According to an October 9, 2009 article on Hotel Chatter, the USVI Department of Tourism is offering 25 cent rates at participating hotels. Why? It’s to celebrate the first-ever United States quarter for the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Sounds like an amazing deal right? Well that’s not all you get. Hotel Chatter also states that the promotion includes a $25 per person dining credit, $25 per person activities credit and a commemorative quarter Scotiabank coin set. Now if I were a coin collector, I think that last tidbit of info is all I would need to get me to book this once in a lifetime deal.

Wondering what the catch is? So were we, so we investigated—here’s what we found: to book the promotion, you must go to Bookit.com from now through November 2, 2009. Then you must travel between the days of October 9 and November 15. That doesn’t leave you much time to let your work know you’re taking some time off so do it soon. It’s time to unpack the flip-flops and swimwear hat you just put away for the fall.

You may be wondering what hotels have decided to join this insanely cheap promotion. Well, you will not find any Ho-jos or Super 8’s here. You can choose from top rated hotels such as Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, Carambola Beach Resort & Spa, Hibiscus Beach Resort, Hotel Caravelle, Marriott Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Beach Resort, Secret Harbour Beach Resort, The Palms at Pelican Cove, Windward Passage, and Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa.

There are a couple more things to keep in mind though. The 25 cent promotion does not include taxes and fees according to Hotel Chatter. Be sure to check with each property to find out the final cost. Also, you have to book a flight with your hotel room at Bookit.com. Not many of us actual live in the USVI so I’m sure we all have to book a flight there regardless. I think the 25 cent hotel rate should offset that airfare quite a bit.

Management at the Westin Resort, located in Palm Beach on the island’s northern coastline, have devised the scheme in an effort to attract would-be mothers and fathers.

Couples will be rewarded with a $300 ‘Conception Credit’ if they can prove that their baby was conceived while they were staying at the hotel.

A doctor’s note confirming that the likely conception date coincided with the couple’s stay will be accepted as evidence, according to a spokesperson for the resort.

The offer is open to any guests staying at the hotel before December 18, 2009.

Rooms at the Westin Resort start at around $200 (£120) a night, so couples can claim at least one nights’ complimentary accommodation should they succeed in taking up the offer.

The offer includes a bottle of Asda sparkling wine, a hamper of Boots spa treatments, a punnet of strawberries or a box of chocolates and his and hers nightwear by Primark.

See Hawaii’s Big Island volcanoes, waterfalls & breathtaking views then spend quality tanning time on Oahu’s famous Waikiki beach. See both islands for $749(pp). Includes air(rt) from Continental US, 3-night stay in Big Island & Oahu each, flight to Oahu & breakfast.

Travel Deal: $749(pp) — Air(rt) + 6-Night Stay, Flight to Oahu & Breakfast Daily

Brought to you by Beachdestinations.com

(honoluluadvertiser.com) — Hawaii hotels experienced the fifth consecutive month of record low occupancy in June, when the rate fell by 5.8 percentage points to 63.1 percent.

In the latest report from industry analyst Hospitality Advisors LLC, the occupancy rate for the first half of the year was the lowest recorded since the survey began in 1987. It reflected the 9.8 percent drop in visitor arrivals to Hawaii reported by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Although O’ahu hotels led the state in occupancy at 67.8 percent, that number was 6.4 percentage points below a year ago, according to Joseph Toy, Hospitality Advisors president and chief executive officer.

With visitor arrivals down for 13 consecutive months, Hawaii hotels have cut rates and added deals to try to fill up rooms but the discounts have dropped revenues.

Deep discounts reduced the average daily hotel rate 16.6 percent to $171.97.

“It’s just been something that’s completely unprecedented in the market,” Toy said.

The steep decline indicates that the traditionally busy summer season has not brought recovery to the state’s largest private industry, he said.

“Despite the steep discounting of room rates in the market, hotel occupancies during what would normally be our busy summer season are at record lows, and the impact on hotel revenue and Hawaii’s tax base is tremendous,” Toy said.

“With such weak performance, we still do not expect to see any foundation for recovery until mid-2010.”

