вторник, 2 октября 2012 г.

NYC: THE HOTTEST TOWN FOR DOING THE COOLEST THINGS - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)

Hot town summer in the city

The Lovin' Spoonful

Yes, New York can be a tad warm in summer, but, culturallyspeaking, it will always be one of the world's coolest cities. Hereare some of the latest offers:

A decent hotel room in the city starting at $100 or so is stillpossible, although rates may be higher depending on date and roomchoice. The Apple Core Hotels group, for instance, consists of fivereasonably priced properties: La Quinta Inn Manhattan (17 West 32dSt.), Red Roof Inn Manhattan (6 West 32d St.), the smoke-free ComfortInn Midtown (129 West 46th St.), Super 8 Hotel Times Square (59 West46th St.), and the Ramada Inn East Side (161 Lexington Ave.).

Call 800-567-7720 or visit www.applecorehotels.com.

If you have an American Express card, a NYC Summer Breakspromotion gives you complimentary room upgrades at the Muse, theWellington, and the Dylan hotels; special admission to suchattractions as the American Folk Art Museum, Bronx Museum of Arts,the Skyscraper Museum, Wave Hill, and Whitney Museum of American Art;offers on activities from Shearwater Sailing, Central Park BicycleTours & Rentals, Liberty Helicopters, and Walkin' Broadway; theaterdiscounts for 'Chicago,' 'Good Vibrations,' 'Hairspray,' 'TheProducers,' and 'Sweet Charity'; and 15 percent off the lunch ordinner bill at La Prima Donna, Mare Seafood Restaurant, Nino'sPositano, Piccolo, Riingo, and Stage Delicatessen & Restaurant. Alongwith the AMEX card, you need a Summer Breaks Savings Card, which canbe printed out at www.nycvisit.com. The offers are good through Sept.5.

You pay for the privilege, but the Ritz-Carlton Hotels of New Yorkand creators of the NBC Studio Tour have come up with a two-hour VIPtour limited to six people at a time that provides access to areas ofthe studio the public never sees, including studios of the 'Today'show, 'Saturday Night Live,' sports shows, Conan O'Brien's and BrianWilliams's shows, and the control room. The package includes anight's accommodation, a digital photo of you on one of the sets, anNBC gift bag, and complimentary admission to the Rockefeller Centertour. The price starts at $1,499 per couple at the Ritz-Carlton NewYork, Battery Park, and $1,799 at the Ritz-Carlton New York, CentralPark.

Visit www.ritzcarlton.com or call 800-241-3333., For shoppers,Swissotel The Drake and Bloomingdale's present the Great ShoppingSpree Package. Included are an exclusive Bloomingdale's specialsavings package, deluxe accommodations, a buffet breakfast for two,complimentary use of the health club, and a welcome amenity. Thepackage, from $319 per night through Sept. 5, includes an executivesuite. Call 888-73-SWISS (737-9477) or visit www.swissotel.com.

One way to get the youngsters pumped up about a trip is to keepthem informed about the destination. 'We're There! New York City'(KidQuest LLC, $6.99) by Elizabeth Skinner Grumbach is a colorful 32-page book with puzzles, games, and questions aimed at the preteenset. Other books in the series center on Boston, Washington, andRhode Island, with more volumes in the works.

Fill 'er up

Through Aug. 31, visitors to Stowe, Vt., can get a complimentarytank of gas for the drive back. The Free Ride Home package isavailable with a stay of at least three nights at participatingproperties. Package prices start at $300.

(The fine print: The offer must be mentioned when booking andcannot be combined with other offers or discounts.)

Visit www.gostowe.com or call 800-24-STOWE.

Numbers game

If you're celebrating a wedding anniversary, French CountryWaterways will reward you with a discount of 5 to 50 percent on itsluxury barge cruises. Discounts are given in sequences of five: 5percent off for your fifth anniversary, 10 percent for the 10th, allthe way to half off for the 50th. The cruises, which have weeklydepartures through Oct. 26, regularly cost $3,495-$4,995 per person.

Call 800-222-1236 or visit www.fcwl.com.

U2 in Vegas

Adventures in Rock is offering a package that includes premiumseats to the U2 show Nov. 5 at MGM Grand arena in Las Vegas, anight's accommodation, and a preshow party. The price is $990;additional hotel nights are available.

Call 877-788-ROCK or visit www.adventuresinrock.com.

40 percent savings

Buy weekend passes to the 30th Annual New Hampshire Highland Gamesby next Sunday (July 31) and save 40 percent off gate ticket prices.The advance price is $25 for daytime fairground events Sept. 23-25,including Celtic concerts, a ceremonial Gathering of the ScottishClans and Massed Pipe Bands, as well as workshops of whiskey tasting,Scottish history, and Scottish country and Cape Breton dance. Otherevents: Scottish heavy athletics, sheep dog trials, Highland dance,and fiddle, bagpipe, drumming, and harp competitions. Children under12 attend free when accompanied by an adult.

Call 800-358-SCOT (7268) or visit www.nhscot.org.

When not included, hotel taxes, airport fees, and port charges canadd significantly to the price of a trip. Most prices quoted are fordouble occupancy; solo travelers usually willpay more. Offers aresubject to availability and there may be blackout dates. Richard P.Carpenter can be reached at car penter@globe.com.