Can’t wait to plan your summer vacation with the family? I’m counting down the days until the end of the school year and the start of summer. It’s my favorite time of the year, because it means warmer weather, bicycling to my local ice cream shop and tons of free time to travel.

Take advantage of the beach weather and vacation time with great summer deals, including the Azores Express 7-day/6-night summer air and hotel packages to Azores Islands, Portugal, when you travel between June 17 and September 14, 2009. You’ll find plenty of things to do around the nine Azores Islands, which are located approximately 970 miles west of Lisbon—[swimming|http://www.travelmuse.com/activity/swimming] with dolphins, jeep safaris and whale watching.

Courtesy of Fr Antunes

The packages include roundtrip flights departing from Boston, a six-night stay (kids under 6 years stay free) and daily breakfast. The package costs range from $1,179 to $1,220 per person, depending on your choice of stay at one of the three participating hotels in Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel: Hotel Talisman, VIP Executive Azores and Hotel do Colégio.

To book the air and hotel package to the Azores Islands, visit www.sata.pt or call 800-762-9995.

What’s better than taking a vacation on an island paradise, surrounded by emerald waters and pristine beaches and bathing suit-clad folks holding beverages with little umbrellas in them? Saving money? How about doing both at the same time! The U.S. Virgin Islands is offering this dream combination of idyllic vacation and fiscal savings with a Sizzlin’ Sampler promotion. The package includes a complimentary fourth night at a participating hotel, $300 in air credit, $50 worth of coupons for attractions, another $50 of coupons for dining and yet another $500 worth of coupons for other island offerings. Who doesn’t want to pay less for one of those drinks with the little umbrellas?

Photo: USVI Department of Tourism

The U.S. Virgin Islands consist of St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John, as well as several smaller, less-developed islands

and cays which may or may not be in consideration for the next season of Survivor. No passport? No problem! If you’re a U.S. citizen, all you need is a government-issued photo ID or your birth certificate. I’d bring the photo ID. If you like duty-free shopping, the aforementioned little umbrella drinks or the easternmost point in a U.S. territory (Point Udall), the U.S. Virgin Islands are the vacation destination for you. Check out the TravelMuse article “[Escape to the U.S. Virgin Islands|http://www.travelmuse.com/articles/usvi/vacation-planning-us-virgin-islands-caribbean]” to learn more about why people visit these paradise islands.

For more information on the Sizzlin’ Sampler package, go to visitusvi.com. For a list of participating hotels and tour operators, visit usvipressroom.com. The offer is valid for bookings until Oct. 15, 2009 for travel until Oct. 31, 2009. Enjoy!

I know, I know: Stress Awareness Month prompts the comment, “I’m already aware of my stress!” But these special spa deals will help those nagging troubles—some offered even after this month ends. Remember, you can be aware of your stress all year long, so take care of yourself.

CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa offers an Escape Relaxation package through Dec. 18, 2009. I was recently a guest at the CasaMagna Marriott and its Ohtli spa is certainly something to behold. The package includes accommodations, daily breakfast for two, an in-room spa bath upon arrival (mine had hibiscus petals in the water), two Ohtli spa treatments (I like the Fire Opal Balancing Stone Therapy), two passes to the wellness area and two complimentary fitness classes. Rates from $179 to $329 (based on availability) and a four-night stay is required. For reservations, call 800-228-9290 or visit www.puertovallartamarriott.com and use code ZJ1. 

Eldorado Hotel & Spa] in Santa Fe is offering a Relieve Stress Package, which includes a spa treatment for every day of your stay during the month of April. Pay just $229 per night for your room, and receive a complimentary Nidah spa treatment (valued at $130). Stay two nights or 12 nights, you just have to fit your visit in before the month is over to get this deal. For reservations, call 800-955-4455 or visit www.eldoradohotel.com and use code PKGNID.

Lorien Hotel & Spa, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants newest hotel which opened March 25 in Alexandria, Va., offers a Spa Relaxation package through May 31. The two-night deal includes a spa-inspired welcome gift, two 50-minute spa treatments and breakfast for two. Package price: $659. For reservations, call 877-856-7436 or visit www.lorienhotelandspa.com.

Enough of all this talk about stress. I’m off to get a massage!

How many free nights? That’s right: 365. Nights. For free.

I know, I can’t really believe it either. It’s a contest, so you’ll have to put in a little work—though the payoff could be spectacular.

Hyatt’s redesigned Gold Passport loyalty program, The Big Welcome, aims to revitalize the hotel stay experience without cutting back on costs and services. Aside from offering extra perks for loyalty members like free night credits and suite upgrades, Hyatt is also promoting The Big Welcome contest. Three people per region (North America, Europe and Asia) will win the golden prize of 365 free nights.

