to the City of Lights this Mother’s Day for three night at the century- old, landmark Hotel Lutetia. With the “Centennial Offer,” this Parisian hotel includes a double room, buffet breakfast daily and a 100 euro gift voucher (for a celebration dinner, maybe?).

5. Abercrombie & Kent
Okay, this is top of the line. If you’re a fan of our Daily Pampering column, consider this to be up your alley. Check out an A&K “Journeys for Women” trip, which give moms and daughters the chance to bond while experiencing a foreign culture.

Contest: Abercrombie & Kent will welcome winners to Provence

by Tom Johansmeyer on


Luxury hospitality company Abercrombie & Kent wants to put you up in a beautiful villa in Provence for a week. In a new online contest, a week at a villa in Luberon is at stake: all you have to do is read minds.

Surrounded by 20 hectares of countryside, Le Mas du Luberon boasts seven bedrooms, a heated saltwater pool (enclosed) and other recreational activities. On the bikes available at the villa, you can pedal over to the nearby villages Bonnieux, Lacoste, Gordes and Roussillon. The villa comes with a separate cottage, ideal for extended families or large groups of friends that may require some extra privacy.

To enjoy your week in Provence, all Abercrombie & Kent wants to know is what the vacationer above is thinking. Come up with the best reflection or reverie, and you could find yourself in France … wrapped in the luxury that only A&K can provide.

Four top-shelf New Year’s Eve destinations (and something else)

by Tom Johansmeyer on

If you plan to make New Year’s Eve memorable, you need to start pulling the trigger now. The best stuff does get snapped up quickly, and even if you have a load of cash at your disposal, you could wind up late to the party. So, if a shortage of ideas is the only thing in your way, check out the five suggestions below. For four of them, be prepared to spend some dough. The fifth is for everyone else.

1. Villa Sancha (Spain)
Head out to the Andalucian valley of southern Spain and make Villa Sanchez your spot for the biggest party night of the year. Enjoy the private outdoor courtyard at this Abercrombie & Kent villa, and be sure to pass a relaxing day at an Arab bath in Malaga. Sip some sherry in nearby Jerez. This sort of luxury isn’t cheap, but it’s worth it: eight adults, one child starts at $6,207 … but a welcome meal is included.

2. Hotel Martinez (France)
This is a disco-lover’s dream. Groove along to tribute band Bee Gees Magic at the Hotel Martinez, which is apparently a hot group for those who are into that kind of thing. Enjoy an amazing gala dinner in the Salon Royal Galuchat, prepared by Chef Christian Sinicropi, and then let the glitter fly. The deal starts at $719 a night, but it includes the New Year’s Eve party (with dinner, champagne and wines selected by master sommelier). For an extra $120 a person, you can celebrate the 80th anniversary of the hotel. Stay overnight on December 31, 2009 in a Superior room, and indulge in a buffet breakfast or continental breakfast served in your room.

3. Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel (United States)
The Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel and 606 Congress restaurant next door are ready to help you celebrate the start of 2010 in style. The “New Year’s Eve Beantown Bonus” package includes a night at the hotel, dinner for two at 606 Congress on New Year’s Eve and breakfast the next day and a late checkout. To help you get your motor running, you’ll receive free use of the health club and lap pool … not to mention a Starbucks card loaded appropriately to $20.10. Rates start at $299 a night.

4. Palmasola (Mexico)
This is beyond insane. A staff of 16 will attend to you and up to 17 other guests in a 25,000 beach-front villa. You’ll have a Michelin chef preparing your meals, and a party will be held for you and your friends. And, if that isn’t enough, you’ll have access to the Four Seasons resort not far away, and the Jack Nicklaus golf course. Be prepared to spend: partying at this level will set you back $18,750 a night, for a minimum of five nights.

5. Set yourself up for next year (Anywhere)
Take one last mileage run to see if you can finally hit gold or platinum elite status on the airline of your choice. Do shots of Absolut in an airport bar, and feast on whatever’s left at Au Bon Pain. Hey, this is an investment in the 365 days to come.

Get ready for the next A&K online sale

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Get ready for another hot online sale from upscale travel provider Abercrombie & Kent. The rules haven’t changed: you still have to book online, and the discount structure’s the same. Starting at 10 AM (EST) on December 10, 2009, nine itineraries will go on sale at a 5 percent discount. Then, every half hour, the price will drop another 5 percent. By the end of the event at 4 PM, the trips will hit the maximum discount of 60 percent. That’s a hell of a bargain … if there are any trips left by then. Inventory is limited, so sitting on your mouse means rolling the dice. It’s just like the deal run back in February.

This time around, the itineraries being offered are: Eastern Europe, East Africa, Chile, Galapagos, Egypt, Peru, Botswana/Zambia, Jordan and Turkey.