It’s that time of year again: Time to finalize your Thanksgiving travel plans, and also start thinking about Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving when retail stores, hotels and tour operators offer big discounts on travel, often well into 2015. I found two great Thanksgiving deals — one in Mexico and the other in Puerto Rico, as well as two enticing Cyber Monday travel discounts in Puerto Rico. Read below for details about my favorite travel deals this week.
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!
Velas Resorts
Mexico
The Deal: Thanksgiving holiday packages
What Makes It Cool: Velas Resorts in Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Maya and Riviera Nayarit, Mexico are offering special Thanksgiving menus, free spa treatments, destination tours and more. Menu options range from Roasted Turkey with Port Wine Gravy and Seafood Casserole with Bourbon Essence, to Oyster and Truffle Cream Soup, Pumpkin Crème Bruleé, and Tres Leches Cake with Berries. At the Grand Velas Resorts in Riviera Maya and Riviera Nayarit, guests also receive free access to the resorts’ Water Journey spa ritual for two people. The 90-minute full body revitalization is built around eight specially designed water-based facilities with a personal spa valet to provide guidance. The resorts’ Thanksgiving packages also include a $50 credit for spa or golf, a discount in hotel boutiques and transportation from the airport to the hotel. At Velas Vallarta, a free city tour to downtown Puerto Vallarta and a Cultural and Tequila Tour is included in its Thanksgiving Package. Package rates start at $167 at Velas Vallarta, $378 at Grand Velas Riviera and $452 at Grand Velas Riviera Maya. All rates are per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Minimum night-stay requirements and package components vary by resorts.
Valid for Travel: Thanksgiving week, 2014.
Info & Reservations: www.velasresorts.com
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El Conquistador & Las Casitas Village
Fajardo, Puerto Rico
The Deal: Thanksgiving
What Makes It Cool: Celebrate Thanksgiving in Puerto Rico at El Conquistador Resort and Las Casitas Village, Waldorf Astoria Resorts with festive holiday activities, new autumn harvest spa treatments and Thanksgiving dining specials. Perched high above the ocean on a 300-foot cliff, the resort features pumpkin bowling, a turkey feather toss, dive-in movies, bobbing for donuts and more.Additional activities include pumpkin relays on the resort’s 100-acre private Palomino Island, a speed slide competition at the state-of-the-art Coqui Water Park, a Thanksgiving Photo Scavenger Hunt, Night Owls Kids Camp, Stargazing at the Spa Labyrinth and family yoga. Special Thanksgiving food and beverage activities include an hour-long “Young Chefs: Kids Cook” children’s cooking class and “Mojito Mixing Class” for parents. Nightly rates start at $199 at El Conquistador and $299 at Las Casitas Village.
Valid for Travel: November 26 through November 30, 2014.
Info & Reservations: www.elconresort.com
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Copamarina Beach Resort
Puerto Rico
The Deal: Cyber Monday Winter Paradise Escape
What Makes It Cool: The Monday after Thanksgiving — known as Cyber Monday in the world of retail and travel — is increasingly a good time for travel deals. This Puerto Rico hotel is offering 30% off bookings made on this date, for a two-night minimum stay. Rates start at $135 per night (normal rates start at $194) and include two welcome drinks and two welcome gifts upon arrival, upgrade based on availability, and 20% discount with Enterprise Car Rental.
Valid for Travel: Book on Cyber Monday (December 1) for travel from December 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015.
Info & Reservations: https://bookings.ihotelier.com/Copamarina-Beach-Resort-%26-Spa/bookings.jsp?rateplanid=1559534&hotelid=15399
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Hotel El Convento
San Juan, Puerto Rico
The Deal: Cyber Monday discounts.
What Makes It Cool: Lovingly restored from a 360-year-old Carmelite convent, this Puerto Rico hotel is offering 25% discounts for minimum two-night stays.
Valid for Travel: Book on Cyber Monday (December 1, 2014) for travel between January 6-9, 2015 and January 11-14, 2015.
Info & Reservations: Call (800) 468-2779 and mention Cyber Monday.