There’s still time to book special eco-friendly getaways for the holidays. These travel adventures are great gifts to give yourself.
Zion National Park is one of my favorite places in the world to hike and inhale the beauty of the rugged scenery and the clear air — that photo of me is atop the Angels Landing trail in Zion. Winter is a great time to visit, especially with the “Zion in Winter” reduced rate hotel package. From Dec. 1 to March 31, overnight stays in historic Zion Lodge start at just $89 for a valley view and $99 for a mountain view. The package includes free breakfast. Use the code WNTR when making reservations. Zion Lodge is an eco-friendly green hotel.
Windstar Cruises has special, lower rates for holiday cruises. Sail on the Wind Spirit for a seven-day Caribbean cruise with stops at St. Kitts, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and St. Barts, all smaller, picturesque ports that the humongous cruise ships are simply too big to visit. That’s because Windstar ships carry just 148 to 312 passengers. Windstar was just rated one of the top small ship cruise lines by readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine. The holiday cruise sails roundtrip from St. Martin on December 19, with rates from $1,635 per person, double occupancy.
InterContinental Hotels has a free night third night promotion. Stay two nights at any InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Express, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites before December 31, 2010, and you’ll earn a free night to use in 2011. There’s more than 4,000 hotels to choose from, so you’ll certainly find one where you can earn this third night free travel deal. My choice would be the InterContinental Times Square, which opened this past summer in New York City, and is a LEED certified green hotel. Besides, nothing compares with New York City at the holidays.
Costa Rica — Book a reservation at any of the three Greentique eco-hotels and lodges in Costa Rica and get 30% off. Your booking also supports the efforts of The Rainforest Alliance, whose goal is to save and restore the native forests of the Caribbean and South America. The Si Como No Resort Spa & Wildlife Refuge, Aguila de Osa Rainforest Adventure Lodge, Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel & Nature Reserve all border either a national park or a biological reserve, or both. By the way, I totally support the work of The Rainforest Alliance.
So if you are not visiting grandma’s house for the holidays, pack your bags for one of these travel adventures.
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