Discounts, Offers, Deals, Packages, Free Events, Insider Tips
Hi! I'm Kim Knox Beckius, About.com's Guide to New England Travel, and I'm pleased to be able to share with you great travel discounts, deals, bargains, special offers, packages, freebies and other tips and insider secrets as I uncover them.
Don't miss new deals! Bookmark this page and check back often, or follow me on Twitter for the latest breaking deals: @newenglandgirl. You can also learn about new weekly deals by subscribing to my free New England Travel newsletter or adding my New England Travel Blog to your RSS reader, iGoogle or My Yahoo!
* Featured Deals *
They'll
Throw in a Whale Watch
Through October 30, the Cape
Ann Whale Watch package (book direct) at the Comfort Suites in Haverhill,
Massachusetts, is priced at $129.95 per night including two tickets to Cape
Ann Whale Watch (a $90 value!). Book online, or ask for the PWHALE rate at
property MA063 when you call toll free, 800-4CHOICE. posted 7/7/09
New
Hampshire This Weekend for $59
The Fairfield Inn Nashua Merrimack has Queen rooms for $59 per night this
Thursday, July 9, through Sunday, July 12; double rooms are $75 per night. Reserve
online, or ask for the eBreak rate when you call toll free, 800-752-7571.
Sleep on the cheap, and enjoy these nearby attractions: Anheuser-Busch
Brewery and Clydesdale Hamlet, SkyVenture,
Mel's Funway Park, Canobie
Lake Park and the Robert Frost
Farm. posted 7/7/09
Lighthouse
& Lobsters
Maine's Sebasco Harbor Resort offers a Lighthouse and Lobsters package Sunday through Thursday nights through
October 18 that includes a room for two nights in the property's lighthouse, a lobster dinner for
two and information to help you enjoy a self-guided tour of local lighthouses. The package is priced from
$518 for two and may be reserved by asking for promotion code SHR109 when you call toll free,
877-389-1161. posted 7/7/09
Eat
for Half Price or Less at Restaurants in New England
If you plan ahead, you can save a fortune on dining in New England. Restaurant.com sells gift certificates for many New England restaurants for 50 percent or more off their face value--$25 gift certificates, for example, are priced at
$10. You'll find dozens of participating restaurants throughout the New England states. Best of all, make your purchase online, print the gift certificate on your printer, and you're all set to save when you arrive at your New England
destination. Through July 13, use the code SEVENTY at checkout and recalculate your total to save an additional
70 percent off restaurant gift certificates--that makes certificates valued at $25 just
$3. Read details carefully, as some restrictions may apply. posted
7/7/09
Two
VIP Basketball Hall Tickets for Less Than Shaq's Shoe Size
Shaquille O'Neal wears a size 23, but you'll pay just $18 for two VIP
admissions to the Basketball
Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, with this special
offer from Connecticut Half/off. Considering that regular adult admission
to the Hoop Hall is $16.50 per person, this deal, which includes a guided tour
and other perks, will save you money and enhance your experience.
Hurry, as the number of tickets available is limited. Read offer details
carefully: VIP tickets are valid during regular operating hours through
December 31, 2009. posted 6/30/09
Spin
the Wheel and Save
The Whaler's Inn in Mystic, Connecticut, is offering guests the chance to play
before they stay. Enter your name and email address, then give the prize
wheel a spin. You might win a free night or other gifts (complete
prize list) or save 10 or 30 percent on your stay. Winning vouchers, which
are valid through August 31, 2009, are sent via email and must be printed and
submitted at check-in. Everyone who spins the wheel and books a Whaler's Inn
stay will receive a Downtown Mystic Discount Card. For more information, call 860-536-1506 or toll free,
800-243-2588. posted 6/30/09
Free
Museum Admission for Bank of America Customers
If you're a Bank of America customer, your ATM, credit or check card
is your free ticket to admission during the first weekend of each month at
more than 100 museums nationwide including these great New England attractions:
Connecticut's Mashantucket Pequot Museum
and Wadsworth Atheneum,
Maine's Farnsworth Art Museum,
Massachusetts' Danforth Museum of Art,
DeCordova Museum & Sculpture Park,
Harvard Museum of Natural History
and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Rhode
Island's Museum of Work and Culture,
Providence Children's Museum and RISD Museum.
