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Articles for July, 2008

Cheap theater, nightlife at Philly Fringe

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Phillyfringeblog
Philly Fringe takes over Philadelphia August 29 – September 13.

This celebration of theater, comedy, dance and art is the "unfiltered" companion to the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival. The 16-day Philly Fringe includes performances by 176 new and established artists at sites across Philadelphia.

Philly Fringe tickets are really cheap. Most shows cost $10-$15, and several shows, including "24 Hour Comedy Marathon," "Chick," How Old Are You?," "Killer Bass" and "Media Addicts" are just $5.

And if you plan to see a lot of shows– either at Live Arts or Fringe, you can save even more. There’s a 20 percent discount when you buy tickets to two or three shows and a 25 percent discount on four or more shows.

And for some post-show nightlife, you can head to the Festival Bar at the southwest corner of 5th and Fairmount. With media projections on the walls, creative activities by local artists and music, it may feel like another Fringe show — and, there’s no cover.

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Deal of the Day: Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on sale

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

Hardrockblog
By Heather Leisman

Our latest Deal of the Day is in San Diego, a city popular for its mild climate, beautiful beaches and outdoor activities.

One of the San Diego hotels we’re featuring is the four-star Hard Rock Hotel. Right now the hotel is offering 30% off regular rates.

What makes the Hard Rock Hotel such a great deal? It’s located right in the Gaslamp Quarter, the heart of San Diego’s nightlife scene. The hotel’s feature restaurant is the famous Nobu, and the property has two ultra-hip bars. Plus, the rooms feature custom-made furniture and flat-screen TVs. A great location with great entertainment makes the Hard Rock Hotel our pick among San Diego hotels.

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Heather Leisman is senior director of merchandising for CheapTickets.

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Cheap cruises on Royal Caribbean: Book by July 31

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

Voyagerblog
Cheap cruises can take you just about anywhere in the world. Right now, Royal Caribbean has cruises on sale, starting at $229 for a four-night Bahamas cruise. There are plenty of routes to choose from, but you have to act fast. Book your cheap cruise by July 31.

You could try a Caribbean cruise. The seven-night Eastern Caribbean stops in Puerto Rico, St. Maarten and St. Thomas. Interior rooms start at $659 for the September 21 sailing. Aboard the Freedom of the Seas, you can enjoy at drink at the Bull and Bear English Pub, listen to Latin music at Boleros Lounge, relax at the adults-only Solarium Pool and much more.

Or head to Europe. The seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise includes stops in France, Rome and Sicily. Interior rooms start at $699 for November sailings. Aboard the Voyager of the Seas you can take scuba diving lessons, go rock climbing or ice skating, or relax at the Day Spa.

Royal Caribbean has cruises to the Bahamas, cruises to Greece — even a cruise in Australia and the Great Barrier Reef. Cruises range from three nights to 14 nights, so you can take a quick getaway or a long vacation.

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In Savannah, fun doesn’t have to cost a thing

Friday, July 25th, 2008

Savannahblog
Savannah, Georgia, is on Travel & Leisure magazine’s list of the Top 10 Cities in the U.S. and Canada. With its historic architecture, beautifully manicured public squares and combination of hip attitude and laid-back Southern charm, it’s easy to see why.

And the good news is a Savannah vacation can be a cheap vacation — thanks to plenty of free events along River Street.

River Street is the center of the action on the first Friday and Saturday of the month. Celebrate the start of the weekend with free fireworks Friday at 9:30 p.m. First Saturday on the River features arts and crafts, free entertainment and family fun from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In October, First Saturday fun morphs into Oktoberfest, with German food, music and games that continue Sunday as well. On the first Saturday (and Sunday) in November, you can celebrate the annual Savannah Seafood Festival. And December’s First Saturday takes on a Christmas theme.

Elsewhere, art lovers can explore City Market, a collection of artist studios and galleries in the area around Jefferson and West St. Julian streets, for free every day.

And movie buffs may just enjoy walking around the city and seeing scenes from their favorite films. Savannah has been the setting for movies including "Forrest Gump," "The Legend of Bagger Vance," and "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."

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Save on flights to Mexico, the Caribbean

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

AalogoWant cheap tickets to Mexico? How about a Caribbean vacation? CheapTickets and American Airlines can help.

American has Mexico and the Caribbean on sale with cheap flights to your favorite tropical destinations. Look at these sample airfares:

  • Chicago to Aruba — $292
  • Denver to Grand Cayman — $401
  • Los Angeles to Puerto Vallarta — $289
  • Washington to St. Maarten — $251
  • Charlotte to Cancun — $360

Fares are good for travel September 2 through December 10, 2008 and don’t include taxes and fees. This airfare sale runs though July 31, so plan your fall vacation now and save.

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Day of Deals: Stay on the Vegas Strip for less

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008

By Heather Leisman

The latest deal of the day is in Las Vegas, a favorite destination for gambling, entertainment and nightlife.

One of the Las Vegas hotels we’re featuring is the four-star Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, right on the Las Vegas Strip. Right now, the hotel is offering 20% off its regular rates when you stay three or more nights. I found rooms for $88 per night August 20-23.

