THE BIG TRAVEL DEAL

IRELAND: Flights, a Car and Unlimited Miles Starting at $599 This Fall
Ireland is that kind of place: Key attractions on the West and East coasts with tons of rural charm in between. The solution: a flight-and-car package and that's what the Aer Lingus Vacation Store (a franchise of the airline, by the way) is offering. Prices start as low as $599 per person and include: roundtrip coach flights from Boston to Dublin plus a manual-shift car with unlimited miles. For a few dollars more, you can fly into Shannon and return from Dublin or reverse the flights and arrive in Dublin and return from Shannon. For as little as $799, you can do it into and out of Shannon. The package price is based on two people traveling together from September to December and is valid for 6-14-day stays. Prices from New York/Kennedy or Washington/Dulles start at $649 per person. Prices start at $749 from Minneapolis and $799 from Denver, the new Aer Lingus gateway. There are fly-drive-lodging packages available, too. Book by May 27 for best rates. Information: the Aer Lingus Vacation Store FLY & DRIVE DEALS page.

OTHER NEW DEALS AND DISCOUNTS

Best Western Rewards: 10,000-Point Bonus for Three Nights of Stays
Best Western Rewards isn't a top-tier frequency program but it has strong global distribution and useful hotels, especially overseas. And Best Western constantly promotes bonuses to attract attention. The spring and summer variant is particularly rich: 10,000 bonus points after three days of stays in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean between May 20 and September 2. You can earn the bonus twice during the promotional period. You must register in advance, however. And a unique twist: A similar promotion--10,000 points bonus after three nights of stays--is available for some Europe and Africa stays and an identical deal is available for some Asian nations. I see nothing in the terms and conditions that prohibit you from registering for and claiming the bonuses in multiple regions.

Marriott: 50,000 Bonus Points for Home and Apartment Rental. Again.
Marriott is a hotel giant, of course, but that's not enough for the chain. It wants a piece of the home-share business, too. Its solution, Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, is not perfect. Marriott hasn't curated any properties, but acts as the clearing house for other vendors. Marriott does not inspect the listed properties and markups are sometimes high. And there have been complaints about Marriott's willingness to intervene when a partner vendor falls short. If that doesn't put you off the service--and, honestly, it's not much different than any other home/apartment rental site--Marriott does have a big carrot for its elite members: 50,000 bonus Bonvoy points for bookings through the end of the year. There's a two-night minimum and you must spend at least $2,500 before taxes and fees to qualify. And you must register in advance. The big caveat: Bookings now must be made by May 24, but that's a victory because the offer first expired on May 10. Information: the Marriott ANNIVERSARY SALE EXTENDED page.

IHG/United: Triple Miles on Summer InterContinental Group Stays
Back in the day, airline-hotel frequency bonuses were commonplace and often quite rich. The few combos available lately haven't been much to write about. However, the new offer from the InterContinental Group and United Airlines is interesting because IHG One Reward points have so little value. Instead of those, you can earn triple United MileagePlus miles on qualifying IHG stays. You must register with your MileagePlus number, book by June 30 and complete your stays by August 31. Information: the IHG Hotels EARN TRIPLE THE MILES page.

---

THE DISCOUNTS UP THERE

EUROPE: A Legitimate Business Class Fare War!
Americans have pulled back on domestic flights, but airlines insist travelers are flocking to Europe service this summer. After that? Well, if current prices are any indication, there are too many seats and not enough flyers. Thanks to a fare war, which might have been started by TAP Air Portugal, Star Alliance and SkyTeam carriers are battling across the pond to Europe. TAP sells Boston-Lisbon nonstops in business class for as little as $1,730 roundtrip. Delta Air Lines is surprisingly well-stocked with $2,614 roundtrips between New York/JFK and Rome. KLM has Los Angeles-Amsterdam business class flights for as little as $3,453 roundtrip. Miami-Copenhagen on SAS is coming in as low as $2,605 roundtrip. Dallas-Vienna is $2,980 roundtrip using Lufthansa. You'll find similar offers on both nonstop and connecting itineraries from most cities. It's worth noting, however, that Oneworld carriers aren't playing. Their fares seem much higher, even on competitive connecting runs over their Europe hubs. What do you need to know? Prices are valid for travel in two wide windows: between September 8 and December 14 and then again from January 14 to March 31. The cheapest flight days are Tuesday and Wednesday, of course. The fly in the flight ointment? You must book the lowest fares by midnight on May 21. There do seem to be some blackout dates, too, but nothing you can't handle. Generally speaking, you'll be required to stay over a Saturday or at least five days. Changes or cancellations will cost around $300.