Upcoming free admission weekends include: August 1-2, September 5-6 and
October 3-4. posted 6/30/09
Golf
25 New England Courses for $249
The New England Golf Course Owners Association is selling just 200 copies of
the 2009 Golden Passport to New England Golf, so call 774-430-9030 to reserve
your coupon book featuring free golf for two (or in some case four!) at 25
participating courses throughout New England. You'll pay just $249 for the
passport, which entitles you to more than $3,000 in golf this season. posted
6/23/09
They've
Done the Haggling For You!
So, you want to enjoy a fabulous getaway but you also want to be sure you're
getting a good value, right? Rock Hall,
Connecticut's newest luxury inn, has negotiated discounted rates for its
guests at 13 local attractions. Call 860-379-2230
to book your two-night or longer stay now through Labor Day, and you'll be
able to take advantage of a baker's dozen discounts: half-price Norfolk Chamber Music
Festival tickets; 25 percent off tickets to Jacob's Pillow
and Tanglewood;
20 percent off and Warner Club admission at Warner
Stage Company shows; premium seats at standard rates at the TriArts Sharon Playhouse;
$5 off select events at the Mahaiwe Theatre;
10 percent off the Connecticut Art Trail Art
Pass; Art
Pass; $19 in dining coupons at area restaurants; and discounts on Red
Rose Balloons hot air balloon rides for two, Loon
Meadow Farm horse-drawn carriage rides, horseback riding at Lee's
Riding Stable, spa treatments at Elaine's Spa or in your room and kayaking
excursions with Collinsville Canoe and
Kayak. posted
6/23/09
Free
Flicks in Kennebunkport
Through August 20, the public is invited to watch movies on the lawn on
Thursday nights (rain dates on Sundays) at 8 p.m. at Kennebunkport, Maine's
Breakwater Inn & Spa--and yes, you can have lobster with that. Admission
is free, but bring a blanket and your appetite, as the Stripers
Bar menu (including poached chilled half lobster, lobster martini and
lobster tacos) will be available throughout the show. For more information,
call 207-967-5333. posted 6/23/09
Visit
New England's National Parks Free
This summer, the National Park Service is offering three fee-free weekends at
more than 100
national parks that usually charge entrance fees including New England
gems like Acadia National Park, the Cape
Cod National Seashore and Saint-Gaudens
National Historic Site. Mark your calendar, and don't miss the chance to
enjoy these national treasures with your family during the weekends of June
20-21, July 18-19 and August 15-16. posted 6/16/09
Save
on Your Next Bag of New England Coffee
Print an online coupon and save $1 on your next bag of New England Coffee.
Plus, save three New England Coffee UPC codes and send them in by August 30
with this mail-in
certificate to receive your free Try Me Iced! glass. posted 6/16/09
Surf
& Save the Sea
Have you always wanted to learn to surf? The Meadowmere Resort in Ogunquit, Maine, offers a unique package that includes lodging for
three nights, a Liquid Dreams Surf Lesson for each person including board and wetsuit,
one Power Yoga lesson per person and Continental breakfast each morning, plus, they'll donate a percentage of your stay to the non-profit Surfrider Foundation, which works to protect oceans and beaches. The package is available through September 30 for
Sunday through Thursday arrivals and is priced starting at $189.95 per person based on double occupancy. For details and reservations, call 207-646-9661 or toll free, 800-633-8718.
posted 6/9/09
$3.99
Shipping on My Favorite Pillows (Buy Direct)
I had such a blissful night's sleep during my visit to the Wentworth by the Sea Hotel & Spa in New Hampshire a few years ago that I outfitted my bed at home with the same pillows the hotel uses from Pacific Coast Feather Company (read my pillow review). Now, I dream that I'm sleeping in an elegant grand hotel every night, and you can, too!
For a limited time, Pacific Coast Feather Company is offering $3.99 shipping on all
purchases when you buy direct from the company. posted
6/9/09
Save
75 Bucks Just by Having a Good Time
Seaport Hotel--one of my favorite places to stay in Boston--has a hard-to-beat
Summer Adventure offer for Friday, Saturday and Sunday night stays through
September 8. Book a deluxe double or deluxe king room for $225 per night, and
if you present a booking confirmation or receipt from any one of the hotel's
Summer Adventure partners, you'll receive an additional $75 off at checkout,
bringing the overnight rate at this no-tipping hotel down to just $150. Best
of all, Seaport guests receive extra discounts from participating tour company
and attraction partners (see
list). To take advantage of this deal, use promotion code SUMMER when you
book online or by calling toll free, 800-262-0680. posted 5/26/09
Sea
Everything
A visit to Mystic, Connecticut, can be more affordable when you purchase the
Mystic Pass Card, which includes not only admission to this coastal
destination's top two attractions--Mystic
Seaport and the Mystic Aquarium
& Institute for Exploration--but a free fountain drink at each
attraction, a free Mystic T-shirt and discounts at dozens of participating
hotels, restaurants and shops. The Mystic Pass Card, which can be purchased
online, is priced at $52 for adults, $48 for seniors, $42 for children
ages 6 to 17 and $22 for little kids ages 3 to 5. Considering the regular cost
of adult admission to the Seaport and Aquarium alone is $50, it's like getting
two sodas and a souvenir shirt for two bucks, plus dining, lodging and
shopping savings to boot. posted 5/19/09
15
Museums for $25
Let me grab my calculator and do the math for you: That's $1.67 per museum!
