Fans of the NFL’s Chicago Bears have little to be excited about this year.  The team is struggling with a 4-7 losing record and the powerhouse of their defense, Brian Urlacher, has been out with an injury since September.

But Chicago football fans are no stranger to heartbreak and loss, and true fans will continue to brave the harsh Chicago winters for a chance to cheer at Soldier Field.  And the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers would like to make that just a little bit easier with a special Football Game Day package.  The Sheraton is offering special discounts for home games against district rivals in the month of December.

Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers

Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Tower’s “Show Your Colors” Football Package

December 13 – Chicago vs. Greenbay
Special Rate:$109 per night

December 28 – Chicago vs. Minnesota
Special Rate: $99 per night

Package includes hand warmers for out of town guests and if you check in wearing your team’s colors, you’ll receive a complimentary upgrade to a Deluxe room with a view.

The package is available online or by phone using rate code GAMEDAY.

The Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers is about an 8 minute cab ride from Soldier Field and a 15 minute walk to Navy Pier.

The Sheraton is also offering special holiday packages for the shopping season and complimentary shuttle service to and from Macy’s on State St. and Water Tower Plaza on Michigan Avenue for holiday shoppers staying on Fridays and Saturdays, between November 27 and December 27.

Photo Credit: MissHeathyrm

Hotel Monteleone

The elegant Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans’ French Quarter has been run by the Monteleone family since 1886, and is well known for its excellent customer service. It’s extremely convenient—just walking distance from some of New Orleans’ most famous landmarks and attractions.

The Monteleone’s 600 spacious guest rooms and 55 suites include traditional décor, high ceilings, marble and granite bathrooms, comfy robes, coffee makers, high-speed Internet access, large-screen cable TVs and more. Rates start at $209 per night.

One of just three hotels in the Unites States that has been designated a literary landmark, the hotel is featured in the works of Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemingway and Eudora Welty. Looking for a little more excitement? As with many New Orleans hotels in the French Quarter, the Monteleone claims a handful of “permanent residents” in the form of ghosts.

The hotel is one of the few luxury hotels in the state that offer services for your canine best friend, including a mat with water bowls, a bag of treats and a map of pet-friendly spots in the Crescent City.

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Orlando Pet Friendly Hotels for Pet Friendly Family Vacations

The family pet, for many people, is just another beloved member of the family.  So naturally, the family vacation needs to include a pet friendly hotel.  Orlando, Florida offers a variety of pet friendly hotels to choose from if you plan to bring your pet along on your Orlando vacation.

Pet Friendly Hotels In Orlando

Quality Inn Plaza Orlando on International Drive – the Quality Inn accepts pets under 50 lbs for a $10 fee per night, per pet.

Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel – Dogs of all sizes are welcome for a one time pet fee of $25 per room. Guests must have a health certificate for each pet obtained within 10 days prior to arrival.

Universal’s Portofino Bay Hotel – With direct access to Universal Studios, this is a Loews Hotel. The Loews chain has a “Loews Loves Pet” program and a Holiday program specifically for pets.

Red Roof Inn Orlando Convention Center – This pet friendly hotel is adjacent to the Orlando Convention Center. One well behaved pet is allowed per room.

Crestwood Suites Disney Orlando – This Orlando hotel accepts pets under 20 pounds for a fee of $15 per night or $50 per week.

Sheraton Safari Hotel Orlando – If you have a larger dog, this may be the best pet friendly hotel in Orlando for you. Dogs up to 80 pounds are allowed.

Best Western Orlando East Inn & Suites – A pet friendly hotel in Downtown Orlando, small pets are allowed here for $20 per day.

Country Inn And Suites By Carlson Orlando Airport – A pet friendly hotel near the Orlando airport, this hotel allows dogs up to $75 for a one time fee of $150.

Comfort Suites Universal South – This pet friendly hotel offers a free shuttle to Universal Studios and Sea World. This is a great choice if you more than one pet as they allow 2 pets per room for $49 per stay.

Photo Credit: Pink Sherbet Photography

National Hotel in Miami, Florida

I absolutely love to travel.

I love the freedom and excitement and adventure that comes with visiting a new place.  I sleep better in a hotel room than I do in my own bed.  Traveling is, by far, one of my favorite things to do.

When the holidays roll around, I often try to find ways to give the gift of travel to my loved ones.

“The Gift of Travel”, unfortunately, is one of those cute phrases that’s much easier said than done.  My in-laws have a pile of unused hotel vouchers and handmade vacation IOUs.  Yes, a pile, because I’m still not quite ready to give up on the idea of sharing the experience of travel with people.  I am stubbornly trying to learn from my mistakes.

