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.

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*Current New England Travel Deals*
Save on a Presidents' Weekend Escape to Boston
Don't have plans for the Presidents' Day holiday weekend? Marriott eBreak rates from $63 per night at Boston-area hotels make an escape to this historic city affordable this weekend. Book your discounted room direct online, or ask for the eBreak rate when you call toll free, 800-752-7571. Plus, save $2 on admission to Boston's John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum February 18 through 26 when you print this online coupon. posted 2/14/12

Mystic Seaport is Free for Kids on Saturday
Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut, offers free admission for all children during its 2012 reopening celebration on Saturday, February 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Plus, enjoy lunch at the museum's Latitude 41° restaurant, and each child under age 11 receives a kid's menu selection free with the purchase of an adult meal. The day's Winter's Aweigh program features winter fun activities including an ice carving demonstration; talks on ice boating, ice harvesting, sleds and sleighs; and the chance to watch Newfoundland dogs at work pulling carts. For more information, call 860-572-5302 or toll free, 888-973-2767. posted 2/14/12

Clean Up After the Pilgrims and Earn Free Plimoth Plantation Admission
Saturday, March 3, is Museum Clean-Up Day at Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and if you RSVP online to help out by Monday, February 20, you'll receive a free lunch for volunteering and a pass to visit this living history attraction during the 2012 season. The annual clean-up event runs from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., and the rain date is March 10. Questions? Call 508-746-1622. posted 2/14/12

Chase Away the Winter Blues
Through May 12, the Howard Johnson Inn Newport Area will help you chase away the winter blues with a special package, priced from $129 double occupancy, which includes overnight accommodations, plus admission and dinner for two at the Newport Blues Cafe. This offer is available Wednesday through Saturday nights; some blackout dates apply. For details and reservations, call 401-849-2000. posted 2/6/12

Take Your Valentine to Fleming's, Get a Free Gift Card
Take your main squeeze to Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar February 12-14, and you'll receive a $25 gift card valid through March 31. Fleming's has three New England locations in Boston, Massachusetts; Providence, Rhode Island; and West Hartford, Connecticut. Make reservations, and get ready to enjoy a special Valentine Menu with entrees priced at $69.95 each, Bella-tini Valentine cocktails for $9.95 and Red Velvet cake for two with Espresso Truffles for $9.50, or order from the regular a la carte menu. In Boston, Fleming's also offers a complimentary car service that will pick you up and drop you off anywhere in the city with advanced notice. Call 617-292-0808 for information and reservations. posted 2/6/12

Mark Your Calendar for Maine Restaurant Week
The fourth annual Maine Restaurant Week, a 10-day dining event featuring specially priced, three-course meals at more than 50 participating restaurants, is scheduled for March 1-10. Restaurant Week menus will be priced at $20, $30 or $40 and do not include beverages, tax or gratuities. Make reservations early for your chance to sample creative menus at your choice of some of the finest restaurants in the Portland area and beyond. posted 2/6/12

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 February 14, use the code SWEETIE at checkout and recalculate your total to save an additional 80 percent off restaurant gift certificates--that makes most certificates valued at $25 just $2. Read details carefully, as some restrictions may apply. posted 2/6/12

Chocolate Indulgence
Spend Sunday, February 26, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or driving between inns and businesses in New Hampshire's Mt. Washington Valley and savoring chocolate treats at each during the 23rd annual Chocolate Festival. Tickets are $30 per person online in advance before February 13, or they can be purchased for $35 at the Touring Center at Ragged Mountain Equipment on the day of the tour. You can even indulge guilt-free, as proceeds benefit the Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Foundation. The event runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Several participating inns are offering lodging packages in conjunction with the Chocolate Festival. For more information, call 603-356-9920. posted 1/31/12

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 150 museums nationwide including these great New England attractions: Connecticut's Wadsworth Atheneum, Maine's Farnsworth Art Museum, Massachusetts' MASS MoCA, Harvard Museum of Natural History and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Rhode Island's Newport Art Museum, Providence Children's Museum and RISD Museum. Upcoming free admission weekends for 2012 include: March 3-4, April 7-8 and May 5-6. posted 1/31/12

