Love the idea of an ice hotel, but not into the frosty reality of sleeping in one? Gaylord Hotels has a solution that showcases many of the amazing things one can do with large chunks of frozen water, without requiring piles of thick blankets to keep you warm at night.

The Nashville–based hotel company is once again hosting its annual ICE! event this holiday season, this time at all four of its U.S. properties, located in the family-friendly cities of Nashville, Orlando, Dallas and just outside Washington, D.C., in Maryland. Eight million pounds of the magical stuff will be transformed into sculptures, storybook scenes and characters, and slides by more than 100 artisans flown in from Harbin, China, that country’s ice capital and home of the internationally renown Ice and Snow World Festival.

Gaylord Hotels ICE! slide and winter pond scene.

Each resort will feature its own ice sculptures, series of events and special holiday packages, lasting from Thanksgiving into the new year.

• Gaylord National debuts its first year of ICE! with 10 different holiday scenes, from Santa’s toyshop to ice-skating polar bears. Don’t miss the hotel’s 60-foot glass Christmas tree and nightly snowfall. Packages start at $249 per night.
  
• The Gaylord Opryland Resort will convey the story of A Charlie Brown Christmas, featuring the entire Peanuts gang on the ice set. Outside of the frozen attraction, guests can have breakfast with Charlie Brown himself, with family photo ops available on Fridays through Sundays. A Country Christmas packages are available Nov. 20 to Dec. 25, 2009.
  
• A “cold front” will take over Gaylord Palms this holiday season with Jolly Cold Saint Nicholas, depicting scenes featuring Santa Claus and his reindeer, as well as a life-sized Nativity, carved out of crystal-clear ice. Kids also can participate in a holiday gnome hunt and make gingerbread houses. Holiday packages, good from Nov. 14, 2009 to Jan. 3, 2010, start at $129 per night.
  
• The Gaylord Texan ICE! display will feature How the Grinch Stole Christmas complete with toy soldier stilt walkers, a live reindeer and a 50-foot rotating Christmas tree. A variety of Lone Star Christmas packages are available for the holiday season.
  

Still worried about the cold? Fear not. Visitors can borrow oversized parkas to stay warm while touring the exhibits, which are kept at a chilly 9 degrees Fahrenheit.

(Read our previous post about how the Gaylord Opryland is great for families.)

I’ll bet you don’t look at quarters any longer to see if you have an old-style quarter or a newer, state quarter. While the last batch of the 50 state quarters was issued in 2008, this year the United States Mint has issued six new quarters in honor of the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories: The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands. So, start looking—maybe you have one in your wallet.

Photo: joyosity

There’s another reason to get excited about the new quarters—specifically the one issued in honor of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Nine properties in the U.S. Virgin Islands are celebrating the coin with the “2009 CENTsational Sale.” Book a 3-day air and hotel package including one of these hotels, and stay all three nights for 25 cents per night (not including tax). In addition, get $25 per person dining credit, $25 per person activity credit and a Virgin Islands commemorative quarter Scotiabank coin set.

Participating hotels in St. Thomas are: Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, Marriott Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Beach Resort, Point Pleasant Resort, Sapphire Beach Resort, Sapphire Village, Secret Harbour Beach Resort, Windward Passage, and Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa. Participating hotels in St. Croix are: Carambola Beach Resort & Spa, Club St. Croix, Hibiscus Beach Resort, Hotel Caravelle and The Palms at Pelican Cove.

To take advantage of the offer, you must book through BookIt.com by Nov. 2 for travel through Dec. 15. For more information, visit www.usvitourism.com.

Luxury goods have been particularly hard hit by the economic slow-down, and travel is no exception. That means there are more discounts than ever before for this category of travel for those who are able to take advantage of these unprecedented savings.

One such deal that crossed my desk this week is for one of the most awarded small luxury cruise lines—Windstar Cruises. Windstar operates just three yachts in Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas, carrying between 148 to 312 passengers, max. Its smaller ship sizes means a higher crew-to-passenger ratio, for more attentive service, as well as the ability to dock in intimate and secluded spots that are off-limits to larger vessels.

