Thanksgiving Getaway Deals in Cities Across the U.S.A.

In recent years there has been a growing trend toward a different kind of traveling for Thanksgiving. It is a holiday weekend, after all, and those who are tired of the same old holiday dinner can mix things up a bit and leave the cooking (and cleanup) to someone else. Most of the deals below are located in cities, and keep in mind that shopping may be on the minds of travelers, too, as Thanksgiving's passing officially kicks off the Christmas season (contrary to what department store decorations tell you on October 1). In the second installment of our look at traveling for Thanksgiving, we have gathered up some deals for hotels, airfare, and restaurants across the United States.

Travelocity (tel. 888/872-8356; www.travelocity.com) has an airfare special for roundtrip flights for $199 or less that the company is calling "Oh, the Places You Can Go." Sample routes include Cleveland-St. Louis $103, Dallas-Miami $183, Detroit-Los Angeles $183, Memphis-Atlanta $71; Chicago-San Antonio $172 -- but there dozens more.

Continental Airlines (tel. 800/523-3273; www.continental.com) is offering a special sale on travel November 18-24, and again December 16-January 5. Typically, these are time periods when blackout dates apply to many fare sales. This is not for the light of wallet, however: the deal is for business class fares.

Expedia (tel. 800/EXPEDIA; www.expedia.com) is running a fall fare sale for select United flights, starting from $103. Tickets must be purchased at least 21 days in advance, and the fares are valid for all days of the week through December 20, 2006. A one-night minimum stay is required for some destinations as well. Sample roundtrip fares include Boise-Portland, priced from $103; Albany-Raleigh $193; Los Angeles-Philadelphia $323; Seattle-Tampa, $323, and more. Note: A search for flights leaving Philadelphia the day before Thanksgiving, to Los Angeles, returning the Saturday after Thanksgiving, revealed a flight price of about $100 more -- $431 roundtrip.

Hotel Deals

Hotels.com (tel. 800/246-8357; www.hotels.com) is featuring Thanksgiving travel in its "thanksgiving deals-a-plenty" with hotel prices reduced in a number of cities large and small across the United States. Buffalo's Adam's Mark Hotel is priced from $119, the Spring Creek Ranch in Jackson Hole, WY, is priced from $119.85, and the Radisson Hotel Manchester in New Hampshire is priced from $124.00.

Barton Creek Resort & Spa (tel. 800/336-6158; www.bartoncreek.com) offers a holiday package for Thanksgiving, valid for stays November 22-26: daily breakfast and Thanksgiving Holiday Dinner are included. Rates start from $183 per person, and stays require a two-night minimum.

The historic Driskill Hotel (tel. 512/474-5911; www.driskillhotel.com) celebrates Thanksgiving in a few ways. First, if you book a room online for stays from now through Thanksgiving weekend and type in the code "save30" you will receive 30 percent off. Additionally, the hotel hosts a Thanksgiving brunch, with chef-attended stations, live music, and traditional holiday food. The brunch is priced at $48 for adults, $24 for children 6-12, and children under five eat for free. Later, the Driskill Grill will have a four-course, pre-fixe menu, priced at $75 per person. Meal prices do not include tax or gratuity.

Boston

The Lenox Hotel (tel. 800/225-7676; www.lenoxhotel.com) has an offer for $299 per room, per night, based on double occupancy, available for Thanksgiving Day that includes deluxe accommodations with a wood-burning fireplace, Thanksgiving dinner for two at the hotel's award-winning restaurant Azure, and full American breakfast for two at Azure.

Boston's Hampshire House (tel. 617/421-5429; www.hampshirehouse.com) has become a traditional spot for locals. Its Thanksgiving Day dinner menu is priced at $55 per person, exclusive of taxes, beverages and gratuities; a separate children's menu is also available. The dinner consists of a three-course meal, with the likes of pumpkin bisque, roasted turkey, and pumpkin pie for dessert.

The recently renovated Royal Sonesta Hotel (tel. 800/SONESTA; www.sonesta.com), located in Cambridge just across the Charles River, is offering a rate of $179 for the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Guest room goodies include video games, both wired and wireless Internet access throughout the hotel and access to the hotel's pool and health club.

Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel (tel. 800/621-8140; www.millenniumhotels.com) is offering a Holiday Shopping package, valid November 1 through December 30. Located on the Magnificent Mile, the hotel is close to Bloomingdale's and many other stores. The overnight packages start at $199 per room, including shopping discount cards. The hotel's bistro, NiX, plans a Thanksgiving buffet available from noon to 9pm that includes a herb roasted turkey, honey baked ham, sweet potato casserole, cream of pumpkin soup, and pecan and pumpkin pies. Those dining at the hotel can enjoy the feast for $40 for adults, $18 for children -- the price is separate from the holiday shopping package.

Nashville

The Millennium Hotel in Nashville inside the historic Maxwell House (tel. 800/621-8140; www.millenniumhotels.com) has a special package that benefits Toys for Tots. "Spirit of Giving" is priced at $249 and urges travelers to bring a toy or a make a monetary donation to the Toys for Tots Charity. The package includes a two-night stay, $50 shopping gift certificate, buffet breakfast for two, free parking and high-speed Internet access. The package is available November 17-December 20. Although this promotion does not include any specific meal for Thanksgiving, the spirit of the season instead, is the imperative.

The hotel is also offering a "Let's Be Thankful" package, valid for travel November 17-27, with buffet breakfast and free parking, starting from $99 for one night, excluding tax and service charge

New York

For information on restaurants and hotels and New York, it's useful to start at NYC's Visitor's Site (tel. 800/NYC-VISIT; www.nycvisit.com) An annual tradition for some families is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, (tel. 212/494-4495; www.macys.com) which begins at 77th Street and Central Park at 9am and continues its march down Broadway, concluding, of course, with the arrival of Santa Claus

The centrally located Hotel Pennsylvania (tel. 800/223-8585; www.hotelpenn.com) offers a number of specials on its web site that are good through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The Shopper's Special Package gives guests incentives and discounts at a number of stores in the city, including Macy's, Skechers, Crouch & Fitzgerald, and more. The hotel also offers a 4-for-3 package, good for Sunday and Monday arrivals only; there is limited availability for this during Thanksgiving week. You pay for three nights and get the fourth night free. You can call the hotel directly to book, or use this page to look at all your options. The shopper's package's availability during Thanksgiving week costs about $299 per night. These offers are valid through December 31, based on availability.

The French-American restaurant Tocqueville is known for its Thanksgiving dinner (tel. 212/647-1515; www.tocquevillerestaurant.com). The restaurant will be open Thanksgiving Day from 12pm to 10pm, and groups of eight or more can be accommodated. A three-course, prix fixe dinner will be served at $68, with items such as house made foie gras terrine on the appetizer menu, whiskey and cider braised ham, a free range organic turkey, and dessert items including cheese, apple charlotte, and bourbon pecan tart.

Additionally, downtown at HQ (tel. 212/966-2755; www.hqrestaurant.com) a special menu is offered at $50 per person for four courses, or $75 per person with wine pairings. The menu includes either pumpkin risotto, grilled venison, bouillabaisse, or a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with free range turkey.

Orlando

The Rosen Plaza Hotel (tel. 800/627-8258; www.rosenplazahotel.com) has a Thanksgiving special that includes one night luxury accommodations, Thanksgiving buffet for two adults, complimentary valet parking, complimentary Internet service, from $129 plus tax. The deal is good for a stay on November 22 or 23, and additional nights are available from $89 plus tax and are valid November 19-26. Additional Thanksgiving Day buffets are priced at $29.50 per adult plus tax and $13.95 per child, plus tax.

Seattle Andaluca (407 Olive Way; tel. 206/382-6999), one of the city's finest restaurants, is offering a special three-course prix fixe meal for $50 per person. Choose from a butternut squash soup or field green salad for a starter, herb marinated roasted quail or a beef tenderloin for dinner, with gingerbread bread pudding serve with a vanilla custard, caramel sauce and pomegranate for dessert. The price does not include tax or gratuity.

After dinner, you can walk around town and shopping, or get on the elevator and head toward your room, as Andaluca is located on the first floor of the Mayflower Park Hotel (tel. 800/426-5100; www.mayflowerpark.com). For the holidays, the hotel is offering a shopping package, good for $149 per night and 50 percent off on parking from November 1 through December 30. The rates start at $149 for a classic guest room, and go up to $209 for a suite. Rates are based on availability and do not include tax.

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