Black Friday and Cyber Monday are over. But that doesn’t mean you still can’t get a good travel deal in Latin America. This week’s offers include a $99 Puerto Rico hotel rate (amazing deal for a great property), a Nicaragua hotel deal with lots of extra perks, and a Panama vacation package that includes interesting tours as well as hotel accommodations. Read on for the details.
Don’t forget: You can get some of the best rates on airlines, hotels, rental cars and cruises by using LatinFlyer’s own travel booking engine (it’s at the top right-hand side of this page if you’re using a computer or tablet, or at the bottom of each page if you’re on a cell phone), where it says “Save Big on Your Trip.” With one click, you can compare airfares and rates from more than 10 top travel sites, including Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity. No more wasting time when you travel!
Westin Playa Bonita
Panama
The Deal: Panama Past to Present package
What Makes It Cool: For an unexpected glimpse of one of Latin America’s most thriving destinations, The Westin Playa Bonita takes travelers into the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the historic Casco Viejo district in Panama‘s capital city, on a behind-the-scenes tour led by not-your-average-guide — i.e., locals who’ve been involved with gangs since grade school. Today, Casco is known for its winding cobblestone streets filled with upscale shops and trendy restaurants, but that wasn’t always the case. As part of the city’s gentrification efforts, a fundraising program called La Fortaleza provides the reformed young adults with a forum to share their personal stories, earn money to support their families and ensure that Casco remains a zona de paz (peaceful place) — you can read my review of the Fortaleza Tours experience here. Guests can book the resort’s new “Panama Past to Present” package, which includes the Fortaleza tour, deluxe accommodations, a tour of the Caribbean town of Portobelo and Panama Canal expansion sites, daily breakfast, and one dinner with a bottle of house wine. Package rates start at $225/night.
Valid for Travel: Through December 2015.
Info & Reservations: www.westinplayabonita.com
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PANAMA TRAVEL TIPS: 5 Great Car Rental Road Trips in Panama
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Mukul Beach, Golf & Spa
Nicaragua
The Deal: Emerald Coast Explorer
What Makes It Cool: To celebrate the opening of the new Costa Esmeralda Airport, which links this region of Nicaragua with airports in Managua and Costa Rica, this hotel is offering a four-night package that includes accommodations in a Bohio, Villa or Suite, rounds of golf at the beachfront Guacalito Golf Course or spa treatments, two 200ml bottles of Nicaraguan Flor de Caña rum, daily breakfast and roundtrip airport transfers to and from Costa Esmeralda Airport and Mukul. Rates start at $769 for a four-night minimum stay in a Bohio.
Valid for Travel: Through December 31, 2015.
Info & Reservations: www.mukulresort.com
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NICARAGUA TRAVEL TIPS: 4 Nicaraguan Festivals You Shouldn’t Miss
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Hilton Worldwide
Puerto Rico
The Deal: Hilton Caribbean Summer Sale, extended
What Makes It Cool: Hilton Worldwide has extended its Caribbean beach summer sale way into the fall and beyond. The Stay & Play Longer package, which has rates that start as low as $99 per night with the fourth night free, include a $100 resort credit per room per stay, and kids stay free. This vacation deal is available at the Embassy Suites Dorado del Mar and the Caribe Hilton, both in Puerto Rico.
Valid for Travel: Through December 31, 2015.
Info & Reservations: www.hiltoncaribbean.com/summer