Deals and Packages for Travel in the South

The holidays are almost here, and you know what the best gift is to give? The gift of travel. With these deals and packages, you can make your (and yours) holidays  bright.

Here are a few to put on your holiday list.

• If you are looking for deals, look no further than Florida’ Gulf Islands. Six distinctively different properties located on Anna Maria Island and Bradenton are offering all sorts of savings. For example, Bungalow Beach Resort’s deal is 10 percent off beachfront accommodations; and at Tortuga Inn Beach Resort, you can get the 4th night free. To take advantage of any of these deals, reservation must be made before December 31 and a qualified paid stay if required. Some restrictions and blackout dates may apply.
• Are you on Twitter or Facebook? If so, you might want to follow or friend Tradewinds Sandpiper Beach Resort (St. Peter Beach, Fla.), because if you don’t you might miss out on something special on Black Friday. The property is offering special low rates and offers (good on select dates through January 2010) to early bird tweeters and Facebook fans on November 27. The social media special begins at 6 a.m. EST and will go until 11 a.m., when the last rate/offer will be posted and available through 11 p.m.
• Try your luck with Glenn Hotel’s (Atlanta) Get Luckie package. This fun deal includes a special rate reflective of the city’s downtown connector (think I-85/I-75), a lottery ticket, and two chances to roll the dice for an  upgrade or another amenity.
• Mandarin Oriental Miami is offering various hotel packages to travelers, including the Miami Everglades (available through December 15.) With this, you have the opportunity to participate in a volunteer activity at Everglades National Park. The package also includes two nights accommodation, daily breakfast and a one-day Hybrid car rental.
• The Thanksgiving Getaway package at Biltmore in Coral Gables, Fla., is good through November 30. It features a VIP welcome amenity upon arrival, daily breakfast credit per guest and much more.

photo credit: Vintage Suitcase [zipper 01], flickr, creative commons by JStove