Toy said Hawaii is experiencing a slump that is reflected throughout the industry and at destinations across the country and internationally.

“Similar to most destinations, we have experienced a tremendous pull-back in the market, unlike anything we have seen before,” he said.

Hotels on Kauai suffered the most in June, dropping 10.3 percentage points in occupancy to 61 percent, with the average daily rate falling by 17.1 percent to $180.26.

Maui experienced the sharpest drop in average daily rate at 19.3 percent, falling to $227.35.

Toy noted that in the first half of this year, Hawaii hotel room revenues fell by $339 million to $1.22 billion, representing a steep 21.8 percent decline compared with the first six months of last year, according to Toy’s Hawaii Hotel Flash Report.

This loss was driven by a combination of a 7.8 percentage point decrease in occupancy to 66 percent, and a 12.6 percent decrease in the statewide average daily rate to $181.13.

But Toy said Hawaii is holding its own compared to tourism markets across the nation. Although Hawaii slipped to fifth place in hotel occupancy among major U.S. destinations, it remained second behind New York City in average daily rate.

Hawaii’s budget market posted the highest occupancy for the first six months at 74.7 percent and had the smallest decline from the prior year at 4.6 percentage points. The luxury hotel segment had the steepest decline in average daily rate — 13.5 percent, to $256.92, compared with $296.95 a year ago.

All islands reported losses in occupancy and rates for the first six months of the year. Maui suffered the largest average daily rate loss at 13.3 percent, to $242.36, with occupancy falling by 9.6 percentage points to 64 percent. The Big Island had the lowest occupancy in the state at 55.6 percent with an average daily rate of $187.07.

O’ahu fared best, but still saw occupancy drop by 5.4 percentage points to 70.9 percent, with a 12 percent decline in average daily rate to $150.69 for the first half of the year.

The luxury price segment achieved the highest occupancy at 68.1 percent, but was down 6.8 percentage points from the prior year.

The hotel survey is compiled by Smith Travel Research in conjunction with Hospitality Advisors.

Although Megabus is pitched as a “no frills” carrier, there are basic amenities that are quite generous.  The buses only allow one large carry on to be stowed underneath, but the double decker busses are roomy, and provide free Wi-Fi on all routes.  The only downside of Megabus and their offer is ironically the recession.  The recession that has led to this unbelievable offer has also wiped out all of the Megabus lines that ran through Los Angeles, Phoenix and any remaining west coast hubs that were being scheduled in the previous years. 

To find more on all the routes available, visit Megabus.com

The exclusive Southwest Vacation special is the lowest in years.  Get round-trip flight and 3-night hotel starting at $55 per person per night [price based on double occupancy].  This offer is good on travel from late summer through early January 2010.  Below are some of the many participating hotels.  For more information go to Southwest Airlines’ website.

Aqua hotels have created two lines of service to accommodate all types of peoples.  There is a boutique line and a “LITE” line.  The LITE line provides free Wi-Fi high speed Internet and complimentary daily paper.  Aqua Waikiki beachside and Park Shore Waikiki locations have great views right on the beach, which is very unusual for budget resorts.  There are many little quarks and benefits of the LITE hotel at each location; for example, the Aqua Continental location is dog friendly.  Here are some of the starting rates for the LITE line.

Aqua Continental -$59

Aqua Island Colony – $69

Aqua Waikiki Beachside – $79

Park Shore Waikiki – $89

The Boutique Line of hotels from Aqua also has availabilities under $100 dollars.  These locations although cheap, have many more services than the LITE line.  There are flat screens, free access to fitness facilities and all the lavish room service need that the more expensive hotel lines pride themselves on.  For more information on Waikiki Aqua Boutiques go to HotelReservations.com.  Safe Travels.

Day 2 of the free chicken extravagana!  El Pollo Loco has instituted ‘Taste the Fire’ on Tuesday April 28.  Fill yourself up for free with a flame grilled leg and thigh with two tortillas.  Fellow budget travelers, your time has come to reap the spoils of free chicken!