You'll save a bundle when you purchase the Connecticut Art Trail ArtPass
online. The only catch? You need to select a two-week period during which your
pass will be valid for one admission at each of the 15 participating sites.
Simply select your dates, pay with a credit card, print your voucher and hit
the trail to visit some of Connecticut's finest art repositories including
Hartford's Wadsworth Atheneum--America's oldest public art museum. Children 12
and under are admitted to the museums free and do not require an ArtPass. posted
5/19/09
Maine
Summer Getaways
The Maine Office of Tourism offers a one-stop place on the Web for you to find more than
200 summer getaway deals statewide. posted 5/19/09
Buy-One-Get-One-Free
Tickets Aboard the Downeaster to Maine
Relax and save money on your trip to Maine this year with
special deals on Amtrak Downeaster train service. Use promotion code V773 to
receive a free adult ticket when you purchase one adult full fare ticket on
select trains. posted 5/12/09
Here
We Go a Mushrooming!
Hedge Hogs, Chanterelles, Oysters, Puff Balls and Black Trumpets, oh my!
You'll learn to identify them all as you forage for mushrooms with the chef
during special Mushrooming Weekend getaways in July at the Three Mountain Inn
in Jamaica, Vermont. These two-night escapes are priced at $650 per couple and
include a three-course Vermont country breakfast each morning, a presentation
on mushrooms, a field guide to North American mushrooms, a mushroom gathering
basket and Saturday dinner featuring locally harvested mushrooms and wine
pairings. To reserve your spot, call 802-874-4140 or toll free, 800-532-9399. posted 5/5/09
Spoil
Your Guy with the Pail Ale Male Mancation
Want to reconnect with your special guy? Surprise him with a getaway that's
all about him. The Cabernet Inn in North Conway, New Hampshire, is offering an
all-inclusive Pail Ale Male Mancation that includes lodging for two nights, a
gourmet breakfast each morning, afternoon refreshments, a $50 Moat Mountain
Brewery gift certificate, a $10 Village Cigar Emporium gift certificate, a
coupon for a bucket of balls at a local driving range and a pail filled with a six-pack of his favorite
beer, a bottle opener, pretzels, peanuts and your choice of a "Life is Good" or "Life is Crap" T-shirt
(to suit his mood). Package prices start at $319 per couple including taxes
and gratuities. For details and reservations, call 603-356-4704 or toll free,
800-866-4704. posted 5/5/09
Free
Tanglewood Tickets
This July and August, stay three or more nights on weekends (Friday through
Sunday) or two or more nights midweek at the Berkshire 1802 House Bed &
Breakfast in Sheffield, Massachusetts, and you'll receive two free Tanglewood
lawn tickets. Check the schedule
of concerts at Tanglewood, then call 413-229-2612 for reservations. posted
4/28/09
Book
with Confidence: Your Job is Guaranteed
If career and financial uncertainties have prevented you from booking your
family's summer vacation, the new vacation stimulus plan from Maine's Point
Sebago Resort (read
my review) will ease your mind. Point Sebago's Job Guarantee Program
promises to refund your vacation deposit in the unfortunate event that you become unemployed.
