As 2015 draws to a close, look forward to a new year of adventures around the world. Travel + Leisure just released its list of the 50 Best Places to Travel in 2016, rounding up the hottest places to visit across the continents. Travelzoo compiled a list of deals in some of our favorite featured destinations, saving members as much as 60% on bucket list-worthy vacations.
Seattle
Shedding its grungy reputation of the 1990s, Seattle is catching up with its sister-city, Portland, on the hot list of foodie destinations. The culinary scene in Capitol Hill is on the rise and new streetcar and light rail lines connect the area to the SeaTac airport.
Stays at Seattle’s 4-star Hotel Deca are discounted up to 55% through February. The Art Deco hotel is adjacent to the University of Washington and within a 20-minute drive of Capitol Hill and popular tourist attractions like the Space Needle and Pike Place Market.
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Surrounded by the Columbia, Cariboo and Cascade Mountains, the region of British Columbia has drawn outdoorsy types for years. A new scene focused on local food and wine is emerging, adding the region’s 130 wineries and farm-to-table restaurants to travel plans of the culinary curious.
Save up to 45% on weeklong stays at the Best Western Plus Sunrise Inn in the Osoyoos region of the valley through February. Rooms accommodate two adults and two children and the family-friendly destination includes hiking, skiing and snowmobiling.
Casablanca, Morocco
A gateway between Europe and Africa, the modern city was founded in 10th century BC and evolved into the country’s most liberal as diverse cultures passed through its ports. Travel + Leisure says, “go now for uncrowded access to architectural wonders like the seaside Hassan II Mosque,” one of the few mosques in the country that are open to visitors of all religious backgrounds.
Named Africa’s Leading MICE Hotel, the 5-star Mazagan Beach Resort offers Travelzoo members exclusive extras including upgraded rooms and one 30-minute massage per person ($90 value). The coastal property includes four miles of private beach, the longest golf course in Morocco, clay tennis courts and complimentary bicycles.
Canouan, Grenadines
The tiny island at the end of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is “where billionaires go to get away from the millionaires.” In 2016, Canouan will unveil a mega-yacht marina and an unnamed resort with an underwater spa and villas starting at $2000 per night – easily becoming the Caribbean’s most expensive hotel.
Travelzoo members score an exclusive $150 credit at the all-inclusive Palm Island Saint Vincent & The Grenadines Resort. The private island property is ringed with coral reefs, ideal for snorkeling, and rates include meals, cocktails, afternoon tea, beach barbecues and non-motorized water sports.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Steel City is experiencing a renaissance as abandoned warehouses are transformed into art galleries like the Andy Warhol Museum. The dilapidated East Liberty neighborhood, once the very affluent home of the Heinz and Carnegie families, is being revitalized with the opening of new shops, cafes and boutique hotels.
Stays at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown through March are discounted over 60%. The hotel sits at the tip of the Golden Triangle, where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers join to form the Ohio River, and is near the Andy Warhol Museum, Point State Park and Heinz Field.
Costa Rica
Eco tourists have trekked to this tiny Central American nation since the 1980s to experience biodiversity rivaled by few other places in the world. Liberia’s International Airport opened in 2012, bringing visitors – and luxury resorts to accommodate them – to the country’s west coast.
The Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo offers up to $500 resort credit into December 2016 for an indulgent spa treatment or a round of golf overlooking the Bahia de Culebra. The 5-star resort is close to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Rincon de la Vieja’s volcanic hot springs and world-class sport fishing off the Guanacaste coast.
Wales
Adrenaline seekers can find adventure on the western peninsula of the British Isles, just two hours from London. The natural beauty of the Celtic country’s green fields draws a wide range of visitors for outdoor activities. Coast Path offers 870-miles of oceanfront paths for hikers, Gower Peninsula’s west-facing beaches offer Britain’s best surfing and climbers argue the best way to see Wales is from the summit of the Snowdon, the nation’s highest mountain.
Set on acres of lush gardens, the Tre-Ysgawen Hall Country House Hotel and Spa offers easy access to the surrounding Snowdonia Mountains and includes an award-winning golf course on-site. Guests get full complimentary entry to the spa’s salt therapy room, ice fountain, indoor pool and fitness center, Travelzoo members also receive a free bottle of prosecco and upgraded room ($35 value).
Detroit, Mich.
Over one hundred new restaurants opened their doors in Motor City over the last two years and abandoned buildings like the historic David Whitney Building are transforming into boutique hotels. As high end designers vie for retail space and breweries breathe new life into two hundred years of Michigan beer, it’s easy to see why Detroit is being hailed as “America’s Greatest Comeback City.”
The Courtyard by Marriott Detroit Downtown is attached to the People Mover, allowing quick access around downtown. Two of Detroit’s newest attractions are within two miles of the hotel; West Riverfront Park’s biking and running trails as well as the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center, including an aquarium and man-made waterfall. Stay fit on the road with a dip in the hotel’s indoor pool or at the state-of-the-art fitness center, complete with a track and tennis courts.
