Value Watch: Stonehurst Place, Atlanta

Photos courtesy of Stonehurst Place and Allison Shirreffs
Story by Olga Bas

When looking for a gay-, eco- and/or pet-friendly stay in Atlanta, consider the small but luxurious Stonehurst Place. The bed and breakfast is running a Three Nights for the Price of Two promotion on all stays at least three days through December 22, 2009. Book your stay directly with Stonehurst Place; rates vary based on room choice and period of booking ($139-429). The offer may not be combined with any other offer.

The B&B, located in a mansion originally built in 1896, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was renovated last year to include many green additions. Without sacrificing style and its period appeal, the hotel has been outfitted with solar panels to heat water and harvests and purifies rainwater for the house.

Besides the eco-friendliness of the hotel, each room guarantees luxury 1000 thread count Egyptian cotton bed linens, natural hygiene products and museum-quality art. Some of the larger suites, such as the Hinman and Gables, also offer marble vanities and floors, spa tubs and heated bathroom floors.

Upon arrival to Stonehurst, expect a welcome beverage as well as complimentary refreshments and gourmet breakfast throughout the length of your stay. In-room massage service is also available to guest with 24-hour notice.

Aman, amen! India made easy

Story by Ed Salvato; photos by Ed Salvato except bottom courtesy of Aman.

India is a country renowned for its sights, sounds, colors and aromas. It's also known to be challenging and difficult -- a chaotic environment with snarled traffic jams, endless noise, dust and smog, impossibly crowded trains, cows wondering the roads and many more obstacles to an easy vacation.

But these difficulties shouldn't prevent you from exploring this amazing country, where almost all visitors come away a different, more aware person than when they arrived. It's worth pausing and considering this phenomenon. How many vacations actually help you become more self aware? How many trips have you taken that challenge or reaffirm your innermost beliefs?

It's a special place that can accomplish that. India should be a must on your list of dream trips. Here's one way to discover the best of India in a way that minimizes the stresses of journeying here. First, book your air on Jet Airways, which offers an economical business class option Called Premiere Class, with private sleeping pods at surprisingly low prices. This class of service includes delicious meals (frequently with both Indian and Western-style options) and, when available, an attendant who meets you at the plane door, whisks you through customs and immigration and onto your transfer or awaiting transportation. Jet Airways works with Jet Lite for domestic connections. Jet Lite is incredibly inexpensive.

Aman Resorts, which boasts three stunning hotel properties in varied locales in India, offers a specially  priced deal which is a perfect way to discover India in pampered style with all transfers included. Dubbed, Aman India Journey, the special ($3,650 double occupancy through April 30, 2010; $3,840 Oct 1, 2010 through April 30, 2011) includes a minimum of two nights in each of the following properties. Also included is breakfast and transfers between the properties and one activity per stay. And let's not forget the addictive lemon-scented cold towel compress that meets you at every juncture both cooling and sweetening your stay.

Aman New Delhi is Aman's newest property. It's also it's first true urban hotel and the largest in terms of number of rooms. The sleek, modern lines, masculine subdued palette and abundant green spots are a truly welcome oasis of peace in the heart of India's bustling capital city. Each spacious unit comes with its own butler and a plunge pool. The gym is gigantic and modern and is maintained by fitness trainers who are happy to help you burn off the calories you'll acquire at the hotel's fine restaurants.

Amanbagh is one of Aman's true jewels. Located in a remote valley in Rajasthan surrounded by palm trees and lost-in-time villages and monumental ruins, the property is almost entirely self sufficient with its own water treatment facility, organic garden, restaurant and bakery. It also boasts a 150-foot long pool as its dramatic centerpiece. Surrounding it are the accommodations which are huge and private and elegantly appointed with locally-quarried marble as well as a small but serviceable gym and a spa.

Aman-i-Khas is Aman's tented resort, also located in the state of Rajasthan but in an even more remote location along side the Ranthambore National Park. This is where you'll enjoy open-top vehicle safaris in search of India's elusive tigers and other wildlife by day and luxurious tented accommodations at night.

