Summer Savings: Fort Lauderdale Discounts for Travelers and Residents

In a sad twist, as vacation destinations vie for the attention of tourists from across the globe with special promotions and discounts, locals are all but forgotten. Sure, maybe they live in an area with 23 miles of beaches, thousands of restaurants and shops, and a perpetually pleasant climate. But, shouldn’t they get rewarded for making somewhere like Fort Lauderdale a place others want to visit? The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau thinks they should (and visitors, of course, should get a little something too).

The “Pack Your Bags, We’re Staying Home” promotion provides special hotel deals exclusively for Florida residents. A number of Fort Lauderdale and other area hotels, ranging from luxury resorts to small lodgings, have a variety of discounts on offer, from a free night’s stay to a 20 percent discount to free upgrades. For a long list of participating hotels and resorts, the deals and dates, visit www.sunny.org.

For visitors, the Summer of Discovery program, from June 1 to Sept. 30, 2009, provides 2-for-1 admission and discounts to an array of activities. Snorkel trips, waterfront cruises and visits to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Fishing Hall of Fame are just a few of the possibilities. Check out www.sunny.org for more choices.

If either of these promotions is of interest, but you’re just not sure what type of vacation you seek, take the “Beach Personality Quiz” to find out more (not just about Fort Lauderdale, but about yourself). Maybe you’ll surprise yourself. Or not.