July 30, 2004 -- Whether you drive to Florida or fly, there are bargains for everyone if you look around. Promotions continue to pour into our offices, and we've picked several of the better offers out there.
Deals with Wings
Southwest Airlines Vacations has many promotions featuring the Sunshine State. Currently, the packager is sporting an Orlando sale for two nights with air, from as low as $99 out of Ft. Lauderdale; $149 out of Raleigh/Durham; or $179 out of Houston (prices are per person based on double occupancy). The package includes lodging at Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista, within one mile of Walt Disney World. Valid for travel on selected dates between August 12 and November 16. Go to www.swavacations.com for details.
ATA Vacations has a deal in Orlando, with stays at the Econolodge Maingate Resort, beginning at $174 out of Indianapolis and $209 from Chicago's Midway. You should book by August 6 for travel from August 17 through October 13. In addition to the Orlando package, ATA has deals to Ft. Myers at $184 from Indianapolis and $209 from Chicago; or to St. Petersburg at $219 from Indianapolis and $244 from Chicago. Add $25 for departures from several other Midwest cities, where great vacations are also available in Ft. Lauderdale, Miami or Sarasota. Contact them at www.atavacations.com or by phoning 800/442-8952.
Note that deals are available from other gateways, too, so just ask. Airport security fees and taxes are not included in the prices mentioned above.
Lodging Links
Don't forget that Orbitz.com, in addition to providing an easy way to find air bookings and values, also offers the chance to book hotels with or without air. At the time of this writing, Orbitz had a deal with Hyatt hotels for the summer, ending on September 6, that gives rooms at the Miami Hyatt Regency from only $85 and at the Tampa Hyatt Regency from just $74 per night. Both are four-star hotels by anyone's standards. The rates reflect a 20% discount off the usual rates and are applicable only on weekends. Check it out at www.orbitz.com.
Through eleisurelink.com, you can find other Miami and Miami Beach discounts as well. The least expensive of several offers is at the Royal Palm Crowne Plaza (on 15th and Collins Avenue), where rooms are available at $135 per night from now through September 30, 2004. This is a grouping of five buildings in Art Deco style with contemporary furnishings, and is two blocks from Ocean Drive and the Lincoln Road Mall.
Also moderately priced is the Shore Club (19th and Collins Avenue), where you can get a room for $139 per night from now through October 31, 2004. Two restored Art Deco hotels and a new tower make up the 325-room hotel, with two pools, full service spa, gardens, nightclub and two restaurants.
At $159 per night through September 11 you can have a room at the posh Loews South Beach (16th and Collins), the 790 rooms in a 1929 building with modern tower, freeform pool, fitness center, beachfront and kids' camp.
Finally, consider the Ritz Carlton South Beach at 1 Lincoln Road, a complete restoration of a 1953 Morris Lapidus-designed landmark in the historic Art D? district. Rooms run from $179 per night from now through October 2 for a resort view room and from $259 for ocean view.
For all four of the above, go to www.eleisurelink.com or phone 888/801-8808.