Value Watch: May Fair Hotel, London

Story by Olga Bas
Photos courtesy of The May Fair Hotel

The May Fair Hotel located in the heart of London's luxurious West End neighborhood has launched the Pay, Save and Stay promotion: a one-month sale for the holiday season. When you book your room by October 18 for stays between December 14, 2009 and January 10, 2010, you will receive 25% savings off the best available rate with rates starting from $225. The promotion also includes two-for one dining at each of the hotel's restaurants.

The 406-room May Fair -- the official hotel for London Fashion Week -- features a private theater, spa, two restaurants, and bar on the premises. In addition to 12 hotel suites, the May Fair also boasts a rooftop penthouse with a 360 degree view of London. Each room comes equipped with Catalan-designed furniture and a Sicilian marble bathroom complete with power shower, and Bang & Olufsen digital systems. Special Breatheasy rooms are also available for travelers who suffer from allergies; only hypoallergenic bedding and sensitive non-perfumed environmentally friendly cleaning products are used in the rooms, which have been treated to protect against pollutants.

A range of women's and men's spa treatments are available in the comfort of your room as well as several other services, such as professional make-up and hair styling. Fine British dining can be had at the hotel's Amba Bar & Restaurant, after which you may wish to visit Bond Street for some shopping or the hotel's gym facilities for a session with a personal trainer. Both offer some aerobic activity, the latter's just cheaper.

Value Watch: Brahma Blue, Belize

Photos courtesy of Brahma Blue
Story by Olga Bas

Located on the island of Ambergris Caye in Belize, the Brahma Blue luxury resort presents an Out Traveler exclusive deal to those looking for an idyllic getaway in the Caribbean. When you book the Suite Life, the Divers Delight, or the Give Thanks packages by November 1st and mention the code OT Belize, you will receive a %15 discount on the package price.

Suite Life ($2,798 for 7 days for a party of four) offers accommodations in a three-bedroom penthouse suite, which can house up to five additional guests. The suite comes with a personal butler/chef, who will prepare breakfast, which is included in the room price, and dinner according to your wishes.

 Divers Delight ($2,198 for 7 days; based on double occupancy) includes daily diving trips to the Blue Hole barrier reef at Turneffe Atoll. The two-bedroom, high-ceilinged condo is equipped with a fully-furnished kitchen and sunset and sunrise views. Continental breakfast sans chef is included.

Give Thanks ($250 per night; based on double occupancy) invites you to enjoy a tropical Thanksgiving in a two-bedroom condo with a fully-furnished granite counter-top kitchen. During your stay you can snorkel the local barrier reef -- which happens to be the second largest in the world, -- dive the world famous Blue Hole, visit the ancient temples of the Mayan civilizations. Continental breakfast is included in the room price.

Daily complimentary yoga class, led by an instructor at the pool or on the beach, takes place every morning. The Brahma Blue grounds include the water-top Blue Lotus Restaurant. Found on the edge of a pier and giving out to a clear view of San Pedro across the water, it serves Caribbean cuisine.

Travel tip: It's hard to pack lightly when you must bring enough changes of clothes to last you your whole trip. Consider packing less clothing and using local Laundromats or even hand washing smaller items in your hotel room to replenish your wardrobe; it'll save on packing space!

Value Watch: INNdulge, Palm Springs

Photos courtesy of INNdulge
Story by Olga Bas

As if a 24-hour, heated, clothing-optional pool wasn't enough, gay resort INNdulge of Palm Springs is running two specials to further entice visitors. The modern resort is offering a 2-for-1 summer deal that gives guests a free night for every paid weeknight through Sept. 30 (valid Sunday through Thursday; rates start at $145). A year-round, holiday-inclusive Seventh Night Free special is also in effect, if you'd like to soak in the sun after the September deadline.