AFRICA: A Business Class Sale! Seriously! To Africa!
The airlines never run fare sales up front to Africa, but since TAP Air Portugal is a huge player to Africa from its Lisbon hub, the Europe business class sale (see above) has bled over to many African destinations. Hence prices like from a variety of carriers: $2,600 roundtrip to Marrakech or Casablanca from New York; $3,134 roundtrip to Entebbe from Washington/Dulles; $4,339 roundtrip to Nairobi from Los Angeles; and below $3,700 roundtrip to Cape Town or Johannesburg from Boston. The best prices are for travel in the fall and winter (end-of-year holidays excluded, of course) and tickets must be purchased by May 21. The lowest fares are also likely to be over the larger Europe hubs rather than nonstop from the United States.

Costco: $500 Worth of Southwest Travel for $450. Again
It's one of the best-kept travel secrets: Costco sometimes sells $500 Southwest Airlines E-gift cards for only $449.99. I say "sometimes" because this deal comes and goes frequently--and erratically--on the Costco.com site. At the moment, it's back again. There is a limit of five "cards" per Costco membership and, by Southwest rule, only three may be applied per passenger on a reservation. Otherwise, it is a straight-up 10% discount on Southwest flying. "Cards" are delivered by E-mail almost immediately after purchase. Information: the Costco SOUTHWEST E-GIFT CARD page.

British Airways: AARP Deal Is Back (Again), Save $200 in Business
British Airways has a long-standing partnership with the AARP and its discount deal is back again. BA once offered AARP members $400 off roundtrips. Now it's less compelling: $200 roundtrip off business class and $65 off standard coach or premium economy fares. Still, it's never wise to look a gift fare discount in the mouth. The current deal is valid for BA flights booked by June 30. You must be an AARP member, of course, which offers great value for the $12 annual rate. Information: the EXCLUSIVE AARP MEMBERS page.

Zipair: Business Class to Tokyo Below $1,500 Roundtrip From Honolulu
Zipair, the Japan Airlines subsidiary, had a tortured birth. But the discounter is running fine now and flying nonstop to Tokyo/Narita from five North American gateways: LAX, San Jose, San Francisco, Honolulu and Vancouver. In some ways, its stripped-down business class is an even better value than in recent months. During the summer, one-way prices up front are as low as $1,057 from San Jose and $917 from San Francisco. LAX prices start at $1,207 and Vancouver prices are as low as USD$1,041. From Honolulu, business class fares start at an astounding $722 one-way. These fares are available on select days, of course, but other days are priced at around $1,300-$1,800 one-way, still a great value. The best part of the deal? Zipair business class offers full-flat beds on Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The so-called Full-Flat Pods are a bit narrow (seats are 20 inches wide between armrests) and pitched at a comparatively tight 42 inches. Zipair fares have other "compromises"--you'll pay for seat assignments, checked bags and meals--but, again, look at those prices for a flat-bed transpacific ride! Information: the ZIPAIR HOME PAGE.

La Compagnie: Business Class to Nice for $2,400 Roundtrip
La Compagnie is best-known for business class nonstops between Newark and Paris/Orly. It also flies to Milan/Malpensa. But the last of the all-business-class specialists that once plied the North Atlantic also operates seasonal runs between Newark and Nice in the south of France. The route operates between May and the fall and La Compagnie uses narrowbody Airbus A321neo aircraft with full-flat beds in a 2x2 configuration. The price: as low as $2,400 roundtrip on scattered days from May through September. Information: the La Compagnie DESTINATION FRENCH RIVIERA page.

Finnair: Europe Business Class Sale Via Our Helsinki Hub
Want to fly to business class to Paris for as little as $2,254 roundtrip? Rome for only $2,554 roundtrip? You can do it if you fly Finnair and change aircraft at Vantaa, Finnair's stylish, compact Helsinki hub. But I suggest a much better use of Finnair's business class sale fares it to reach European cities where nonstops are scarce or nonexistent. Examples: Budapest for $2,962 roundtrip or Berlin for $2,809 roundtrip. There are also excellent prices into several destinations in Poland and the Baltic states. The quoted prices are from New York/Kennedy, but Finnair is offering comparable deals from its other U.S. gateways, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Seattle and Miami. Information: the Finnair BUSINESS CLASS FLIGHT OFFERS page.