Point Sebago vacations, priced from $895 for a weeklong stay in a two-bedroom
Park Home for a family of four, include lodging, free day and evening organized children's programs,
a teen center, free tennis, shuffleboard, lake and beach access and more. For
reservations and to take advantage of this special guarantee, call toll free,
800-655-1232. posted 4/21/09
Steal Away from Home and See the Sox
The Boston Marriott Copley Place, located walking distance from Fenway Park, offers a Summer Short Stop Package that includes two tickets to one Red Sox game
(see available game dates) and overnight accommodations for two people on game night. Package prices range from
$249-$349. For details and to make non-refundable reservations, call toll
free, 800-834-6418, and ask for promotional code ZJL. posted 4/7/09
Serenity Sundays in the Berkshires
At the Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club (read my review) in Lenox, Massachusetts, select Sundays are on sale
in September and October. Book one of these dates, and you'll save 50 percent on room rates and 20 percent on spa treatments. For information and reservations, call toll free, 800-272-6935. posted
12/10/08
Get Your Free
Adirondack Pin
Complete this online form, and you'll receive a voucher via email for a free
Adirondack collector's pin, which you can claim at any of five Visitor Centers
in New York's Adirondacks region. Visit all five centers, collect five pins,
and you'll be awarded the Forever Adirondack pin to complete your set. posted
11/5/08
Go
Green in Maine
The Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine, was recently certified as a Maine Environmental Leader through the State Department of Environmental Protection's Pollution Prevention Program,
and if you're an eco-conscious traveler, you'll love their Go Green getaway
package. Priced from $149 per person per night double occupancy, the package
includes accommodations in a renovated guestroom, breakfast for two
overlooking the ocean, a bottle of Maine-made organic wine, turn down service
complete with a selection of chocolates and local organic cheeses and a $25
donation on guests' behalf to the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, a land
conservation organization. For reservations and more information, call 207-594-2511
or toll free, 800-341-1650. posted 8/19/08
A
$219 Wine Lovers' Escape
With the Wine Tasting Dinner Package at the Eddington House Inn in North
Bennington, Vermont, available Tuesday through Saturday nights, you'll enjoy a
five-course dinner for two at Pangaea
Restaurant with paired world-class wines, endless desserts at the inn, one
night's lodging and a full breakfast--all for just $219 per couple (add $25
during fall foliage season). Call 802-442-1511 or toll free, 800-941-1857, to
book your escape.
posted 8/12/08
A Jane Austen Weekend Awaits
The Governor's House Inn in Hyde Park, Vermont, is hosting a series of Jane Austen Weekends featuring opportunities to immerse yourself in literature, movies, conversation and old-fashioned pleasures like afternoon tea, carriage rides and fly fishing. Available dates are
August 14-16, September 11-13 and January 8-10. Jane Austen Weekend packages are priced starting at $295 for singles and $260 per person for doubles including two nights' lodging, a Friday evening talk over dessert and coffee, full breakfast on Saturday, Saturday afternoon tea, Saturday dinner and book discussion, early Sunday Continental breakfast and a chance to win prizes during the Jane Austen quiz with Sunday brunch. For reservations and more information, call 802-888-6888 or toll free, 866-800-6888. posted 6/24/08
Save $1 on Battleship Cove Admission
Print this online coupon, and you'll save $1 on each of up to five general admissions to Battleship Cove, a maritime museum in Fall River, Massachusetts, with a collection of historic Navy ships. For more information, call 508-678-1100. posted 5/20/08
Free Photo Critique with Your B&B Stay
Diana Mara Henry is not only the innkeeper at Lathrop House Bed and Breakfast in Springfield, Massachusetts; she's an accomplished photographer. Book a stay, and she will review your portfolio and provide a free one-hour critique. For details and reservations, call 413-736-6414. posted 1/14/08
Psst! Save 10 Percent at Days Inns in New England
Follow this link for a special promotion from Days Inns in New England. Book any of the participating hotels online, and you'll save 10 percent off the best available rate. posted 9/24/07
Exchange Your Money for Berkshares and Save
Planning to visit the Berkshires in western Massachusetts? Then you really should exchange your U.S. currency for Berkshares. Yes, the region is printing its own money--accepted at many shops, restaurants and businesses (full list)--and you'll receive a ten percent bonus when you exchange your money for Berkshares at participating banks. This FAQ explains how this unique local currency works. Essentially, you can buy 100 Berkshares for $90, so your vacation dollars will go further. Questions? Call 413-528-1737. posted 3/21/07
Free Scenic Byways Map
Complete this online form, and the Federal Highway Administration will send you a free map that shows those roads designated as All-American and National scenic byways, including several great routes in New England. posted 10/17/06
Find Your Kinfolk and Stay Free
Is your last name Caron, Boudreau, Ouellet, Leblanc, Delaney, Lambert, Vance, Gordon, Gillespie, Rowley, Herrick, Pierce or Chizum? The owners of Diamond District Inn in Lynn, Massachusetts, are doing some genealogical research, and if you find a common ancestor during your two-night stay, your third night at the inn is free. For details and reservations, call (781) 595-2200 or toll free, 800 666-3076. posted 3/14/06
Escape NYC with Metro-North One-Day Getaways
Depart from Grand Central Station for a day in Connecticut at Norwalk's Maritime Aquarium, the Bruce Museum of Arts and Science in Greenwich or Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun casinos. For more information or to request a free "One-Day Getaways" booklet, call
212-532-4900 or toll free, 800 METRO-INFO outside of New York. posted 7/26/05
Kittery Coupons
Planning to do some outlet shopping in Kittery, Maine? Print these free coupons before you leave home and enjoy extra savings. posted 5/31/05
Boston to Mohegan Sun for Just
15 Bucks
Sunshine Travel offers daily bus departures from the Boston area to Connecticut's Mohegan Sun Casino, and tickets will only cost you
15 bucks round-trip. All passengers over 21 receive a $15 food credit and a $30 casino bet.
