It’s nearly the end of July—have you taken a summer vacation yet? With hotels practically giving rooms away, it’s a lot easier to justify a long vacation weekend. Forget that staycation!

The Hacienda San Angel in Puerto Vallarta has a deal that, frankly, has me rearranging my schedule immediately to figure out how soon I can get back to Mexico. The Hacienda’s Sultry Summer Savings package includes: a 30 percent discount on all rooms (for three nights), welcome cocktails and an in-room tequila amenity, dinner for two in the open-air restaurant, daily continental breakfast and a private margarita-making class. Package rates begin at $829.50, do not include taxes or gratuities, and are available through Sept. 30, 2009.

The boutique 20-room hotel is perched on a hillside above Puerto Vallarta, with sweeping views of the city and the Bay of Banderas. Nightly mariachi cocktail hours in the lush garden setting add to the feeling of being away from it all—even the city outside the Hacienda doors.

On my last trip to Puerto Vallarta, I stayed at the Hacienda San Angel for two nights, and didn’t want to leave. But now, with this sweet deal, I can return sooner than I thought I would. [More information on making the most of a weekend trip to Puerto Vallarta.]

Reservations for the Sultry Summer Savings package can be made by calling 877-815-6594 (toll free) or e-mailing reservations@haciendasanangel.com.

New Orleans’ legendary Roosevelt Hotel, now part of the Waldorf Astoria Collection, will reopen next month—after a $145 million restoration. With 504 rooms (including 135 luxury suites), the hotel features award-winning chef John Besh’s Domenica restaurant, plus such New Orleans classics as the Sazerac Bar and the Blue Room. In addition, you can relax at the new Guerlain Spa (one of only three locations in the United States.

The Roosevelt Hotel is offering a Grand Opening Special (valid for stays from July 6 to Sept. 30, 2009), with rooms beginning at $169 per night. For more information, visit www.therooseveltneworleans.com or call 504-648-1200.

If your Fourth of July plans have consisted of backyard barbecues and the same tired fireworks displays, then maybe 2009 should be the year you celebrate your independence with a side of swank instead of a side of baked beans. Check out these travel deals throughout the country and treat yourself to a Fourth of July worth celebrating.

Photo: Palms Place Hotel and Spa

Boston Pops Spectacular

The Deal: 4th of July Dress Rehearsal Package at The Liberty Boston. 
Details: Package includes overnight accommodations in a guestroom, breakfast for two at CLINK. and two tickets to the July 3 dress rehearsal (everything but the fireworks) to the Boston Pops Fourth of July Spectacular. The Liberty Boston is the official sponsor of Boston’s 2009 Fourth of July festivities. It’s conveniently located close to the Esplanade: the center of all of the weekend’s activities. Some of the Liberty’s guestrooms even offer magnificent views of the Charles River. 
Cost: Package starts at $445 per room, per night; two night minimum stay.
To Book: Call 866-507-5245 or go to www.libertyhotel.com.

Family Fun in Upstate New York

The Deal: Fourth of July weekend package for the family at The Otesaga Resort in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Details: The Otesaga turns 100 this year and is offering a Fourth of July weekend package that everyone will appreciate. The package includes breakfast and dinner daily, as well as an abundance of activities that include: manager’s cocktail reception, fireworks over Lake Otsego, cooking demos and cocktail tastings, patriotic lawn games, family bingo, ghost stories on the lake dock, watermelon-eating contest, a fishing derby and much more. Kids activities include: a clown, magic shows and balloon-making classes. A Fourth of July parade is also featured in the nearby town of Springfield. 
Cost: Package starts at $465 per night, per room (double occupancy). Children 5 to 11 are an additional $60 a night each and children 12 to 18 are an additional $75 a night each. In honor of The Otesaga’s 100 birthday celebration, if you are able to stay three nights, you save $100.
To Book: Call 212-206-6700 or go to www.otesaga.com.

Jay-Z Concert Package in Vegas

The Deal: Fourth of July Jay-Z Concert Package at Palms Place Hotel and Spa in Las Vegas.
Details: Receive one night in a Palms Place Studio Suite, two tickets to the Jay-Z concert with special guest Ciara and a VIP Nightlife pass, which grants access to Ghostbar and the Playboy Club. Package available on July 3 and 4.
Cost: Package starts at $475 and is subject to availability.
To Book: Call 702-932-7777 or go to www.palmsplace.com.