Photo: Courtesy of Windstar Cruises

Starting today, Oct. 15, 2009, Windstar is offering a “30 Sailings for 30 Days” sale on 30 select cruises set to depart in 2010. Rates start at $1,849 per person, double occupancy for 29 of Windstar’s 7-day sailings on the 312-guest Wind Surf and the 148-guest Wind Star and Wind Spirit yachts. The Wind Surf’s April 18, 2010 sailing from Rome to Athens starts at $1,649 per person, double occupancy. (The regular starting rate for this trip is $2,399.) Overall discounts add up to roughly 25 to 30 percent savings per person. That’s decent enough even for me for to consider making a booking, and I’m not even a cruise person.

Here’s a list of the itineraries on sale for each ship:

Wind Surf Sailings:
4/18/10 Rome to Athens         8/08/10 Rome to Nice
4/25/10 Athens to Rome         8/22/10 Barcelona to Nice
5/30/08 Rome to Rome           8/29/10 Nice to Rome
6/20/10 Venice to Venice        9/12/10 Venice to Venice
7/04/10 Rome to Nice             9/19/10 Venice to Rome
7/18/10 Barcelona to Rome    9/26/10 Rome to Nice

Wind Star Sailings:
3/06/10 Costa Rica Roundtrip      7/31/10 Istanbul to Athens
3/20/10 Costa Rica Roundtrip     10/23/10 Rome to Rome
7/03/10 Athens to Rome             10/30/10 Rome to Barcelona
7/10/10 Rome to Rome               11/06/10 Barcelona to Lisbon
7/17/10 Rome to Athens

Wind Spirit Sailings:
3/13/10 St. Martin Roundtrip    10/23/10 Athens to Rome
5/08/10 Nice to Rome              10/30/10 Rome to Rome
5/15/10 Rome to Rome            11/06/10 Rome to Barcelona
7/17/10 Venice to Venice          11/13/10 Barcelona to Lisbon
7/24/10 Venice to Athens

Offer cannot be combined with any other promotions or programs, except for CLIA’s “World’s Largest Cruise Night” $50 per person shipboard credit promotion. Taxes are additional. Offer is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn or modified at the discretion of Windstar. Offer valid on new bookings between Oct. 15 and Nov. 14, 2009.

For more information including rates and itineraries call Windstar at 800-258-7245 or visit www.windstarcruises.com.

With economy and job headaches, we all deserve a mental health day. But do you deserve a free car for a day? Avis Rent A Car is offering a “Rental Health Day” promotion, where you can earn a certificate for a day’s free car rental if you rent any class of Avis vehicle for five consecutive days by Dec.13.

To participate in the promotion, you have to register with your Avis Wizard number and fill out a form before you rent for five consecutive days from participating locations in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Within two weeks of renting, you’ll receive a Reward Day certificate by e-mail to redeem for a free day rental. If you’re a regular Avis customer, you can earn up to three Rental Health Day certificates during the promotion period.

Certain restrictions apply, and one-way rentals are not applicable to the promotion. For details, visit ccrgservices.com/web/rentalhealthday or call 800-230-4898.

It’s hard to believe that the end of summer is nigh, but for those who want to plan one more getaway this season, you’re in luck—airlines are offering killer deals right now for end-of-summer and fall travel. Here are some of the available savings.

Photo: david.nikonvscanon

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines announced today its sale on select domestic and international routes. One-way fares from New York to Fort Lauderdale start at $79 and from Pittsburgh to Paris for $289. Tickets must be purchased by Aug. 3, 2009 for international destinations, Aug. 14 for domestic travel. www.delta.com

JetBlue Airways

What can you say when one-way fares start at just $29? Go get ‘em! JetBlue Airways “The But Wait, There’s More!” sale offers fares to more than 56 destinations, starting from $29 to $149 each way for travel between Sept. 8 and Dec. 16, 2009. New service to Barbados begins Oct. 1, to St. Lucia Oct. 26. Reservations must be made online by Aug. 5, 2009; 14-day advance purchase necessary. www.jetblue.com

Southwest Airlines

Hurry or you’ll miss this sale that ends Thursday, July 30, 2009. One-way fares start at $49 to $99 for travel between Aug. 18 and Nov. 18, 2009. Blackout dates: Sept. 3 to 8, 2009. Travel valid only Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. www.southwest.com

Virgin America

Not to be outdone by rival JetBlue, Virgin’s similar sale starts today. Fly from San Francisco to Seattle, Los Angeles or Las Vegas for as little as $49 each way; cross-country routes start at $119 each way. Tickets must be purchased by Aug. 11, 2009 for travel between Aug. 18 and Nov. 18, 2009. Minimum 3-day advance purchase required. Blackout dates do not apply. Tel. (877) FLY-VIRGIN (359-8474); www.virginamerica.com

It’s not too late to find great travel deals for Dad. From hotel packages to spa vacations, celebrate Father’s Day with a memorable getaway.