Galapagos, Ecuador
The archipelago six hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador has been the jewel in natural world’s crown since Darwin visited almost two hundred years ago. A penguin population boom makes this year a great time to visit, as chances to see the critically endangered species are at an all-time high.
Sightseeing by sailboat is still the best way to view Galapagos. TripMaster’s weeklong itinerary includes flights to and from Quito, intercountry flights a four-night cruise with guided tours of the islands and daily breakfast.
Denver, Colo.
These days, Colorado attracts more than the ski crowd this winter. The Mile High City offers more than direct passage to some of the country’s best ski slopes with year round attractions in the city’s parks, museums and, of course, the nRocky Mountains.
Visitors to Colorado’s capital city can save 50% through February at the AAA 4-Diamond Westin Denver Downtown. Home to an indoor/outdoor pool and the top-rated Palm Restaurant, the hotel is on 16th Street, a mile-long pedestrian strip lined with shops and restaurants.
Havana, Cuba
President Obama’s historic announcement that travel restrictions to the neighboring nation would soon loosen opened the floodgates for travel companies ready to do business in Cuba. Verizon now offers cellphone service, cruise lines added Cuban ports to their sailing itineraries and JetBlue now offers nonstop charter flights from NYC and LA to Havana. Visit before the capital loses its vintage charm.
Take advantage of the lowest priced Cuba vacation Travelzoo Deal Experts have ever seen, saving travelers up to $1350. Highlights of the four-night guided tour include a concert at the Grammy Award-winning Buena Vista Social Club and a visit to the home of Ernest Hemingway.
San Antonio
Alamo City reveals a revamped River Walk this year. The famed promenade shows off its makeover from a congested tourist trap into 15 miles of trail connecting the Spanish mission to the Pearl, a hipster outpost named after the brewery that once occupied the real estate. The area now brims with locally-owned shops as well as the Culinary Institute of America’s campus.
Book a stay at the luxurious La Cantera Resort in San Antonio’s Hill Country. The AAA 4-Diamond is only twenty minutes from downtown yet surrounded by an idyllic natural setting transformed into a golfer’s paradise. Travelzoo members receive upgraded accommodations and breakfast for two while saving over $100 per night.
Guatemala
Travel to the hotbed of violence in Central America has remained mainly on the bucket list of thrill seekers, but 2015 saw the election of a new president and a crackdown on political corruption. Embracing the pre-Columbian attractions, the government is constructing highways to archaeological sites in remote corners of the country and Mayan villages, once only accessible via helicopter or a five-day hike. Hotel chains like Marriott and Hyatt announced plans to open properties in Guatemala City’s Zona Viva – the city’s coolest barrio.
Chart the course for adventure with a four-night journey into Guatemala’s jungles. Together with a small group and guide, explore Mayan ruins, colonial buildings and natural wonders. The deal from Gate 1 Travel saves $1600 off the cost of similar packages.
Canggu, Bali
Influenced by the laidback Australian expats populating the island, visitors can find a wealth of water sports, yoga studios, thatch-roofed restaurants and beach shacks welcoming them to Canggu. For the most action, go in May or October, when the isle hosts two major surf competitions.
One hour from Canggu, the 5-star Leaf Jimbaran is applauded by Conde Nast as “a sanctuary for families, couples and individuals.” Book a three-night escape any time through November 2016 and save 40% on a package including airport transfers, daily breakfast, shuttle to the beach and dining discount.
Frankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt is a city of contrasts. The city’s skyline includes some of the highest and most avant-garde skyscrapers stacked next to pristine older buildings and streets are filled with bankers and bearded grad students. The financial center of Germany, and possibly all of continental Europe, saw a cultural shakeup as tastemakers open hot spots in the derelict red-light district around the main train station.
Step into a fairy-tale at the luxurious Villa Kennedy. The riverfront gothic mansion is within walking distance of the city’s renowned museums and the medieval center. Travelzoo members enjoy exclusive extras including daily breakfast, Champagne and tickets to the nearby Stadel Art Gallery ($115 value).
Douro Valley, Portugal
The first officially designated wine region in the world, Douro Valley shows evidence of winemaking dating back to the 3rd century AD. Today, visitors can wander the terraced vineyards along the Douro River, take part in the harvest and observe winemakers producing port.
Only an hour’s drive from Madrid, the Hotel Tudanca-Aranda welcomes guests to Douro with 40% off through February. Overnight visits to the 4-star property include breakfast, a bottle of wine, late checkout and a tour of the hotel’s wine cellars.
Richmond, Va.
The capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia was settled over four hundred years ago and is decorated with reminders of the city’s storied past. Civil War monuments adorn street corners and Maymont Park, comprised of a Japanese tea garden, Italian fountains and grazing sheep, was a private estate donated to become one of the country’s most beautiful public parks.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places itself, Linden Row Inn is filled with antique furnishing and surrounded by important landmarks. The inn sits upon the land once owned by Edgar Allan Poe’s family and is a ten minute walk to Jackson Ward, a beautiful neighborhood that was once the epicenter of Richmond’s black culture. Travelzoo members receive breakfast, valet parking and upgraded rooms.
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