Earn extra miles or points with stays at Best Western
Members of Best Western's rewards program, Gold Crown Club International, will be able to earn double points or miles after completing two qualifying stays before April 6.
A qualified stay is defined as one or more nights at a Best Western hotel. Members of Best Western's AAA Preferred Gold Crown Club International will earn triple points with the same promotion.
Members must register in order to qualify for this promotion. If you're not a member, membership is free. For more information or to sign up, visit https://goldcrownclub.bestwestern.com/offers/special.asp.
Find items online for wary travelers
Travelers who worry about safety, security and cleanliness need only look at Travelon's 2008 collection, which is filled with simple, sensible solutions to ease your travel anxieties.
Among the items it has on its site is the Anti-Theft Bag (retails for $39.99 to $49.99) that's "slash-and-grab" proof because the strap and pouch are lined with wire reinforcements so neither can be slit with a knife.
If you're a germaphobe, it's best if you fly with your own pillow and blanket, and this is where the Anti-Microbial Pillow and Blanket ($24.99 for the pillow and $29.99 for the blanket) come in. Both are machine washable and are treated with an anti-microbial agent.
The TSA's 3-1-1 toiletry regulation has left many travelers feeling less than fresh, but with postage-stamp-size Travel Sheets, there's no limit on toiletries. Mix with water and these tiny biodegradable strips produce ample suds. They are available in soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, shaving cream and laundry soap. Suggested retail is $4.99 for a pack of 50.
These are just a sample of items available from Travelon, which can be found at www.travelonbags.com.
Book a Maine eco-adventure
The Maine Windjammer Association and the Historic Inns of Rockland have joined forces to offer vacationers the chance to experience the natural beauty, unspoiled scenery and relaxation of a coastal Maine eco-adventure, by combining a four-day Maine Windjammer cruise with a three-day stay at one of the three Historic Inns of Rockland.
The package features plenty of green schemes, from leaving no trace on remote islands to arrival presents such as a compact florescent light bulb.
Simply start by booking a four-day windjamming cruise aboard one of the 12 windjammers in the fleet, then ask to add the land portion of the package.
The Land and Sea Package includes plenty of extra value, such as the four-day Maine Windjamming cruise, including breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, island exploration and Leave No Trace Outdoor Awareness Certification; Windjammer Watching field guidebook; transportation via hybrid taxi from docks to Historic Inns of Rockland; early check-in and/or free luggage storage and free parking; three-night stay at one of three Historic Inns of Rockland, each certified as a Maine Environmental Hospitality Leader; gourmet breakfast each morning; $50 in Midcoast Money to spend at one of Rockland's restaurants; tickets to Maine Lighthouse Museum; Maine seascape in chocolate by Safe Harbors chocolates, a community-based chocolatier; and INN-Dulgences Cookbook, a collection of Historic Inns of Rockland recipes.
Land and Sea Packages start at $825 per person for double occupancy for the seven-day package through 2008. Upgraded rooms and extended cruise or inn stays are also available at an additional charge and subject to availability.
For more information, visit www.SailMaineCoast.com, www.HistoricInnsofRockland.com or call (877) 762-4667.
Have an eco-chic wedding in Bermuda
While on the topic of eco-friendly travel, Bermuda's ultra-casual 9 Beaches resort is offering eco-chic weddings for the green at heart.
The resort itself is environmentally friendly, and now couples can opt for an ecologically sound ceremony. Highlights of the wedding package include: six bottles of organic champagne; three- or four-tiered organic wedding cake; organic boutonniere; organic bouquet; organic floral cake topper; eco-centerpiece of 9 Beaches sand with naturally harvested seashells and a clean burning pillar candle set in a clear cylinder vase.
Additionally, couples can help Bermuda's environment by planting the nearly extinct Bermuda cedar tree at 9 Beaches, commemorating their union. The seedling can be personalized with a nameplate, so when couples return for their anniversaries, they can visit their own tree.
Pricing starts at $9,140 and accommodates 40 people. For a full description of the eco-chic wedding offerings, see www.9beaches.com/weddings/WeddingPlanner.pdf.
9 Beaches has 84 private cabanas stretched over 18 acres on the westernmost tip of Bermuda. Environment-friendly features include pedal bicycles and battery-operated transportation around the resort; solar-powered lighting and hot water; caught rainwater for use in the hotel; minimal air conditioning; motion sensors on exterior cabana lights; and use of local produce.
For more information or to make a reservation, visit www.9beaches.com or call (866) 841-9009.
Reach George Hobica at
hobica@gmail.com, Kim Liang
Tan at KimLiangTan@aol.com
or log on to www.airfarewatchdog.com.