Photo: Joie de Vivre

We didn’t want to come across as too anti-mushy from our Uniquely Romantic Valentine’s Deals 2010 roundup, so we found an extra romantic hotel deal from Joie de Vivre hotel group. As California’s largest boutique hotel collection, JDV made sure to have a sweet and romantic hotel deal—with an eco-friendly “green twist”—at all 35 of their California hotels for the remainder of 2010.

By booking the earth-friendly “Sowing the Seeds of Love” romance package, you’ll be treating the California earth to its own gift with a tree planted on behalf by EcoUnit (no digging required). Continue the green theme by swapping a bottle of bubbly for a Bonterra Organic California wine and a box of chocolates for some local organic honey. You can’t get much sweeter than that.

“Sowing the Seeds of Love” Valentine’s Day Romance Package includes:

• One night stay at one of Joie de Vivre’s 35 California hotels
• A tree planted on your behalf by EcoUnit
• A bottle of Bonterra Organic California wine
• An “Ecodisiac,” think: aphrodisiac with a green twist. Each hotel will be providing its own ecodisiac—from organic chocolates to local organic honey.

Dates: Good thru Dec. 28, 2010.

A Few of the 35 Participating Hotels:
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley Sowing the Seeds of Love Romance Package
Gaige House Glen Ellen Sowing the Seeds of Love Romance Package
Hotel Adagio San Francisco Sowing the Seeds of Love Romance Package
Hotel Angeleno Los Angeles Sowing the Seeds of Love Romance Package
Hotel Los Gatos Los Gatos Sowing the Seeds of Love Romance Package
Hotel Rex San Francisco Sowing the Seeds of Love Romance Package
Hotel Vitale San Francisco Sowing the Seeds of Love Romance Package
The Santa Cruz Dream Inn Santa Cruz Sowing the Seeds of Love Romance Package
Waterfront Hotel Oakland Sowing the Seeds of Love Romance Package

More Romantic Valentines Day Deals »

Long before Brangelina made Mr. and Mrs. Smith famous as the hottest on-screen couple, there was the other Mr & Mrs Smith: the stylish and resourceful online directory of boutique and luxury hotels. The folks over at Mr & Mrs Smith scour the globe (they list hotels in over 35 countries) to find the best boutique hotels that meet high standards of being cool, design-savvy, fashionable, intimate, and our favorite—value worthy. Yes, the Smiths like hotel deals just as much as we do here at DealBase, so much that they have scored extra hotel freebies found nowhere else.

We’ve teamed up with the boutique deals website to offer their Mr & Mrs Smith BlackSmith membership (retail value: $20 a year) for only $10. The BlackSmith not only gives you the insider 411 on members-only offers but lets you earn money back on every reservation (2% money back to spend on future bookings). From free parking to private picnics to prosecco—this is what we call a luxury boutique hotel deal at its best.

• Hotel Healdsburg Healdsburg, CA

  Hotel Freebies with BlackSmith: Third night free at hotel, complimentary bottle of Sonoma sparking wine, free hotel breakfast (included in regular rates), and 2% money back. Included with deluxe accommodations.
  Smith Member Benefit Hotel Healdsburg Deal Details »

• Blackberry Farm Welland, TN

  Hotel Freebies with BlackSmith: One free night at hotel (Thursday or Sunday) with weekend stay; private picnic lunch for two beside the creek or in the Yallarhammer Pavilion; breakfast, lunch and dinner for two (included in regular rates); and 2% money back. Included with deluxe accommodations.
  Smith Member Benefit Blackberry Farm Welland TN Deal Details »

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Welcome to February—and the official countdown to the 14th. If you’re just now beginning to scramble for a Valentine’s Day gift, we have a plethora of Valentine’s Day hotel deals that include free champagne, chocolate, teddy bears, rose petals and other cutesy romantic items. But, if you’re looking for a unique Valentine’s Day gift (something that doesn’t fall under the gift giving norm for this exemplary Hallmark Holiday), we have some unique Valentine’s hotel deals that will certainly impress—from chocolate-inspired baths to provocative games. We love it when hotels think out of the heart-shaped box.

