Happy Thanksgiving Weekend everyone! The blog today will be short and sweet, because I’m off enjoying this time with my family.
You enjoy a glass of wine with dinner and anytime you dine out and belong to a wine club, sign up for wine-tasting classes and make frequent trips to the local winery…or local liquor store, because that’s as close to grape-squashing as you can get. Obviously, you’re well on your way to becoming a proper wine-o and only need to take that next step and plan your wine-centric vacation. While it may only be a weekend trip, don’t hesitate to plan something longer. There are a variety of trips that can accommodate all levels of wine-loving, from “just-discovered wine”-lovers to “Can’t go a day without it”-lovers (although if this is you, you might have a problem).
Save up to $90 on similar hotels and book now to stay at the Sheraton Sonoma County in Petaluma, California between now and March 15, 2011. For only $99 per night, you get upgraded to a deluxe oceanview room. This rate is available every day through March 15, including weekends and holidays. That is crazy and will probably never happen again, so you better book as soon as possible to get your room. You’ll also get two paSsses to visit a local Sonoma winery. Vineyards are only a 20 minute drive to Sonoma and 45 minute drive to Napa. The drive is beautiful, with rolling hills and picturesque views, so the time will fly by. And when you’re tired of wine-ing, drive 29 miles to the fun coastal town of Bodega Bay (where they filmed Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds) and enjoy shopping, amazing restaurants, golf and more!
Spend 2 nights in a Sonoma Wine Country Villa for 50% off. Book by November 30 through Living Social and for just $210 receive a package with 2 nights in the Sonoma Coast Villa & Spa in Bodega, CA, daily breakfast, two glasses of wine and 2 $20 spa credits.
Stay in Napa Valley and get 50% off your third night at Vino Bello Resort between now and March 1. Vino Bello is Californiawine country’s newest luxury resort, featuring old world Tuscan design, luxurious condominium accommodations, upscale amenities and more. Must book by January 31.
Tuscany in Spring - 6 nights, including RT airfare, car rental and two-bedroom apartment villa from only $899 per person. Bring your family or some friends, because this price is based on a group of 4 (you can get discounted pricing for fewer travelers though). Add wine and cheese tastings for $99 per person. You will stay at the 4-star Fattoria degli Usignoli, which is just a short 25 minute drive to Florence and offers a bowling green, tennis courts, horseback riding and a gourmet restaurant with an original wine cellar. Book by December 3 for travel in March and April.
Make sure to have a designated driver or take a cab if you're planning on having some drinks. Nothing ruins a vacation more than a DUI.
You can find me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter! If you want more amazing deals and budget travel tips, choose a medium!
On my growing community of Facebook you can ask my questions and comment on posts, where I will respond if needed. Want to know if I’ve found a deal on trips to Bermuda or Romania or Spain? Message me or post on the wall and I’ll let you know right away! Also, there is a fun giveaway going on. Win free and awesome travel bags from Travelon. You can also get your friends in on it by suggesting they “like” Shereen Travels Cheap, too. They have a chance to win and if they do, then you’ll win an equally awesome travel item for referring them…so the more friends you get to join, the more chances YOU have to win. I might be seeing an iGo in someone’s future. The drawing for prizes will start when we reach 500 fans, so suggest, share posts, beg. Do whatever you have to do to get as many of your friends to join!
My Twitter followers are growing by leaps and bounds every day! If you prefer your deals and tips in a bite-size version, then Shereentrvlschp is where it’s at! While there’s no contest happening on Twitter yet, I DO have a plan for when we get closer to 2,000, so if you’re a fellow tweeter, jump on board now.
Want to get something funky to take on your trip or to buy for the fellow wine-o for Christmas, check out these fun and functional gifts.
Made of virtually indestructible BPA-free plastic, the stem unscrews from the bowl, and both stash in a handy travel pouch for easy packing.
Sampling local wines is one of the great joys of travel, and with this stylish journal, recording the details of your favorites has never been easier. Each page allows space to list the wine name, variety and producer, and there's also a rating key, terminology guide, and notes section. It tucks into its smart, passport-sized faux leather cover for easy access anywhere, and comes with one extra journal.
The size of a credit card, this fold-out guide stores in your wallet and provides a detailed listing of every wine varietal, along with color-coded flavor descriptors, a color chart, scoring table, and temperature serving guide. It's the perfect way to become familiar with wine terminology and make wine-tasting trips even more enjoyable.
What better way to keep track of those special bottles of wine you discover along the way than by taking the label with you? Label Lift sheets separate the top printed layer of a wine label from its adhesive backing. Just apply the clear sticky sheet to the label and peel away the printed surface, leaving the backing still attached to the bottle. This clever process simultaneously removes and laminates the label so you can keep it as a memento of your dining experience.
WineSkin protects wine bottles from the rigors of travel. An interior layer of bubble wrap provides protective padding, and two sticky seals prevent wine from leaking into your suitcase (in case rough handling leads to breakage).
This short post not doing it for you? Check out some of my guest posts on the following websites.