Ultra-modern rooms, a nationally known nightclub and more than 150 shops are some of the reasons Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino is this week’s pick among Las Vegas hotels.

Heather Leisman is senior director of merchandising for CheapTickets.

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Get cheap meals at Restaurant Week Boston

Friday, July 18th, 2008

Restaurant Week Boston is here!

Celebrate all the food Boston has to offer August 10-15 and August 17-22. Participating restaurants are offering three-course lunches for $20.08 and/or three-course dinners for $33.08.

During Restaurant Week Boston, you can enjoy discounted meals from more than 150 restaurants. Top of the Hub at the top of Prudential Tower is offering lunch specials. Other participating restaurants include Union Oyster House, which bills itself as America’s oldest restaurant , and dante and Ristorante Fiore, which are on Boston Magazine‘s list of the best places to eat outside.

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Deal of the Day: Hawaii hotel savings

Thursday, July 17th, 2008

By Heather Leisman

This week’s deal of the day may help you plan a Hawaii vacation on the Big Island, where you can see an active volcano and experience rainforests, beautiful beaches, and 11 different climate zones.

One of the Big Island hotels we’re highlighting is the Royal Kona Resort, where you can save 20% on the regular rates. I found rates of $114 a night August 12-15 at this three-star hotel.

Royal Kona Resort has a freshwater pool and private beach, and all guest rooms have large outdoor attached porches — just a few reasons why it’s this week’s pick among Big Island hotels.

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Heather Leisman is senior director of merchandising for CheapTickets.

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Princess Cruises: Plan ahead and get free onboard spending

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008

Caribbean_princessblog_2
Cheap cruises are easy to find when you plan ahead. That’s because Princess Cruises is offering up to $100 in free onboard spending for select cruises this winter when you book by July 31.

The seven-night Mexican Riviera cruise aboard the Sapphire Princess includes stops in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Interior rooms start at $712 for January sailings, and you get up to $100 in free onboard spending. Travelers can enjoy plenty of dining options, including eight-course Italian meals at Sabatini’s and a prime rib carving station at Sterling Steakhouse.

The Caribbean Princess sails through the southern Caribbean, with stops in Barbados, Antigua and St. Lucia. The seven-night Classic Southern Caribbean cruise starts at $737 for the February 1 sailing, and you get up to $100 in free onboard spending. The ship features plenty of activities and entertainment, including three pools, plus an indoor lap pool and a kids pool, a nine-hole golf putting course and movies under the stars.

One of these cheap cruises could make a great tropical getaway this winter. Book yours by July 31.

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Free, cheap ways to enjoy popular Chicago attractions

Friday, July 11th, 2008

Artinstitute
By Polly Fitz

Having lived in and around Chicago all my life, I may be a little bit biased, but I think Chicago is a world-class city. There’s award-winning theater and restaurants, prestigious museums and miles of parks and lakefront. And what makes it even better is that many of Chicago’s institutions offer free or discounted programs, making it easy — and cheap — to enjoy all that Chicago has to offer.

Here’s just a small sample of free and discounted programs to make your Chicago vacation a cheap vacation:

ART

The Art Institute of Chicago: 111 S. Michigan Ave. Free Thursday and Friday evenings, 5-9 p.m.

Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art: 220 E. Chicago Ave. (one block east of Michigan Ave.) Free all day on Tuesdays.

Chicago Cultural Center: 78 East Washington St. The center hosts art exhibits, films, dance events, concerts and more, and it’s always free — every day.

Art Gallery Tours: The Chicago Art Dealers Association offers free gallery tours Saturday mornings at 11. Tours are led by a gallery owner and generally include 4 galleries. Meet at the Starbucks at 750 N. Franklin.

THEATER

Hot Tix sells discount tickets to some of Chicago’s most popular shows. Some tickets are available online; others must be purchased in person. You can’t buy these tickets too far in advance; they’re often for the current day or 3-4 days out.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company: 1650 N. Halsted St. Twenty tickets priced at $20 are available for most subscription shows on the day of the performance beginning at 11 a.m. (Monday-Saturday) and 1 p.m. (Sunday). Tickets may be purchased by phone or in person. Limit two per person.

Goodman Theatre: At 10 a.m. each day, remaining mezzanine-level tickets for that day’s show(s) are available for half-price online (promo code MEZZTIX); you can buy the tickets at the box office beginning at noon. (Tickets subject to availability; handling fees apply.)

FOR KIDS

Lincoln Park Zoo: 2200 N. Cannon Drive. Free every day.

Chicago Children’s Museum: 700 E. Grand Ave. (on Navy Pier). Free the first Monday of the month for kids aged 15 and younger. Free for everyone Thursday evenings 5-8 p.m.

I know lots of other cities have similar programs, and we’d love to hear about them. What are some of the free and cheap activities that you enjoy in your city? Is there a great restaurant that offers a regular dinner special? Free walking tours of some of the landmarks? Share your tips in the comments section. We may use them in a future story.

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Polly Fitz is an editor for CheapTickets.

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