• Fairmont San Francisco San Francisco

  Best For: An Evening at the Museum Valentine’s Day Deal
  “The Science of Love” Package includes: accommodations; two tickets to the “Sex and Science” after hours wine and dine tour at the California Academy of Science (includes champagne, appetizers, four-course meal, and after-hours tour); champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries.
  Dates: February 14-15, 2010 | Rates: Starting at $569/night | Deal Savings: 19%
  Booking Note: Availability with the stated $569/night starting rate.
  The Science of Love Package Fairmont San Francisco Hotel Deal Details »

• W Seattle Hotel Seattle, WA

  Best For: A Game-Filled, Naughty Valentine’s Day Hotel Deal
  “Valentine’s Day Weekend” Deal includes: accommodations; TickleMe Intimacy Lovekit by Booty Parlor; Exclusive JimmyJane SPIN ME game, Feather Tickler and Seduction Sash; box of truffles and two cocktails.
  Dates: February 11-15, 2010 | Rates: Starting at $185/night | Deal Savings: 46%
  Booking Note: Feb. 11 and 13, rates start at $205; Feb. 12 and 14, rates start at $185
  Valentine’s Day Weekend W Seattle Hotel Deal Details »
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DealBase Dave ends his Hawaiian family vacation back in Wailea, checking in to a hotel that leaves the entire family content—the kids had Cheezy Burger, while the adults had “the best value hotel” of their entire trip. See why:

Our last night in Hawaii took us back to Wailea where we found the best value of the trip. A friend’s recommendation helped us discover this neat spot.

Hotel Wailea has a great throwback feel and is a welcomed retreat from the large scale resorts which tend to dominate and detract from much of Maui’s beauty. This unique property rests high above the beaches near the golf course and consists of just 72 suites, all in small buildings with 4 units each. The two-story structures and the direct room access along with the sloping landscape provide an appropriate scale. The open-air lobby area was supercool too, with its large round straw roof, koi ponds, and ’50s vibe. Billed as a luxury boutique hotel, Hotel Wailea combines retro style with some high-end amenities such as flat screen TVs, Aveda bath products, and nice linens.

After a smooth check-in, a cool hand towel, and a cold drink, we hit their private beach, The Wailea Beach Club. A friendly beach attendant hooked us up with towels, drinks, and comfy canvas chairs. The mellow surf and the top-notch amenities gave us our best beach day with the kids and offered a fond sendoff to Maui. The resort has a shuttle service to the beach, but it was super easy to zip down with our car and park for free in the beach access lot. It’s also a manageable walk without small children.

For dinner, we popped down to the upscale Wailea shops. While Ruth Chris Steakhouse looked appealing to the adults, the kids opted for Cheese (Cheezy) Burger—a kid-friendly place with live music and grass-skirted wait staff. It actually hit the spot and the live music and laid back atmosphere was good for a family with young children. The hotel’s adjoining restaurant, Capische, was lovely though not a place for our rambunctious boys.

The hotel offers a free continental breakfast catered by a local coffee shop with yummy treats and bagels. A huge savings compared to costly room service or on-premise restaurant at the big resorts.

We had a great time and would highly recommend Hotel Wailea as the value play.

More Maui Hotel Deals »

Our co-founder, DealBase Dave, recently returned from a Hawaiian family vacation. With some online package deal hunting (and some useful credit cards), he turned his 4-star budget trip into a 5-star vacation. Here’s his tips on how to do the same:

Every January big storms pound our home in Northern California, bringing a year’s worth of rainfall in just a few weeks. With storms looming in the forecast, we logged on and booked our dream family getaway. With a few tricks up your sleeve, you too can afford a luxury vacation in 2010.

We locked into Hawaii for a sun destination and picked Maui for a new adventure.

My first hope for big savings was mileage award travel. We got denied there as the tickets were 40k miles each and my 120k miles couldn’t accommodate the 4 tickets required. The price for direct flights was high at $567 each, but, have no fear—I remembered a vacation package could offer bulk air and special hotel rates as the prices would be combined.