This Newport Spa Package is a Steal
Want to escape to a harborside spa in Newport, Rhode Island, without stressing your budget? Through March 31, enjoy $125 in spa treatments free when you book the Newport Marriott's one-night Spa Package, priced from $169. Use promotional code SPA when you book online or call toll free, 800-228-9290. posted 1/25/12

The Early Skier Gets Free Breakfast
Need an incentive to hit the slopes early? At Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Massachusetts, if you order a weekend lift ticket online and pick it up between 7 and 9 a.m., you'll receive vouchers for a free breakfast and a small hot beverage. This offer is available Saturdays and Sundays through March 11, plus President's Day, February 20. posted 1/25/12

Tour the Berkshires in a Model A Ford
Here's an experience you'll always remember: Book a stay at the Devonfield Inn in Lee, Massachusetts, and for an additional fee of $125, two people can enjoy a one-hour tour of the Berkshires in a 1931 Model A Ford. For reservations and more information, call 413-243-3298 or toll free, 800-664-0880. posted 1/17/12

Take Your Tweety on a Bird Watching Twip, er... Trip!
The Inn at Crystal Lake in Eaton, New Hampshire, has a package available to wildlife and bird watching enthusiasts this March through June (excluding holidays and school vacations). Priced from $295 for two, the getaway includes lodging for two nights, full country breakfast each morning, one lunch and one dinner for two. You'll also receive trail maps for four nearby Audubon sanctuaries and a Garden Dreams gift package, plus a small donation to the New Hampshire Audubon Society will be made in your names. For details and reservations, call toll free, 800-343-7336. posted 1/18/11

Forever Young Mondays at Mohegan Sun
If you're age 60+, head to Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, on Mondays through February 27 to take advantage of special deals and free gifts. The Forever Young Mondays promotion features discounts at select retail outlets, restaurant deals including two-for-one buffet dining and a free gift for the first 2,500 guests with a Player's Club card. There's a new gift each week. For more information, call toll free, 888-226-7711. posted 1/10/12

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, sleigh rides and fly fishing. Many dates are scheduled in 2012 and early 2013. 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 1/9/12

Ski, Stay and Dine for $199
The Chocksett Inn in Sterling, Massachusetts, makes ski escapes affordable this winter with a Ski, Stay and Dine package priced at $199 for a one-room suite or $229 for a two-room suite. In addition to overnight accommodations for two, the package includes continental breakfast, two lift tickets for nearby Wachusett Mountain and a $40 gift certificate for dinner at the inn's restaurant. For details and reservations, call 978-422-3355 or toll free, 800-331-7829. posted 12/20/11

Designated Drivers Dine Free
The Old Tavern Restaurant at the Grafton Inn in Grafton, Vermont, is a bit off the beaten path, but here's an extra incentive to make the trip. Through March 17, when you dine with a group of four or more, your party's designated driver will receive a free meal (up to a $40 value). Reservations are required, and you must provide the name of your designated driver. Call 802-843-2231 or toll free, 800-843-1801, for reservations. posted 12/14/11

A Wild Winter Ride
Buckle up and hold on! The Wild Truck Safari Package at Vermont's Rabbit Hill Inn (read my review) includes romantic lodging for two nights, candlelit breakfast each morning, afternoon tea and pastries daily, two Mud Puddle cocktails at the Snooty Fox Pub, one dinner at the inn and two tickets for an off-road Wild Truck Safari on the snow-covered trails of Barron Mountain with Alpine Adventure Co. The package, available weekends only (holidays excluded) this winter, is priced from $529 per couple including gratuities. For details and reservations, call 802-748-5168 and ask for the Wild Truck Safari package. posted 12/14/11

