Fall can be a great opportunity to get into hotels and resorts that stay booked up -- or are just too pricey -- during the summer months. These money-saving deals deliver value in Washington state and in Florida.
25% off at Seattle Area's Salish Lodge
Autumn is a fabulous time to book a stay at the Salish Lodge and Spa (www.salishlodge.com), just 30 minutes outside Seattle and overlooking Snoqualimie Falls. This AAA Four Diamond winner, which has been on Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List and Travel+Leisure's 500 World's Best Hotels, may be at its best in the cooler months. It's woodsy, cozy, yet very plush.
Book with the "Book Now and Save" offer before Oct. 7, and you'll get 25% off the best available rate for a midweek (Sunday through Thursday) stay in November. When we looked at some mid-November dates, we found a room with two double beds, a wood-burning fireplace, and views of the river for $201 a night, down from $269 -- a solid 25% savings. Grown-ups will love the spa and acclaimed wining-and-dining, while the whole family can use the nearby hiking trails, check out the falls, and take in the wonderful autumnal vibe. This is the time of year when that in-room fireplace will be more than just décor.
The offer is valid Sundays through Thursdays, Nov. 1 to 23, and must be booked by Oct. 7. Bookings must be pre-paid and are non-refundable and non-transferrable. Book online using promo code BNS_25, or call reservations at tel. 800/272-5474.
Third Night free at Florida's Sandestin Resort
Like the idea of a resort that's a destination in itself? Sprawling across 2,400 acres on the Sunshine State's Gulf Coast, the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort (www.sandestin.com) features 30 "village neighborhoods." The 1,800 lodging options range from high-rise beachfront condos and dockside villas to bay-front condos and golf-course townhomes.
There's also a pedestrian village with shops, restaurants, nightly entertainment, and the Baytowne Adventure Zone (think zipline, ropes course, and eurobungy). The resort also boasts a seven-mile beach, four golf courses, 15 tennis courts, multiple swimming pools, miles of bike and jogging paths, half a dozen kids' play areas, a five-acre nature park, plus a fitness center and spa. If that's not enough, you'll find free rentals of kayaks and boogie boards at the beach, a kids' club, and a dedicated teen pool area.
Sandestin is offering a "Fall for it All" promotion that gives families a third night for free. When we test-booked a three-night stay in October, we found promo rates that are identical to the resort's regular rates. (This is important, since resorts often hike up the nightly rate on a promotion to recoup some of the cost of the "free" night. Not the case here.) More good news: The deal delivers a 33% savings across the board, so you can nab a two-bedroom beachwalk townhouse for $156 a night (instead of $234) or a two-bedroom condo just a stone's throw from the beach for $143 a night (instead of $215).
The "Fall for it All" promo runs through Nov. 20. As usual, there are some blackout dates. Book online or call tel. 800/622-1038, and use promo code "FREE3."
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