Success! On Expedia I found an option that offered us an opportunity to stay at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea (on DealBase, see some great stand-alone room packages with resort credits) for a little more than the individual air tickets would cost. Thus I could put this Hawaii 5-star hotel in play for our 4-star budget. Note: only Expedia offered the ability to bundle hotel for part of the stay with air. Booking Expedia through uPromise gives 1% rebate for a little extra savings. We also got super lucky when Pop’s made me an associate Premier based on his mileage traveled, this allowed us to upgrade to First Class there and back. A nice treat when traveling with children under five. (Bet you didn’t know that your traveling relatives could do that with their miles!)

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La-La Land gets yet another dosage of uber hip hotel with today’s much anticipated opening of W Hotel Hollywood . The newest kid on the Hollywood Boulevard block already comes with a life-of-the-party reputation, courtesy of the W brand, and their new Hollywood hotel will not disappoint. Party-hearty travelers who like to stay and play in the same hotel can keep busy in the W’s restaurants, lounges, Bliss Spa and WET Pool—and the W Hollywood’s grand opening package (details below) includes specials at all of these.

Guests staying in one of the hotel’s 305 sleek guestrooms will easily be lured downstairs to play by four restaurants and lounges (three of them open until 2.00am) in what is destined to be another see-and-be-scene, mingling hot spot. The hotel’s French bistro-inspired restaurant, Delphine, is expected to be a much requested reservation in this foodie obsessed town—NYC transplant and ex-chef of Balthazar and Pastis, Sascha Lyon, will command the kitchen while the restaurant will be operated by Innovative Dining Group (the same crew behind Katana and Sushi Roku).

Whether you’re seeking a Hollywood hotel hot spot for your Los Angeles vacation or a relaxation staycation, W Hollywood’s grand opening “Introducing the Newest WOW” package will give you a taste of all the hotel’s wow-spots:

• Deluxe accommodations
• Three drinks (one at each of the W Hollywood’s restaurants and lounges)
• Complimentary dessert with purchase of an entrée in Delphine
• Complimentary Bliss manicure with purchase of another spa treatment (see details)
• W Hollywood Branded Gift
• Hollywood Survival Tool Kit (2010 Blackbook guide to L.A nightlife, map of stars homes, Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream, discount vouchers to local tourist attractions and a Red Bull, all in a W Hotels purple carr bag).

Booking Notes: The hotel’s first weekend open (Fri.-Mon.) has no grand opening package rates available, but does have other standard rates to offer. Rates jump ~$100 for weekends. “Introducing the Newest WOW” Package W Hollywood Deal Details »

More Hollywood Hotel Deals »

While some famous sites (like the Great Wall of China) just can’t be relocated, some can (like the Chinese Terra Cotta Warriors). So when the opportunity arises to see these iconic Chinese statues straight from Xi’an, China (one of National Geographic’s “50 Places of a Lifetime: World’s Great Destinations“) in your own country—and hotel deals with free exhibit tickets—take advantage! Washington D.C.’s National Geographic Museum’s “Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor” exhibit is temporarily home to 15 of the infamous life-size warriors and other significant tomb artifacts in this rare appearance until March 31. Ring in the Year of the Tiger with this must-see museum exhibit.

The following Terra Cotta Warriors-themed Washington D.C. hotel deals include hotel and/or museum savings. Regardless, it’ll be much cheaper than buying round-trip airfare to China. Be a weekend (or weekday) warrior here:

• Hyatt Regency Washington DC Capitol Hill

  “Terra Cotta Warriors Package” includes: accommodations, a commemorative Terra Cotta Warriors book, and 50% dining credit at Article One-American Grill.
  Rates Starting At: Estimated $120/night (estimated 56% deal savings) | Expires: March 31, 2010
  Booking Details: Available dates and prices vary but we did find plenty of available dates (including weekends) for $120/night. “Terra Cotta Package Deal” Hyatt Regency Washington DC Capitol Hill Hotel Deal Details »

  Keep reading »

Amidst the incessantly damp and dark winter weather, many travelers seek warm winter destinations—travel hot spots where the sun actually shines and the number 30 equates to SPF and not the temperature. While travel to most of these destinations is considered within high season, you’ll still be able to choose from plenty of warm winter destination hotel deals, with added benefits of: relaxing in warm weather, avoiding hurricane season, and partaking in winter season activities (like whale watching and Carnival partying).

