As has been noted here and in other places, there are deals to be had in travel in these parlous financial times.

A day doesn't pass when I don't get a press release or notice of a new deep discount, or excellent inclusive offering. One of the trends I'm noticing is that the British Isles are becoming (slightly more) affordable. I just got a release about an organization that can be a real money-saver for North Americans heading across the Atlantic.

The Royal Oak Foundation (www.royal-oak.org) is the American membership affiliate of the National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as the National Trust of Scotland.

Royal Oak members (of which there are around 42,000 in the U.S.) get free entry to over 200 important historic houses and gardens, 40 castles, 76 nature reserves, and six World Heritage Sites owned by the National Trust. The Foundation also offers a series of lectures and other public programs in U.S. cities on topics including British history, architecture, gardens, the fine and decorative arts – as well as other programs in the U.K.

Basic membership is $55 per year for an individual, $80 for two people, $90 for a family. With individual admissions to the historic sites running anywhere from $14-$25,  membership pays for itself by around the third visit, if you love the historic homes. Even if you're not venturing far from London, there are around 35 properties to visit in and around the city, ranging from Thomas Carlyle's house to Cliveden, to Chartwell (Winston Churchill's family home).

A number of the historic homes have been converted into hotels, and the purpose of the release that I got last week was to let me (and you, dear readers) know about discounts of up to 25% for stays for Royal Oak members through the end of May in three of the newest properties: Hartwell House near Aylesbury, Bodysgallen Hall in North Wales, and Middlethorpe Hall, in York.

Hartwell House Hotel

With room rates from £165-£240 pounds ($242-$352) per night, the 25% discount takes the rates down to approximately $182-$264 (as of the end of December's exchange rate).

The Royal Oak website (which is not particularly intuitive, and in some places needs to be updated), also provides information about stateside lectures, special events, escorted tours, and other opportunities (and discounts) available to members.

Photo courtesy of the Royal Oak Foundation.