April 29, 2024

Happy Travel & Tour

Specialists Travel & Tours

25 Best Spring Travel Deals, From Nile River Cruises to Major Hotel Discounts

25 Best Spring Travel Deals, From Nile River Cruises to Major Hotel Discounts

Amtrak is discounting California’s Pacific Surfliner and Maine-to-Boston Downeaster routes.

Cameron Davidson/Courtesy Rocky Mountaineer 

Train deals

Save big on Amtrak’s Southern California and New England journeys

Weekend trips to the California coast are easier now, with the return of Pacific Surfliner trains connecting Los Angeles and San Diego. To celebrate the route reopening on weekends, travelers will get 25 percent off trips along the train route for a brief time. More details on booking here

If you prefer the beaches of the Northeast, Amtrak has something for you, too. Tickets on the Downeaster train, which runs five round-trips between Boston and Maine each day, are now eligible for a buy one, get one half-off deal. The special discount runs through December 2024, so you have plenty of time to enlist a travel buddy—just book at least three days in advance! More details on the Maine discount here.

Tour deals

Stay at the Slieve Donard in Ireland, see Game of Thrones film sets

Game of Thrones fans, heads up: the Slieve Donard, an upscale, 218-room property in Ireland, is unveiling a renovation this summer—and on tap for GoT-loving guests is a package complete with a studio tour near the area where the beloved series was filmed. Nightly rates are about $213 for the Game of Thrones Studio Tour Package, which includes overnight accommodations and breakfast every morning at Slieve Donard and, of course, tour tickets. This interactive experience transports fans to Westeros via a massive collection of sets, costumes, and props from the series. Prices start at about $213 per night—significantly lower than standard rates, which begin at about $425.

New tour to Dubai and Abu Dhabi includes airfare, accommodations, and more—for under $1,000

Seven nights’ accommodation in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, daily breakfast, activities and transfers, and airfare from the US—all for under $1,000—is a pretty impressive deal, but that’s the latest offering from tour operator Indus Travels. Priced at $999, the newly announced Magic of Dubai itinerary starts in Dubai and ends in Abu Dhabi; the rate does not include a daily tourist tax of about $5. To book, visit here.

Hotel deals

Save hundreds on a spring holiday at Martinhal Sagres, a family-friendly resort in southern Portugal

The just-announced, 7-night Feels Like Summer Family Special offer at Martinhal Sagres, an upscale, family-friendly resort on the rugged southwest corner of Portugal, is an idyllic choice for a coastal getaway without the summer crowds. Starting from about $225 per night, the deal is good for two adults and one baby in a beach room and includes two three-course family meals during the stay (beverages not included); daily one-hour complimentary use of tennis or padel tennis courts; and other extras. For a larger group, rates for a two-bedroom house start at about $294. (Another huge parental perk at all Martinhal properties: free daily childcare.) With minimum nightly rates in June jumping to $475, this is a value-packed deal for families who want to enjoy a spring break holiday in Portugal–arguably one of the world’s most in-demand destinations at the moment—without breaking the bank. The offer is valid for stays from April 15 to May 19, 2023; to book, visit here.

Get an activity or adventure credit per stay at more than 50 Hilton properties

Just announced from Hilton, the “Make My Stay” offer (bonus points if you say it in your best Clint Eastwood accent) gives back to guests in the form of an activities or adventure credit during their stay. It’s available at more than 50 participating Hilton properties in Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Tahiti, and most offer a $150 credit per stay (though luxury resorts can range from $350 to $1,000). Guests can spend their credit on spa treatments or dining; the deal is available now through December 31, 2023. To book, visit here.

Miraval Austin

James Baigrie/Courtesy Miraval Austin Wellness Resort & Spa

Enjoy a $225 nightly resort credit at Miraval Resorts & Spas

If a relaxing, rejuvenating getaway is what you’re craving this spring, the Wellness Days sale by Miraval Resorts & Spas is all about serenity and saving. For trips booked now through April 30, guests at any of the brand’s three properties can enjoy a $225 nightly resort credit that can be used toward spa services, workshops, and more. With locations in Tucson, Arizona; Austin, Texas; and Lenox, Mass., each property offers a distinct atmosphere reflective of its geography. To book, visit here.

