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The Ten Weirdest Travel Deals for 2011

Boston's Liberty Hotel
USA Today: It's not unusual for a hotel to throw in a little something extra to draw in guests during a slow period. You know, a free night, a discount, a cool perk—that kind of thing. But lately, we've seen a few hotels going a bit, well, overboard with the "extras." Judge for yourself with these 10 weird, funny, or—let's face it—at times downright frightening travel deals.

1. A Transylvanian Halloween
Celebrate Halloween the "old school" way by spending the night at Dracula's hotel in Romania… complete with vampire impersonators (or are they?) and a Lady Transylvania contest. It's the Halloween of a lifetime (or death-time) with Count Dracula on this spooky, historical tour of Romania that includes a Halloween party in a 15th-century Transylvanian fortress.

2. World's Vainest Package Deal
Spend a week's salary on a night at the Milestone Hotel in London, paying a royal photographer to play paparazzi to your princess. Engagement to Price Harry isn't included, but it should be at this price—$675 a night. You'll get two nights at the Milestone Hotel, a two-hour photo-shoot in the hotel and grounds of Kensington Palace, a full set of finished photos, a lesson on how to operate your own camera (if you can lower yourself to taking your own pictures), "a scroll certificate authenticating that the images have been taken by a royal photographer" (which you can hang in your room full of self-portraits), and of course "the opportunity to enjoy [the photographer's] many stories about the personalities he has worked with."

3. Go Directly to Jail
Spend Halloween in a former prison—OK, one that's since been renovated into a luxury hotel, but still. Renovation doesn't remove ghosts! Boston's four-star Liberty Hotel is throwing its annual spooky soiree which features a DJ, live circus performers, specialty cocktails, and more. Bonus: Now you'll always be able to say you spent a night in jail.

4. GTL at the Palms
Combine the best of two trashy worlds with this Jersey Shore-themed "Gym, Tan, Liquor" package deal from the Palms Las Vegas. You'll get 20 percent off a hotel room at the Palms Las Vegas, complimentary use of all spa facilities, two tanning sessions (at Pauly D's very own tanning salon), and two drinks at any Casino Bar. So pack your pouf and Ed Hardy shirt, and get ready to tan!

5. Sleep with Lizzie Borden
Stay the night in the peaceful setting of an infamous double homicide, asking "did you hear that??" every five minutes 'til dawn. The house of the infamous (alleged) murderess has been converted into a charming bed and breakfast where you can choose to sleep in Lizzie's old room, rooms where the murders took place, or a few other totally unhaunted rooms. BYO axe.

6. Tequila and a Tattoo
Get a $500 bonus for tattooing the Hotel Erwin's name permanently on your body. And people say you'll regret tattoos when you're older! Don't worry, the hotel also throws in a free bottle of tequila with this package, so you can drink until you think it's a good idea. On the bright side, you'll have the greatest pick-up line ever if you happen to meet someone named Erwin.

7. Heeeeere's Johnny!
Imagine waking up and finding yourself trapped in a horror movie. The Stanley Hotel wants you to experience that very feeling this Halloween—it's famous for being the inspirational setting for Stephen King's terrifying novel, The Shining. Numerous visitors and staff have reported ghost sightings (but no Jack Nicholson sightings, unfortunately). Maybe plan your trip for a warmer month, to avoid getting snowed in.

8. Sweat it out with a Pumpkin
What's weirder than Donald Trump's hair? How about the special "Pumpkin Workout" package that the Trump Chicago is offering through Halloween. Forget indulging in pumpkin breads and spiced lattes, that will only go straight to your thighs! Instead, use the pumpkin productively by working out with it. Then drink away your embarrassment with the provided Dra-Kahlua drinks.

9. A Boo and a Book
Stay at the Carolina Inn in the former room of a dead doctor who apparently likes to return to haunt guests, and read his biography (included in the deal) when you can't sleep. Lest the doctor feel left out, you'll also be treated to dinner with a place set especially for him. See, you don't have to worry about having to eat alone at a restaurant!

10. A Night on a Doomed Boat… No, Not That One
Claustrophobics may not want to book this deal, which traps you on a haunted boat in an interior cabin (no windows). Set on the Queen Mary Hotel, a former ocean-liner-turned-hotel-turned-haunted-house for Halloween, you'll get to sleep (or not) in the bowels of a ship that has reported multiple ghost sightings. If spirits fail to materialize, there's always the on-board Dark Harbor attraction, featuring "45,000 scares per hour" according to the website.

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