The 24 rooms and suites flank the pool -- a cool 86 degrees for summer to combat the desert highs -- and the 24-hour Jacuzzi fits 12 and affords a grand view of the San Jacinto Mountains. Rooms include a complimentary DVD library and king-size beds, while the suites have their own kitchens. Complimentary continental breakfast is served poolside; Wi-Fi and gym facilities are also available at no charge.

Travel tip: If shopping is your favorite travel pastime, consider mailing particularly large or hefty items home. Not only does it save space in your suitcase, but you also won't have to lug around heavy bags.

Value Watch: U.S. Virgin Islands Getaway

Photos courtesy of Visit USVI
Story by Olga Bas

Take a dip offshore in the U.S. Virgin Islands to savor perfect year-round temperatures and a gay-friendly vibe. For travel through Oct. 31, each of the three major islands -- St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas -- have two specials for visitors.

The Intimate Treasures promotion highlights the islands' boutique hotels and includes a $50 dining coupon, $50 in attractions and activities coupons, and an eco-friendly gift bag with a bottle of rum, T-shirt, and other giveaways. Gay-owned Villa Greenleaf and gay-friendly Hibiscus Beach Hotel on St. Croix are among the small hotels that are participating. The full list can be found on the Visit USVI site. The package must be booked directly with the hotel or through your travel agent; when booking, use code SHP2009.

The Sizzlin' Sampler promotion also offers a $50 dining voucher and $50 off attractions and activities, but amps it up with a $300 discount on airfare, a $500 coupon booklet, and your fourth hotel night free. Gay-owned Sand Castle on the Beach, also located on St. Croix, is included in the promotion; find out more through one of the USVI's booking partners, such as American Airlines Vacations or Spirit Vacations, or view the full list on the Visit USVI site.

A minimum stay of four nights is required for both promotions and bookings must be made by Oct. 15.

Travel tip: Not all hotels feature wake-up calls, and using your cell phone alarm means leaving the phone on and vulnerable to middle-of-the-night calls (that come with international charges when you’re traveling abroad). Pack a small, battery-powered alarm clock for your trip instead.

Value Watch: Cheap AA flights to NYC

Photo courtesy of www.cgmedia.dk
Story by Olga Bas

In the breaking deals category, NYC & Company has teamed up with American Airlines to provide low airfares from five major U.S. cities to the Big Apple. Several itineraries -- whether you're staying one day, three, or for serious immersion -- are available.

• Los Angeles to NYC for $109 one-way based on roundtrip economy purchase
• San Francisco to NYC for $109 one-way based on roundtrip economy purchase
• Dallas/Fort Worth to NYC for $99 one-way based on roundtrip economy purchase
• Chicago to NYC for $84 one-way based on roundtrip economy purchase
• Miami to NYC for $69 one-way based on roundtrip economy purchase

The lowest fares can be found for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday travel. Tickets can be used Sept. 15 through Dec. 12, 2009 (blackout dates: Nov. 21, 24, 25, 28, and Dec. 1); you must book your flight by August 21, 11:59 p.m./CST either through the American Airlines site or any third party agent/site. For full rules and conditions as well as detailed itineraries, visit NYCGO.

Value Watch: New Orleans Marriott

Photos courtesy of the New Orleans Marriott
Story by Olga Bas

Pack those chaps because the Big Easy is getting ready for Southern Decadence, the infamous gay festival that adds a sexy, raucous edge to the French Quarter over Labor Day weekend. Decadence, also known as the Gay Mardi Gras, runs Sept. 2-7 with talent contests, live music, pageants, and Bourbon Street parties and the New Orleans Marriott is getting in on the fun with a fall discount.

Room rates start at $84 a night (based on double occupancy; tax and service charges not included) through Oct. 15; the price also includes the Marriott Passport to Savings booklet with more than $500 in offers for NoLa's restaurants and attractions. Book your stay through the Marriott website or call 1.888.364.1200 and ask for rate code ADV.