Get 20 percent off nightly rates and a $100 daily resort credit at Beach Enclave Turks & Caicos

 This butler-serviced villa resort in Providenciales is welcoming families this summer with 20 percent off the best available rate, plus a $100 nightly resort credit (and a gift for kiddos under 12), for travelers who book between April 14 and June 30, 2023. Travel must take place from April 14 through December 18, 2023. Activities on tap for kids and teens this summer include bone fishing excursions, sailing lessons, and private cooking classes. To book, visit here or email [email protected]

Save 30 percent on rooms at Fairmont Mayakoba to celebrate the property’s 17th anniversary

To mark its 17th year, the 401-room Fairmont Mayakoba in Mexico’s Maya Riviera is offering 30 percent off on stays from May to December 2023—but hurry, as the deal expires on March 31, 2023. In addition to the discounts, guests will receive an upgrade at the timing of booking (based on availability), as well as extras including an on-site bird-watching boat tour, use of bicycles, and guided catamaran tours. 

Mondrian Los Angeles 

Courtesy Mondrian LA

Sweet suite deals of 20 percent off at Mondrian Los Angeles 

Level up your L.A. vacay with discounted suites at Mondrian Los Angeles—they’re currently 20 percent off and also come with a $25 daily in-room dining credit and guaranteed late check out of 1 pm (early check-in is based upon availability; the deal also is subject to availability, and blackout dates may apply). The suites offer travelers a spiffy home base right in the heart of West Hollywood, and the property’s dreamy rooftop pool is a perfect way to wind down after a day of sightseeing and celeb spotting. 

Save big on a southern Iceland hotel this spring

Iceland’s dramatic fire-and-ice landscapes make the volcanic island country a must-visit destination for adventure-minded travelers, and an excellent deal from Hotel Rangá in the southern region is a great excuse to make the trip. This spring, guests at the 51-room boutique property can take advantage of 30 percent off stays in April or May, as well as 35 percent off adventure tours like snowmobiling atop a glacier or an ATV trip with outfitter South Coast Adventure. 

Ski and save 30 percent at Little America Hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona

Enjoy some late-season skiing—and saving—at Little America Hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona, where the second-snowiest winter on record has dumped more than 385 inches so far this season. An easy, 30-minute drive from the mountain, the iconic property beckons powder enthusiasts with a Ski & Save Package on weekdays through April, with 30 percent off their purchase at Arizona Snowbowl and 20 percent off rooms.

Save 20 percent on rooms booked 30 days in advance at Dubai’s Palace Downtown

A luxe hotel located near the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain, the Palace Downtown is currently offering 20 percent of rooms booked at least 30 days in advance. All stays include tickets to Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, but onsite, you’ll find plenty to keep the entire family entertained, from a large swimming pool to a kids’ club. 

Extend your stay at Fontainebleau’s luxury Miami Beach hotel

At Fontainebleau Miami Beach, the longer your stay, the higher your savings will be. For travel through April 6, 2023, guests can receive 20 percent off a four-night stay (15 percent off for three nights and 10 percent off for two nights). Fontainebleau will also toss in a $100 resort credit to be used on the 22-acre property, home to 15 bars and restaurants at your disposal. Guests have access to pools, a gym, fitness classes, sunrise yoga, kayaks, paddle boards, and bicycles, plus an idyllic Miami shoreline.

If you can’t choose between a traversing land or sea, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ extended land stay deal allows you to do both for less.

Regent Seven Seas

Cruise deals

Save 30 percent on two new spectacular cruises from Hurtigruten Norway

In celebration of its 130-year anniversary, longtime cruise operator Hurtigruten Norway is launching two new cruises—the 16-day Svalbard Express (which runs in summer) and the 10-day North Cape Express (the winter route)—both at 30 percent off, which can add up to about $2,000 in savings. Sailings will take place on the MS Trollfjord, which was renovated in 2023, and in addition to the deep discount, the operator’s Northern Lights Promise (which means that travelers get a second free voyage if they sail during the auroral season and the Northern Lights do not occur) also applies to the new routes.

Sail away with serious savings on Seabourn Cruises

Guests who book with “The Sail Away Event” from Seabourn can take advantage of up to 15 percent on select ultra-luxe Ocean Voyages or up to 20 percent off on Expedition Voyages. Also on offer: up to $4,000 in shipboard credit per suite on a selection of amenity packages. A sampling of the routes available: a 15-day itinerary through Greenland and Iceland; a 15-day cruise through Australia and New Zealand on Seabourn Odyssey; and a 14-day sailing through Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

With Princess Cruises’ summer sales, you’ll get up to 40 percent off cruise fares

Princess Cruises is looking ahead to summer with its sunny new promotion. For trips booked before May 2, 2023, guests can save up to 40 percent off select cruise fares if they make a $100 deposit with their reservation. Travelers who opt to add on Princess Plus for $60 per person per day will benefit from extras like Wi-Fi; premium desserts and an unlimited juice bar; and two Pure Barre, Yoga Six, or Stretch Lab fitness classes. If you’re looking for an immediate getaway, you can also peruse Princess’ last-minute cruise deals.