Hainan Airlines: Humbled Carrier Still Offers (Some Coach) Deals
Before the Covid pandemic, privately owned Hainan Airlines was losing billions of dollars annually, expanding vigorously in the United States and China and discounting lustily to fill its aircraft. Business class U.S.-China roundtrips would often sell for as little as $2,500. But how times have changed. Hainan's parent, the gluttonous HNA Group, collapsed into bankruptcy, was propped up by the Chinese government and eventually broken up into pieces. The Hainan Airlines division is still seeking new private investors and the post-pandemic flight regimen between the United States and China remains heavily restricted. That means many fewer flights, dozens weekly now compared to around 300 in 2019--and rapacious prices for the few business class seats still in the skies. But you can find a few coach discounts if you're looking to go to China now. Humbled Hainan, for example, is selling Boston-Beijing roundtrips in coach for as little as $1,169. New York/JFK-Beijing roundtrips can be had for only $1,135 roundtrip. (The flights make a technical/refueling stop in Seattle, by the way.) Boston-Shanghai roundtrips in coach are available for as little as $1,153, but require a Beijing connection as well as the Seattle stop. Information: the Hainan OFFERS page.

Africa: If You Can Handle Coach, Some Great Deals
Even now, in the dead of a slow(er) international winter travel season, business class deals are nearly impossible to find. Except for Africa, where they are impossible to find. (In fact, business class deals to Africa are always impossible.) But if you can rough it in coach (or buy several seats to create a "poor man's business class"), there are some interesting deals to be found. KLM, for example, is selling flights between Minneapolis and Casablanca for as little as $725 roundtrip. It's $805 roundtrip from Atlanta to Nairobi and $893 from New York/Kennedy to Entebbe. Speaking of New York, it's $843 roundtrip to Cairo on Brussels Airlines or $728 to Casablanca on Air France. The French carrier is also selling roundtrips between Los Angeles and Lagos for $1,017. If flying through a European hub--and all those routes are via Europe--doesn't cut it, try Ethiopian Airlines. The carrier, aligned with the Star Alliance, flies Boeing 787 Dreamliners between Washington/Dulles and its Nairobi hub. Roundtrips are as low as $1,128. Rather fly a SkyTeam carrier? Kenya Airways offers New York/JFK-Kinshasa roundtrips via Nairobi for $852. It's $903 roundtrip to Kigali.

Air Tahiti Nui: Secret Nonstops to Paris, Surprisingly Cheap
Once upon a time, before ultra-long-haul flights were a thing, airlines overcame the daunting distances by flying between third countries en route to their destination. They were often permitted to carry passengers between those nations in order to fill their aircraft. A few of these "secret flights" still exist today. One example: Air Tahiti Nui, which connects its Polynesian home to Paris via the United States. The surprisingly good island carrier can fly you nonstop from Los Angeles or Seattle and Paris/CDG for notably inexpensive fares in coach or premium economy. The roundtrip coach fare starts at $927, a great West Coast bargain. Premium economy--38 inches of legroom at seats configured 2x3x2 on Boeing 787s, 13-inch monitors and amenity kits--runs about $1,700 roundtrip. Information: the Air Tahiti Nui FLIGHTS TO PARIS page.

STAY ON THE WAY/STAYOVER OFFERS

Etihad Airways: Two Free Hotel Nights With Abu Dhabi Stops
After a nasty financial patch and misbegotten attempt to buy into weak airlines to create a fourth alliance, Etihad has rebounded and is again serving five North American cities: New York, Washington, Chicago, Boston and Toronto. Since all connecting flights require a change in Abu Dhabi, a stayover in the United Arab Emirates makes sense. Etihad now offers two free nights in a three-star hotel or 40% off stays at 4- and 5-star properties. There are also discounts and packages on dining, attractions, sporting events and other activities in Abu Dhabi, which fancies itself as more sedate and sophisticated than Dubai, its historic rival. YMMV on which city is better--and whether you prefer a layover with Emirates via Dubai--but at least Etihad is again making the effort to attract your long-haul business. Information: the Etihad ABU DHABI STOPOVER page.

Emirates Airline: Dubai in a Day (or More)
As many as 88 million people passed through Dubai Airport last year and the Emirates Airline superhub hosts lots of North Americans headed to the UAE and other destinations in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. With so many connecting flights to so many places--and with the time zones completely askew--Emirates offers a spread of stopover and stay-on-the-way deals and packages. A 12-hour bundle, for example, includes a Dubai city tour, one-hour excursion around the harbor on a traditional wooden dhow, a desert ramble that includes a stop at a camel farm and a buffet dinner. That costs about US$100. For about the same price, a three-day itinerary includes a city tour, a safari run, a kayak adventure, dinner cruise and other attractions. There are also special rates available at the city's wide array of hotels and resorts, many of them among the most luxurious in the world. Information: the Emirates DUBAI EXPERIENCE page.