The 41-story hotel towers over the French Quarter with 1,275 rooms and 54 suites. General room amenities include down comforters and pillows, tea service, a refrigerator, and a washer/dryer. In addition to a heated outdoor pool and fitness center, the hotel has several restaurants and lounges located on its sprawling premises -- 55 Fahrenheit serves lunch and dinner accompanied by a 200-bottle wine list, 5 Fifty 5 focuses on regional cuisine, and the on-site Starbucks provides fuel for round-the-clock partying.

Travel tip: Bring an empty plastic bottle with you to the airport. Since security won't let you bring liquids through, you can fill it at a water fountain after passing the checkpoint.

Value Watch: Axel Hotels in Barcelona & Berlin

Photos courtesy of the Axel Hotel Berlin and Barcelona
Story by Olga Bas

The gay Axel Hotels chain, with its whimsical "hetero-friendly" branding, has two affordable, fun vacation packages for its properties in Germany and Spain.

The seven-day holiday package includes an Air Berlin flight from the U.S. to Berlin, three nights at the Axel Hotel Berlin with breakfast, flight from Berlin to Barcelona, three nights at the Axel Hotel Barcelona with breakfast, and a flight home. If traveling from New York, the package runs $1,399, from Los Angeles, $1,599. The second option sticks to Berlin and includes roundtrip airfare on an Air Berlin flight and four nights at the Axel Hotel Berlin with breakfast ($1,099 when flying from NYC, $1,299 from L.A.). All taxes and fees included.

Besides being located in thriving gay scenes, both hotels are outfitted for comfort and a measure of luxury. The Axel Hotel Barcelona, voted the Best Gay Hotel in the World by Out Traveler readers, has 66 air-conditioned and, more importantly, soundproofed rooms featuring Vitra, Kartell, and Swan furniture, a king-size bed, and city views. Every superior room has a Jacuzzi. The hotel rooftop is outfitted with a terrace, a pool, and the Sky Bar -- a lounge serving cocktails and views of the city.

The 86-room Axel Hotel Berlin, the newest of the Axel branches, also has air-conditioned and soundproofed rooms, which boast garden views. A hydro-massage shower or Jacuzzi stars in each superior room, junior suite, and suite. Nightlife can be experienced right at the hotel's Urban Bar on the ground level or at Sky Bar, the open-air top-floor lounge, offering a panoramic view of the city.

Travel tip: Make sure your passport is valid for at least 90 days from your return date as some countries (like Denmark) will not allow you to cross the border with an almost-expired passport. Others, like Indonesia, require a more extreme 180 days before expiration to enter the country. Visit http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html for country-by-country entry requirements.

Value Watch: Garden Gate Bed & Breakfast, Maui

Photos courtesy of Garden Gate B&B
Story by Olga Bas

Get your aloha on at the six-unit Garden Gate B&B, located on a residential street outside old Lahaina town in west Maui, a mile from the Kaanapali coastline. Mention Out Traveler when booking a stay of more than seven nights and knock 10% off all room rates.

Standard suites ($89*) offer mountain views and partial ocean views, deluxe studios ($149*) are equipped with a deck and a  king-size bed, while oceanview suites ($169*) -- besides the obvious ocean view -- come with a private sitting area/sundeck and a Jacuzzi. Each unit has a private entrance and a beautiful view -- no brick walls or neon signs here! Continental breakfast with self-serve coffee, tea, juice, and assorted breakfast snacks are available in the dining room every morning, except on the weekends.

The property houses a tropical garden with a stream running through it where you can spot some of the local flora and fauna. Complimentary boogie boards, coolers, beach chairs, and beach mats are on hand. An impressive array of activities is also within reach, if lazing around all day doesn't sound like the perfect vacation: Submarine tours dip 130 feet underwater into the realm of colorful coral reefs and tropical fish, traditional luaus highlight Hawaiian cuisine, music, and cultural dances like the hula, and helicopter flights soar over the jungles of the island chain.

*All rates mentioned are summer rates and due to change.

Travel tip: Carry more than one credit card with you, as some cards are not accepted everywhere -- American Express, for example -- or you may lose one. Keep a copy of your credit card information in case it is stolen, so you may cancel it immediately.