Break out those bikinis and Havaianas, as these best warm winter destinations all have warm winter temps without having to go south of the equator (maybe just south of the border). Warm up Your Winter Here:

• Warm Winter Destination: Costa Rica
  Average High Temps (Feb.-Mar.): Varies depending upon location but expect temps in the mid- to high ‘70s
  Why Warm Up Here: Winter is also dry season in Tica Land with such warm temps that locals actually consider these winter months their summer. Carnival is best celebrated in the beach town of Puntarenas.
  Costa Rica Hotel Deals » | Warm Winter Costa Rica Hotel Deal: “Winter Travel Special” Occidental Grand Papagayo »

• Warm Winter Destination: Dominican Republic
  Average High Temps (Feb.-Mar.): 82-83°F
  Why Warm Up Here: Be prepared for a plethora of devil masks and other festive costumes for DR’s Santo Domingo Carnival and shake those hips merengue dancing at La Vega’s version of Carnival. There are plenty of Dominican Republic special winter hotel rates (valid through April 3, 2010) to choose from!
  Dominican Republic Hotel Deals » | Warm Winter Dominican Republic Hotel Deal: “Beach Resort Winter Special” Hotel Riu Naiboa »

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Once again we’re bringing incredibly low rate—and exclusive to DealBase.com—hotel deals just for you. Whether it’s sunny San Diego or sophisticated San Francisco, these three Greystone properties are not only offering remarkably inexpensive hotel rates (under $100/night), but they’re all in prime downtown locations. With limited availability, the special “Extra Value Escape to the City” rates won’t last long so figure out whether to head to “America’s Finest City” or “The City by the Bay” by February 11 (for travel through April 11, 2010). With rates this low why not opt for both!

• King George Hotel in San Francisco

  DealBase.com Rate: $59/night (55% off)
  Hotel Details: A three-star hotel just one block from Union Square, the epicenter of San Francisco tourist attractions and shopping, for $59/night is an extreme rarity. Throw in 24-hour concierge service, free wireless Internet and complimentary parking—with in and out privileges—is like hitting the Union Square hotel jackpot. The parking garage one street over charges a whopping $38 for 24 hours of parking alone—no hotel included. You do the math.
  Booking Details: Blackout dates: Jan. 25-27; Feb. 13 is already sold out and a two-night minimum is required for Feb. 19-22.
  “Extra Value Escape to the City” Rates King George Hotel Details »

  
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This swanky, downtown San Diego luxury hotel property (a Condé Nast Traveler 2009 “Hot List” winner) is celebrating its one-year anniversary by throwing in not one, but two, $100 credits. Although Sé San Diego is in proximity to popular, party-central Gaslamp Quarter, you’ll find little reason to leave with the free hotel credits included in this deal.

You can comfortably spend the $100 dining credit at James Beard award-winning Chef Christopher Lee’s Suite and Tender restaurant (their “surf n’ turf” Alaskan King Crab & NY Strip Loin dish goes for $30, so there’s extra to spare for vino and dessert). Continue the anniversary special treatment with a $100 spa credit at Sé’s Spa…we’re certain their Tala four-handed massage will leave you relaxed as can be.

Deal: Indulge in wining n’ dining and a spa visit—all in less than 24 hours—with the “Sé San Diego Turns One” package. The deal includes CitySide King accommodations, $100 dining credit at Suite & Tender restaurant, $100 credit at Sé Spa and valet parking. “Sé San Diego Turns One” Package Sé San Diego Hotel Details »

Dates: Thru 2010 (they like celebrating their anniversary all through the year, making us already excited for their 2nd anniversary!)

Booking Note: We were pleasantly surprised when testing booking availability—not only did we find rates consistent with the average $309/night rate, but we found plenty of dates for much lower: as low as $189/night for weekday nights and $209/night for weekends. With $200 of room credit that equates to Sé giving you the room. If that’s not a deal, then we can only say: “No sé!”

See (or Sé) More Sé San Diego Hotel Deals