In other words, I am the perfect person to give you advice on how to give the gift of a hotel stay for Christmas.  (In the writing world, we call this authoritative writing.  Or irony.)

Tips For Making “The Gift of Travel” Work

1.  Talk to the gift recipient before spending any money. Don’t put down any nonrefundable deposits unless you are certain that the intended traveler will be willing and able to take advantage of your gift.  That means you need to know their schedule and interests ahead of time.

2.  Avoid nonrefundable deposits. Most hotels have a 24-48 hour cancellation policy, meaning you won’t be charged anything if your loved one decides not to accept your gift.  Rather than buying a nontransferable hotel voucher, make a hotel reservation in their name with your credit card.

3. Start small. Consider how much the gift recipient travels normally.  If they haven’t left their hometown in 30 years, buying them a first class vacation to New York City or Paris may not be quite as generous as it sounds.  Some people don’t travel extensively for a reason – because they don’t want to.  Look for a hotel in a nearby city that they’ve enjoyed before, or venture just beyond their typical vacation radius.

4.  Provide a Plan B Present. Book a room at a hotel not too far away, and then think about alternative gifts you can give if your plans fall through.

Reading over this list makes me wonder why I keep trying to give the gift of travel at all.  I think my new goal should be figuring out how to get the gift of travel.

Photo Credit: Britt Reints

My husband and I stayed at the Elm Hurst Inn and Country Spa in Ingersol Ontario, and truly enjoyed our stay.  It was certainly a quiet hotel, and had crisp, clean rooms to accommodate us. We were there for a Christmas party and the decorations made the Inn look that much more picturesque in the snow and lights.

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The Old Mill has long been a integral part of Toronto’s heritage.  First discovered in 1615, it was then a thoroughfare for Native Canadians.  Now it is home to live entertainment, weddings and corporate meetings.

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Ashford Castle

When you think about the movie Back To The Future, you probably don’t think of Ireland.  If you’re a movie buff, you probably think of Hill Valley, California.

But two hotels in Ireland are hoping to change all that with the launch of their Back To The Future promotion.  Despite the location not having any ties to the movie, Ashford Castle and The g Hotel in Galway, Ireland are giving guests a chance to experience two distinct eras of the country’s past.

Ashford Castle is an actual castle.  The castle itself dates back to 1228 and was once the estate of the Guinness family.  It officially became a hotel in 1939 and is set on 350 acres in County Mayo, on the shores of Lough Corrib and the River Cong.  The setting is beyond gorgeous.  Ashford Castle officially represents the past or “Back” portion of the promotion.

The g Hotel Galway

The g Hotel Galway is as modern as Ashford Castle is historical. Located in the heart of Galway in western Ireland, it’s one of Ireland’s top five-star city hotels.  The interiors are splashed with bright colors like fuchsia and royal blue.  Amenities include the contemporary ESPA and MATZ at the g restaurant, three individually-styled lounges and a cocktail bar.  Everything about The g Hotel screams Hip Big City Life.  Welcome to “the Future”.

As part of the Back To The Future vacation package, guests receive two nights at each hotel and a full Irish breakfast each morning.  You can take your nights in any order.

The package is priced at $888, a nod to the 88 miles per hour required for the DeLorean to drive through time.

Madonna Inn

I asked a friend recently to tell me about their most memorable hotel experience.   “The Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, California,” he said without hesitation.  “They have caveman rooms!”

As it turns out, the Madonna Inn offers a variety of themed suites to fulfill just about every vacation fantasy.  Inspiration for the 110 themed suites ranges from merry-go-rounds to Yosemite National Park’s Bridal Veil Falls.  Sixteen of these suites include a unique “rock shower” and fourteen include in-room waterfalls!

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World's Largest Cruise Ship - Oasis of the Seas

The world’s largest cruise ship is in the water and set to reach Port Everglades on November 11, and Fort Lauderdale hoteliers may have a lot to gain.

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas features 16 decks, 2,700 staterooms, and an open-air “Central Park” in the middle of the boat.  To say it’s big, even by cruise ship standards, would be an understatement.

Tourist officials in Fort Lauderdale are hoping that the big ship’s arrival will mean more people staying in Fort Lauderdale hotels.

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World's largest Doubletree Hotel

Orlando, Florida is officially home to the world’s largest Doubletree Hotel.

Technically, Orlando does not have a new hotel, but rather an old hotel has a new name and a new face, and Doubletree has another property in the middle of this infamous tourist destination.

Formerly known as the International Plaza Resort and Spa, the hotel on International Drive recently underwent a $35 million renovation and a name change, becoming Doubletree Resort Orlando – International Drive.  This property spans 28 acres and houses 1,094 guestroom and 60,000 sqaure feet of event space, making it the largest of all Doubletree hotels.

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