As mentioned in
last year's Trip Pick, when most of our friends think of Austin, a
South-by-Southwest Festival is what springs to mind first. After all, the city hosts three separate SXSW conferences each March: one for music and media, another for film, and one for the "interactive" folks. And at each and every festival, regardless of job description, attendees party like rockstars.
And while we love music, movies and the internets, we always cringe when we realize that for many people, SXSW will be the only way they'll visit the city. It's a real shame, considering the laid back charm of this Texas town is one of its finest attributes. That, and the impressive outdoors that lie just beyond its city streets ...
Most relaxing vacation memory: On a recent trip I went to San Pedro La Laguna in Guatamala and stayed at
Mikaso. For breakfast we ate on the patio facing the massive, serene lake. You sip good coffee and look at nature and try to remember why you don’t live there permanently!
Ever been upgraded? I was upgraded once because the airline accidentally assigned my seat to two people, and when I got to my seat number, my seat was already taken! So the flight attendant sat me in an unassigned seat in first class. I thought I was so cool. She asked me if I wanted a drink and I ordered tea, she came back with the tea and handed it to me, and I took one sip, realized it was scalding hot, and dropped the cup and the tea all over myself. Clearly the cosmos doesn’t see me as first-class material. I stick in coach now where I belong….
This week features the best getaways from around the globe selected, of course, with New Yorkers in mind. Better yet, each one of the specials we're featuring offers serious savings.
On that note, our favorite find of the week is a New York/Paris apartment swap for mid-February. The pied-à-terre looks perfect, as is the price (free for the right swapee). Keep reading for more details on this deal, as well as an overview of all our specials, or
click through for details on how to book each one.
Note: flights are nonstop, roundtrip, and include taxes and fees.
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- Chicago Chic for Less: A fantastic property in The Windy City is offering rooms for under $150/night with a $50 food and drink credit. Offer ends soon.
- San Francisco Savings: Stay in SF at a boutique waterfront hotel for just $85 on weekend nights through April.
- Third Night Free in Miami: Rooms at one of Miami's newest (and nicest) hotels are reduced 33% to $210/night with this generous offer.
- Kentucky Winner: One of our favorite hotels in the world (pictured) is located in Louisville hotel, and a private sale (you're invited) deeply discounts rooms starting tomorrow.
- Paris Exchange: Have the week of February 15th to the 22nd free? Consider exchanging your New York apartment for one in the City of Lights. After all, the price is right - free.
- Tuscan Villa: A luxurious 4-bedroom and 4-bathroom property has lush grounds, a full kitchen and dining room, fireplace, and a very large looking pool is being auctioned off for just $1,475/week, meaning a group of 8 can stay here for just $52/night per couple!
- West Coast for $219: Head to San Francisco, Los Angeles or Las Vegas for way, way less on an award-winning domestic carrier.
- Domestic Deals: A major carrier is having a sale with flights to destinations throughout the US marked down for travel through March 10th. Our favorite find is airfare to Miami for $184 in early March.
- London for $575: Flights to London's Heathrow airport are as low as $575 for travel between March 19th and May 15th.
- Ireland + Beyond: Lucky you! Direct flights to Shannon and Dublin from JFK are only $559 this winter, and a little more in the summer and spring.