Father’s Day Spa Specials

The detox day spa in Los Angeles is offering Father’s Day specials on three massage treatments designed just for men that are named after leading men of the silver screen. Dads can choose from The McQueen ($100; a $10 savings), The Brando ($150; a $15 savings) or The Grant ($225; a $30 savings) massages, which range from 50 to 130 minutes. Available through June 30, 2009; cannot be combined with other discounts. To book, call 323-665-3869 or go to www.detoxdayspa.com.

Lunch With Dad in Laguna Beach

Spa Montage Laguna Beach is offering a June special for fathers and sons or fathers and daughters. Enjoy $45 lunch credit at the hotel restaurant Mosaic Bar & Grille, at the oceanfront Montage Laguna Beach when you book two 60-minute massages during June. Sixty-minute massages start at $225 per person. Special cannot be combined with any other deals. Taxes, gratuities and alcohol are not included. This special is available Mon. to Thurs. throughout the month of June. To reserve, call 949-715-6010 or go to www.montagelaguna.com.

Tides Inn Dad’s Weekend

Enjoy a peaceful Father’s Day weekend in the river town of Irvington, Va., at Tides Inn near the Chesapeake Bay where Dads can choose activities ranging from golfing to sailing. The package includes deluxe accommodations, a welcome reception of s’mores and an outdoor movie, a nine-hole game of golf with a PGA pro, a putting tournament and a full breakfast in the Chesapeake Club on Sunday. Rates start at $299 per night based on double occupancy and are only good June 19 to 21, 2009. To reserve, call 800-843-3746 or go to www.tidesinn.com.

The Driftwood Lounge in Hotel deLuxe. Photo: www.graciesdining.com

Pamper Pop in Portland

Two Portland hotels are offering Father’s Day packages. The Hotel deLuxe's “Pampering Pops” package features a six-pack gift of local microbrews, a one-hour in-room massage, a map of local breweries to tour, a $25 food/beverage credit at the hotel’s Driftwood Lounge or Gracie’s Restaurant, overnight accommodations and unlimited in-and-out valet parking. Rates start at $189 for double occupancy. Available until June 30, 2009. To reserve, call 503-219-2094 or go to www.hoteldeluxe.com.

The Hotel Lucia offers the “Dad’s Day Out” package, featuring a six-pack of craft beer and snack on arrival, complimentary valet parking and $50 gift certificate to the Buffalo Wild Wings which offers countless big-screen TVs and the hottest wings in town. Package starts at $229 per night based on double occupancy and is good through June 30, 2009. To reserve, call 503-225-1717 or go to www.hotellucia.com.

Ahh, summer.  A teacher’s favorite time of year, my father, the high school history instructor, used to say. As the weather heats up and the school year winds down, many parents may be starting to feel that little icicle of fear in their guts that reminds them they will be spending the next few months living full-time with their teenagers. But fret not. Here are a few travel deals geared to keep teens, if not happy, at least occupied. Who knows? Someday they may even thank you for it…

Get a local’s guide to Berlin: It may be the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, but that’s ancient history to teens. Instead, kids over 14 who staying at Rocco Forte’s Hotel de Rome in Berlin this summer can get an insider’s look at the city’s current cultural scene by being paired with seniors from the John F. Kennedy international school who will show them the best of the city’s trendy clubs, street art, bike paths and more. Activities may include a DJ or graffiti lesson—important skills to bring back for the next school year.

Chill out in Miami Beach: Teens staying at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel this summer can get away from their parents in the newly converted PBteen Cabana, which features comfy lounge chairs, weekly Wii competitions, a smoothie menu and a no-adults policy. Or they can head over to the PBTeen Game Lounge for air hockey, ping pong, big-screen movies and more.

Learn Leadership Skills in the Great Outdoors: Jackson, Wyoming-based Wilderness Ventures arranges group adventure travel for teens that combines volunteering, service and leadership skills with hiking, mountain biking, rafting or other activities in the spectacular natural settings of the national parks. Upcoming trips this summer will tour Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Teton and Olympic National Parks.