March 26, 2004 - We've got a Beatlesesque hotel stay in Montreal, a summer-long promotion in West Hollywood, and off-season savings in Disney's Florida resorts in this pastiche of travel opportunities.
If you're a Beatles fan, or just like skipping down memory lane on a nostalgia trip, you could emulate John Lennon and Yoko Ono up in Montreal later this spring, sleeping in their suite, wearing pajamas like theirs...the works, in fact, in a package offered by the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel. John and Yoko holed up in the Queen Elizabeth back in May 26 to June 2, 1969, where the newlyweds held their famous bed-in to promote world peace, and where Lennon penned "Give Peace a Chance." Now, you, too, can commemorate this 35th anniversary with a Fairmont package that includes a night in the John & Yoko Suite (# 1742), the pajamas, a bouquet of white flowers, white rose petals on the bed, a tea box with English jams, personalized menus, full breakfast and dinner as ordered by the pair, a bottle of wine, calligraphy-inscribed keepsake lyrics to the song, two CDs, framed Bed-In picture, limo transfer from the airport, and more. Available from May 1 through December 31, the cost per room is CDN $1,969 or approx US $1,471 (taxes not included). Contact the Fairmont people at www.fairmont.com or phone 800/441-1414.
West Hollywood is bringing back its "Sights & Sounds Tour" again this summer, beginning on May 1 and running through September 1. There will be reduced rates at 12 hotels in town, and visitors using the promotion will get more discounts through a free copy of The LACard (normally costing $39.95), obtainable on check in.
The Summer 2004 promotion includes festivals, theater and the arts, at venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, the Getty Center and the new Walt Disney Concert Hall, to mention only a few spots. Among the hotel deals are these examples: Valadon Hotel, junior suite starting at $109 per night; Hyatt West Hollywood, $129 per room from Sundays through Thursdays, $139 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Contact West Hollywood Visitors Bureau at 800/368-6020 and request the free Sights& Sounds Tour brochure. More details of the promotion will be on their website, www.visitwesthollywood.com, beginning May 1. Additional information on The LA Card, which offers discounts at LA area attractions, restaurants and shops, can be had at www.thelacard.com.
It's no surprise that those innovative folks at Disney World have come up with more programs to keep their hotels full and the theme parks buzzing. They've just announced a Summer Resort Savings deal at three groups of their lodgings, available most nights from April 18 through July 4. You must book by April 17 to get these rates, which are for a limited number of units. The nightly room rates, which do not include taxes, are as follows:
- Value Resorts from $74
- Moderate Resorts from $94
- Select Deluxe Resorts from $139
Value Resorts, rated "three keys" by Disney itself, include the All-Stars Movies Resort, the All-Stars Sports Resort and the All-Stars Music Resort. The Moderate Resorts, rated four keys, include the Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, and two places at Port Orleans, the French Quarter and Riverside. The Deluxe Resorts are rated six keys by Disney and include the most expensive properties they have.
One of the benefits of staying at a Disney Resort is an "Extra Magic Hour." Each day, one of the theme parks is open for an extra hour so guests can enjoy more time there. You'll need a valid theme park ticket and Resort ID to benefit from this. To book one of these rooms, phone 407/W-DISNEY or your travel agent and ask for code BBY.