Buy your ticket online, or call 617-695-1989 for more information. Wondering what it's like to ride the Sunshine Travel bus to the casino? Read this account from The Boston Globe. posted 5/31/05
Spending Spree Getaway
Here's a special deal that seems almost too good to be true. Book the Spending Spree Getaway package at the Inn at Lake Joseph in Forestburgh, New York, then save your travel, shopping and dining receipts. The inn will reimburse you for up to half of your room charges for transportation costs associated with getting to the inn and purchases made while you're in Sullivan County. For reservations and details, call (845) 791-9506. posted 9/28/04
Be Innkeeper for a Day
Greet the guests. Bake the muffins. Fluff the pillows. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to own your own bed & breakfast, inn or resort? If you've dreamed of inn ownership, several area members of the New England Inns & Resorts Association offer the opportunity to try your hand at running their properties. Each property in the program has designed a unique curriculum based upon its own distinctive features, size, location, amenities and more. With location opportunities throughout New England, and a diverse array of property types, the program has options to meet a wide variety of tastes and budgets. Follow the link above, or call the association at 603-964-6689 for more details. posted 8/10/04
Save on Train Fare for New England Campus Visits
Visiting New England college campuses with your high school student? Here's an online offer from Campus Visit that will allow you to buy one Amtrak ticket and get one for half price. posted 7/27/04
Own an Audi?
Audi is the "Official Automobile" of the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont, and that means Audi owners save 20 percent off regular rates at this inn, still owned by the Trapp family, which you probably recall from "The Sound of Music." For reservations and more information, call (802) 253-8511 or toll free, 800 826-7000. posted 2/16/04
Women Only Weekends in the Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes region of New York State makes it easy to reconnect with friends with its collection of "Women Only" weekend getaway packages. More than a dozen inns have designed weekend escapes just for groups of women friends and featuring special add-ons such as massages, dinners, museum admissions, wine tastings and more. Follow the link above to peruse available packages, then call individual lodging properties to check availability and reserve your weekend with the girls. posted 11/25/03
You Snooze, You Save 26%
Planning a getaway at the last minute? You'll save 26 percent and pay just $90 instead of $125 if you're lucky enough to still find rooms available the week before your visit to Peace With-Inn Bed and Breakfast in Fryeburg, Maine. Call (207) 935-7363 or toll free, 877 935-7322, to check availability. posted 4/7/03
Special Offers from Mystic Merchants
The Mystic & More! Convention & Visitors Bureau makes it easy to find special offers on accommodations, dining, shopping, attractions and more in the Mystic, Connecticut, area. posted 5/20/02
Friends of Harpoon Get Special Deals
Sign up online to be a member of Harpoon Brewery's "Friends of Harpoon," and you'll be entitled to a variety of special offers such as invitations to exclusive special events and savings at New England retail establishments. Membership is free. posted 4/10/02
Special Savings for Active Duty and Retired Military Personnel
Homespun Farm B&B in Griswold, Connecticut, offers a special 10 percent savings for all active duty and retired military personnel. Call
860-376-5178 or toll free, 888-889-6673, for reservations and more information. posted 2/19/02
Request Free Mount Washington Brochures Online
Use this online form to request free travel literature and maps for New Hampshire's Mount Washington Valley. posted 10/9/01
A Maritime Experience for Two
The Galen C. Moses House, a Victorian bed & breakfast in Bath, Maine, offers a weekend getaway package that will allow you to immerse yourself in Midcoast Maine's maritime history. The getaway weekend includes lodging for two nights, a romantic dinner for two, two gourmet breakfasts and two passes to the Maine Maritime Museum. The price is $345 per couple including taxes, $445 June through October. For more information and reservations, call 207-442-8771 or toll free, 888-442-8771. posted 7/2/01
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