How to Win: Submit an essay answering the question, “How would you spend 365 free nights at Hyatt to create an unforgettable experience?” Points will be awarded in four categories: 40 points for originality; 40 points for creativity; 10 points for Hyatt brand incorporatio; and 10 points for organization, clarity and grammar. Entrants may also submit video, audio, photos or a drawing to earn up to five bonus points.

Winners can use the free nights at any Hyatt hotel around the world (through June 30, 2014). Hyatt will also throw in one million frequent flyer miles. Entries must be submitted by May 13, 2009, and winners will be announced by June 12, 2009. You must sign up (free) for the Gold Passport loyalty program in order to participate. Find out the full details at TheBigWelcome.com.

More Ways to Win Free Nights: Essay writing not your forte? Hyatt is also giving away 30,000 free nights (10,000 in each region) at random to those who enter their Gold Passport number or sign up for the free program online. Do it now, here, and good luck!

Looking for a spectacular hotel deal in San Francisco? Mark your calendar for April 1. This is no April Fool’s prank: The Orchard Hotel and Orchard Garden Hotel will make one room per night available for the entire month of April, at a rate of just $1. That’s one room per hotel for 30 nights in April—60 chances for you to be lucky! With rooms at these hotels usually starting at $159 per night, a $1 deal (really $1.16 with tax) is a doozy.

This deal is only available online, so beginning at noon (Pacific time) on April 1, arm yourself with patience, speedy fingers and the promo code “Fool!” in order to win your prize. If you’re lucky and snag one of the cheap rooms but want to stay longer than one night in either hotel (each conveniently located near Union Square and Chinatown) you’ll just have to pay the going rate for the additional nights.

Good luck!

Orchard Hotel: 665 Bush St., tel. 888-717-2881. www.theorchardhotel.com

Orchard Garden Hotel: 466 Bush St., tel. 888-717-2881. www.theorchardgardenhotel.com

Plan on making it to the Super Bowl, someway, somehow? Here are some hotels in the Tampa/[St. Petersburg|http://www.travelmuse.com/destinations/US/FL/103/saint-petersburg], Fla., area that are still available (some are even affordable), if you just can’t miss the biggest day in football.

• Ramada Inn, St. Petersburg. Just three miles from downtown St. Petersburg and 20 minutes from Raymond James Stadium, the Ramada Inn St. Petersburg offers pigskin-patrons amenities such as a heated pool, fitness center, two onsite restaurants and complimentary breakfast. Rates start at $149 per night for one king bed room.

• Alden Beach Resorts. Get the best of what the Tampa Bay area has to offer with sun and sports. Stay right on the beach at the Alden Beach Resorts. Starting at $239 per night, travelers get an in-room kitchenette, access to the fitness center and free Internet. Even if you can’t land those sought-after tickets, you can tailgate at the resort’s beachside bar and enjoy its barbeque grill, right by the two Alden Beach Resort pools.

• Renaissance Vinoy Resort. If you want to make a trip out of your Super Bowl pilgrimage, try the Renaissance Vinoy Resort, a hotel featured in our Tampa/St. Pete Hotels article. The hotel features free high-speed Internet, fitness and business centers, two pools, 18 holes of golf and a 12-court tennis complex. This historical hotel runs for a manageable $379 per night, a steal considering its beachfront location and that it’s less than 30 minutes from Super Bowl XLIII.

For more information about things to do in Tampa and St. Petersburg, read our coverage of Ybor City, Tampa Bay Tours,Tampa and St. Pete for Families and, for family travel information, check out  and our Busch Gardens Tampa article.

For a break from all of the holiday stress, or even a break from the stresses of the New Year, a vacation to Cabo can help reimburse you for your airfare. A list of 20 hotels and resorts in Los Cabos are now offering (valid through 2009) the “Fly Me to the Sun” program where guests get a $400 per room credit when they check out.

Located on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico, the municipality of Los Cabos includes the major cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose Del Cabo. With popular beaches including Playa Palmilla, Los Cabos offers ideal areas for swimming in the clear blue water, scuba diving expeditions and beaches for afternoon sunbathing.

The hotels that are participating in the program include Presidente Intercontinental Los Cabos All-Inclusive Resort, Cabo Villas Beach Resort, Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos, and Hotel Santa Fe. Guests can make reservations by calling the hotel and asking about the “Fly Me to the Sun Program” or booking through the hotel’s Web site.