Ski Wildcat or Attitash and Stay for Only $4
The Royalty Inn in Gorham, New Hampshire, is advertising this ski getaway deal as a "no brainer," and they're absolutely right. Your room is just $4 when each overnight guest purchases a full-price Wildcat Mountain or Attitash Mountain Resort lift ticket from the inn for $67 Sunday through Thursday ($52 for teens and $43 for juniors). This special offer is even available during Christmas and February vacation weeks! Friday and Saturday stays are priced slightly higher. For details and reservations, call 603-466-3312 or toll free, 800-437-3529. posted 12/6/11

Save on Six Flags Season Passes
Six Flags New England 2012 season passes are on sale for just $49.99 when you buy four (the same price as a single-day admission ticket!), and it's easy to purchase passes direct online, print a voucher and enjoy theme park fun for one low price. A season pass entitles the bearer not only to unlimited park visits but to free tickets for friends on select days, free admission at other Six Flags parks, food and merchandise discounts and more. posted 12/6/11

Your Mixologist Dreams Can Come True for $20
From daiquiris to rum toddies, you'll be mixing drinks like a pro when you attend Cocktail Classes at ArtBar at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts. These 45-minute sessions with Troy Clarke, the hotel's Director of Food and Beverage, are offered the third Thursday of each month. The introductory price of just $20 includes expert, hands-on instruction and a sampling of appetizers. Stay for dinner at ArtBar, and you'll receive a 10% discount on your check (excluding alcohol). Upcoming class themes include: American Whiskey (February 23), Brandy (March 15) and Agave Based Spirit (April 19). For details and reservations, call 617-806-4122. posted 12/6/11

Winter Weekends in New England from $89
Plan ahead and save big at more than 30 Marriott hotels throughout New England this winter. Just browse these discounted rates and book direct online at least seven days in advance of your stay using promotional code ADP. These deals are available through March 4. Rates start as low as $89 per night. posted 11/22/11

Frequent Skier Card Will Save You Money All Season
Purchase your Frequent Skier Card online or by phone for $97, and you'll enjoy one free day of skiing or riding, plus save $25 off midweek, non-holiday lift tickets and $15 off weekend and holiday lift tickets all season long at three of New England's top ski resorts: Maine's Sunday River and Sugarloaf and New Hampshire's Loon Mountain. If you plan to ski this trio of resorts this winter, the card, which only costs a smidge more than a single lift ticket, will save you some cool cash. posted 11/15/11

Maine Winter Getaways
The Maine Office of Tourism offers a one-stop place on the Web for you to find more than 125 winter getaway deals statewide. posted 11/8/11

Cape Ann Charm... Cheap!
Tuck Inn Bed and Breakfast in Rockport, Massachusetts, has incredible winter rates available through April 30. Escape to Cape Ann for two nights for just $199 for two, or stay a whole week for just $499 for two, breakfasts included. For details and reservations, call 978-546-7260 or toll free, 800-789-7260. posted 11/1/11

Under 40? Score $20 Symphony Tickets
The Boston Symphony Orchestra will offer $20 concert tickets to patrons under the age of 40 during the remainder of the 2011-2012 Symphony Hall season, thanks to a generous contribution from an anonymous donor. Tickets are normally priced from $30 to $110. A schedule of available performances is available at the BSO Web site. Discounted tickets may be purchased online. Eligible patrons may purchase up to two tickets per show and must provide proof of age in order to receive the discount. A $6.25 service fee is applied to each ticket. posted 11/1/11

This Deal is a Slam Dunk
Stay two consecutive nights now through March 31 at a Howard Johnson hotel, and receive two free vouchers for a Harlem Globetrotters game. The Harlem Globetrotters will make appearances in all six New England states during their upcoming season, which begins December 26. To take advantage of this Double Dribble deal, use promotion code SFA when you book direct online, or call toll free, 800-I-GO-HOJO, and mention code SFA. posted 10/12/11