Fireworks on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The Deal: Fourth of July weekend special at The Churchill Hotel.  
Details: Package includes two to-go meals for two, two bottled waters for each day you stay, two all day metro passes and an upgraded guest room if available at check-in. The Churchill Hotel is located right in the middle of all of Washington, D.C.’s Fourth of July activities, including: the Independence Day Parade, the National Archives where you can see the Declaration of Independence, the Capital Fourth Concert on the steps of the Capitol and fireworks on the National Mall.
Cost: Package starts at $209 per room, per night.
To Book: Call 800-424-2464 or go to www.thechurchillhotel.com

Chicago and Illinois politics are known for, shall we say, hidden fees. The United States Senate seat vacated by the president? It’s yours. For a fee. We just won’t tell anyone about it.

Like aspiring senators, travelers often face unseen fees upon checking out of their hotel. Fortunately, visitors to Chicago don’t have to put up with these charges with the No Hidden Fees offer from the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers and AAA Travel. The package rate includes the features most used by guests—high-speed Internet access, unlimited domestic calls, valet parking and access to the fitness center—for one upfront price (though you’ll still have to deal with any and all taxes at the end of your stay) and savings of at least $75 per day. Rates start at $119 per night for travel now through Sept. 2, 2009 on select dates, booked by June 30, 2009.

The hotel is located downtown on the Chicago River, within walking distance of popular destinations like Navy Pier, Michigan Avenue shopping and Millennium Park.

To book the package, visit www.sheraton.com or call 800-233-4100 and mention “Autohot.”

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.

It’s May. Spring is nearing an end and thoughts of summer vacations are dancing in your head. Or, something like that. Of course, amidst global economic woes, any and all relief is welcome. Thus, I offer to you, dear reader, this triumvirate of deals, so that you might enjoy a fine summer vacation while saving a few dollars.

Photo: Radisson St. Martin

We Love Summer Sale at the Radisson St. Martin. Enjoy the sunshine, sand and turquoise waters of the French West Indies while getting 25 percent off regular rates. Included with the discount is a buffet breakfast, use of snorkeling gear and kayaks, and in-room Internet. Rates range from $193 to $581. Book by Aug. 31, 2009 for travel by Oct. 3, 2009. Call 800-395-7046 or visit www.radisson.com.

Spa & Sail Package at Five Gables Inn & Spa in St. Michaels, Md. Get two nights’ accommodation, two massages, a two-hour sail and a dozen delicious blue crabs at a local restaurant. This bed and breakfast, in a village near Chesapeake Bay, is made up of three 19th-century homes consisting of 20 rooms, an Aveda Concept Spa, indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Rates based on two people for two nights, and range from $570 midweek to $1,100 for weekends. Call 877-466-0100 or visit www.fivegables.com.

Shopping & Spa Sojourn at the Atlantic Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. This package includes a $100 gift card, personal shopping services to Neiman Marcus, $50 spa credit and an upgrade to a Grande Deluxe Oceanfront room. If you enjoy shopping, going to the spa and looking at the ocean, this seems like a good choice. The Atlantic Hotel overlooks miles of beaches along Florida’s Gold Coast. Rates start at $299 per room, per night, with a two-night minimum for the package. Call 954-567-8020 or visit www.atlantichotelfl.

When filming began for the 1992 film A River Runs Through It, Brad Pitt had never been fly-fishing. But, because he is Brad Pitt, he caused a boom in everything related to standing in the middle of a river and casting a line. While that surge in popularity may have subsided, it’s still quite pleasant to enjoy spectacular natural surroundings while gracefully angling (or attempting to).

Whether you want to learn to be better than Brad Pitt, or already are, the Ultimate Fisherman Package at the Triple Creek Ranch in Montana is for you. Both the nightly rate and fishing excursions are 20 percent off (based on double occupancy) bringing the price to $4,665.54. Included are five nights in a luxury cabin, two custom fly-fishing vests, two full-day fly-fishing excursions, rental equipment for both days, all daily meals (and drinks) and all on-ranch activities.

Lessons are available at the ranch for anyone who needs a few pointers on casting, flies and picking out a pair of very stylish waders. The discount is valid from May 15 through Oct. 15, 2009, based on availability and weather conditions.

Photo: Triple Creek Ranch

Triple Creek Ranch sits on 600 acres amidst the pines of Trapper Peak, the tallest mountain in Western Montana. The resort, designed for adults, offers a fine restaurant, wine cellar, tennis court, pool, fitness center and on-ranch activities including hiking, horseback riding and putting greens. A variety of off-ranch adventures can be arranged for an additional fee, like driving cattle, white-water rafting and ATV tours.

For more information, call Triple Creek Ranch at 800-654-2943 or 406-821-4600. www.triplecreekranch.com.