Save up to $2,500 plus free airfare with American Queen Voyages

Top US river cruise line American Queen Voyages is offering a knockout 2023 winter savings event that was just extended into spring. The terms, conditions, travel dates, and other details of the deals themselves vary per ship, but the booking deadline is now April 30, 2023, and the offer code is WINTER. American Queen Voyages journeys New World destinations such as Alaska and British Columbia, Mexico and Costa Rica, the Great Lakes, and others.

Uniworld SS Sphinx sailing the Nile

Uniworld

Save up to 60 percent on luxury river cruises with Uniworld

These spectacular savings—up to 60 percent off—are among the highest the luxury line has ever run, but you’ll have to act fast, as the 10-day flash sale ends March 31, 2023. A few on-sale itineraries that caught our eye: an eight-day cruise through the Venetian Lagoon (hot tip: this is currently the one and only river cruise sailing in the lagoon), with activities including an after-hour visit to St. Mark’s Basilica and biking through a coastal village; an eight-day sojourn along the storied Rhine River from Basel to Amsterdam, flanked on either side by France and Germany, with vineyards, castles, and storybook towns around every bend; and an eight-day sailing along the Rhône and Saône rivers with stops at Arles, a haunt of Van Gogh, the walled French city of Avignon, and France’s world-famous wine region of Burgundy. Oui, oui indeed. Well beyond the window of the flash sale, Uniworld also is offering its “Year to Remember” sale event, with up to $1,500 savings per person.

Jump on just-announced savings for solo travelers on Scenic and Emerald Cruises

Solo cruisers, this one’s for you: Scenic and Emerald Cruises each just dropped a superb deal on dozens of their luxury river and ocean yacht sailings, with 25 percent single supplements on departures in Europe and Southeast Asia. Possible itineraries include Emerald Cruises’ eight-day sailing through the Grenadines and Grenada on the 100-passenger Emerald Azzurra, with solo traveler fares starting at $5,773, and Scenic’s eight-day Gems of the Danube River cruise that sails between Budapest and Nuremberg, with single supplemental fares starting at $5,884. Booking deadlines are based on space availability, and full payment is required 12 months or more before departure.

If you book before March 31, you can snag two voyages for the price of one with Atlas Ocean Voyages.

Courtesy Atlas Ocean Voyages

Your guest sails free to Antarctica on Atlas Ocean Voyages 

Finally, if you’re dreaming of a 2023 voyage to Antarctica, time is running out to book a two-for-one trip with Atlas Ocean Voyages (March 31 is the last day) for expeditions taking place between November 2023 and March 2024. With this deal, two guests sail for the price of one on Atlas Ocean Voyages’ small, sleek, yacht-style cruises, which visit far-out, wintry destinations that include the Antarctic Circle and Peninsula, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and the South Shetland Islands, where visitors will find penguins, albatross, black sands, calderas, and hot springs.

Even more travel deals

Invest in a milestone trip

If a Kenyan safari is the adventure you need this spring, Cottar’s Safaris, a luxury outfitter based in Maasai Mara, has some enticing offers. One comes with a fourth night for free with a three-night stay (available at Cottar’s 1920s Camp or the Bush Villa), while a honeymoon offer includes 50 percent off one traveler’s accommodation (1920s Camp only). The deals are good during March, April, and May, as well as November 1 through December 19, 2023. Other restrictions apply, and travelers also should confirm availability before booking. 

Save hundreds on extended stays with Cabana Camper Vans

Cabana is a modern mobile hospitality company with a fleet of luxury, high-tech camper vans for rent. For travel taking place August 1, 2023, or later, in Seattle, Los Angeles, or San Francisco, campers can save $600 on stays of 10 or more nights and $200 on stays that are five or more nights. Use promo code EXTENDEDSTAY10 at checkout. In another deal, travelers can book one-way trips from those same markets, plus Austin, Texas, for $75 a night.