A Taste of Providence
Immerse yourself in Providence, Rhode Island's culinary scene with the Taste of Providence package at the Christopher Dodge House. Priced at just $449 through April, the getaway includes lodging for two nights in the best available room at time of reservation, plus two $100 dining gift certificates for a choice of three restaurants: Mill's Tavern, Cassarino's and Hemenway's. To reserve your stay, call 401-351-6111. posted 7/5/11

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 5/17/11

$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 DownAround 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 per item shipping on all pillows and other merchandise sitewide when you buy direct from the company. posted 11/30/10

Go Behind the Scenes at the Sam Adams Brewery
Treat your favorite beer fan to an exclusive experience in Boston with the Fairmont Copley Plaza's Samuel Adams Behind the Scenes Brewery Package. Priced from $429 double occupancy and available September through December, the getaway includes overnight accommodations, a behind-the-scenes tour of the Samuel Adams Brewery, a private tasting of classic and limited edition Sam Adams beers, a three-course dinner paired with Samuel Adams brews in the hotel's Oak Room and an in-room Bucket of Cheer featuring Samuel Adams pint glasses and apparel. For details and reservations, call toll free, 800-441-1414. posted 10/19/10

Get a Deal Now, Find Out Where You're Staying Later
Deals on accommodations can be hard to come by in New England, but here's a strategy that may help you save up to 50 percent on your stay. Expedia's Unpublished Rate Hotels program (Book Direct) allows travelers to find discounted room rates and to roll the dice: You'll only learn the name of your hotel after you book. I just checked Unpublished Rate Hotels in the Boston area for the first weekend in October and found a 3.5-star Lexington, Massachusetts-area hotel for $55 per night and a 3.5-star Harvard-area hotel for $69 per night. posted 9/7/10

Visit the Boston Children's Museum for $1
Regular admission to the Boston Children's Museum is $12 for guests ages 1 and up, but you'll pay just $1 per person if you visit on Friday evenings from 5 to 9 p.m. These $1 Friday Nights are made possible by Target. For more information about the museum, call 617-426-6500. posted 7/19/10

Bed, Bet & a Bite
Connecticut's Mohegan Sun offers an overnight package priced from $302 for two that includes a $100 food and beverage credit at Bar Americain or Todd English's Tuscany, a visit to your table from the chef, a cookbook by either Bobby Flay or Todd English (depending on your restaurant choice) and one $10 free bet per person. For reservations, ask for code PTFBV when you call toll free, 888-777-7922. posted 2/17/10

Your Private Chef Awaits
The Private Chef Gourmet Dining Package at Vermont's Phineas Swann Bed and Breakfast Inn is priced from $499.99 for two and includes accommodations for two nights, a bottle of wine, breakfast and afternoon tea daily and a candlelit, four-course dinner for two prepared and served by a private chef. For details and reservations, call 802-326-4306. posted 2/17/10

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-month 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

Buy-One-Get-One-Free Tickets Aboard the Downeaster to Maine
Relax and save money on your trip to Maine with special deals on Amtrak Downeaster train service. Use promotion code V353 to receive a free adult ticket when you purchase one adult full fare ticket on select trains. posted 5/12/09

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, a $50 Moat Mountain Brewery gift certificate, a $10 Village Cigar Emporium gift certificate and a pail filled with a six-pack of his favorite beer, pretzels, peanuts and your choice of a "Life is Good" or "Life is Crap" T-shirt (to suit his mood). Package prices start at $339 per couple including taxes. For details and reservations, call 603-356-4704 or toll free, 800-866-4704. posted 5/5/09

A $239 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 $239 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

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

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

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 Mohegan Sun casino. 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 13-15 Bucks
Sunshine Travel offers daily bus departures from the Boston area to Connecticut's Mohegan Sun Casino, and tickets will only cost you $13-15 round-trip. All passengers over 21 receive a $20 meal credit and $40 in match play coupons. 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

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

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

Special Offers from Mystic Merchants
The Mystic & More! Convention & Visitors Bureau makes it easy to find special offers on accommodations, dining, shopping 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

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

More New England Freebies

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