Turkish Airlines: Stay Up to Two Days Free in Istanbul
You'd be surprised to learn the identity of the carrier that flies to more nations than any other. It's Turkish Airlines, hubbed at sprawling and elaborate Istanbul Airport. The airline flies to 274 destinations and offers connections from more than a dozen gateways in the United States and Canada. Another perk: the Stopover in Istanbul scheme. It allows travelers connecting in Istanbul to spend a night or two in Turkey's largest city while Turkish picks up the hotel tab. Connecting coach flyers are eligible for a one-night stay at a 4-star hotel and business class travelers can get two nights in one of Istanbul's five-star properties. Some folks will not fly on Turkish because Turkey is ruled by an increasingly autocratic strongman who has been intent on turning the once proudly secular nation into an Islamic redoubt. But if you're flying Turkish--which is part of the Star Alliance and often offers great business class deals--why wouldn't you avail yourself of a free stop in one of the world's most intriguing cities? Information: The Turkish Airlines STOPOVER IN ISTANBUL page.

Qatar Airways: Stay on the Way With Doha Discounts
Qatar Airways has grown its Doha home into a global megahub and it carries many American travelers onward to Africa and Asia. But if you're interested in spending some time in the ultra-modern Qatari capital along the way, Qatar Air offers a raft of on-the-ground discounts. For stayovers as long as four nights, hotel rates start as low as $28 a day per couple for four-star properties. Beachfront hotels start as low as $60 a couple a night. There are also substantial discounts on city tours and attractions. One caveat: You'll need a visa to overnight in Qatar, but the airline can help handle that, too. Information: the Qatar Airways EXPERIENCE MORE page.

Icelandair: Add a 7-night Free Stay in Iceland to Your Trip
Icelandair, and before that Icelandic, has survived for decades in the cutthroat transatlantic market by leveraging its position between North America and mainland Europe. It has used Reykjavík as its continent-to-continent connecting hub and regularly promoted stay-along-the-way packages. It's the latter that is of interest now: The airline is permitting stays in Iceland for as long as seven days when you fly between North America and Europe. The so-called Stopover in Iceland program is available at no extra charge on your outbound itinerary. The airline's Web site also does an excellent job helping you book the stop. Information: Icelandair's STOPOVER IN ICELAND page.

Copa Airlines: Up to 7-Day Free Stopover in Panama
Panama's Copa Airlines is one of the few stable and reliable carriers in Latin America. The Star Alliance airline also has developed an efficient hub at its hometown of Panama City that connects destinations in the United States to both Central and South America. And now an added perk: A free stopover of as long as seven days in Panama City. The stay-on-the-way offer can be used on the departing or returning itinerary. The airline also works with Panamanian tourist authorities to offer up a bundle of tours, hotel stays and other add-ons. Information: the PANAMA STOPOVER page.

TAP Air Portugal: Free Portugal Stopover Can Now Be Ten Days
In the early days of transatlantic jet travel, free "stopovers" in the country of arrival were a standard perk. The deal was eventually abandoned as longer-haul nonstops came to dominate flying. But "stay along the way" offers are making a comeback among airlines that depend on connecting traffic to compete with longer nonstops. TAP Air Portugal is probably the best current practitioner of the stopover. The airline originally revived the deal with a free, three-day stopover in Portugal as part of roundtrip, transatlantic nonstops to Lisbon or Porto. It was then upped to five days. Now the offer is 10 days in Portugal before continuing to your next destination. There are other perks attached to the stopover, including a 25% discount on domestic flights, hotel discounts, museum and attraction admissions and freebies with meals. Information: the VISIT PORTUGAL page.

SATA Azores Airlines: Free Stopovers To/From Europe
It's a huge understatement to suggest that SATA Azores Airlines flies under the metaphoric radar. It's one of the least publicized carriers in Europe. But the islands-based carrier serves a number of gateways in the United States (New York, Boston and Oakland) and Canada (Toronto and Montreal). So when it offers free stayovers of as long as seven days en route to and/or returning from Europe, it's worth considering. Among its European destinations are London, Paris, Barcelona, Milan and, of course, Lisbon and Porto in Portugal. The stayover allows you to add in visits to the Azorean islands of São Miguel or Terceira. If your geography fails you, the Azores lie about midway between the United States and the Portuguese mainland. And if your meteorology fails you, the winter months in the Azores are mild (daytime temps in the low 60s, evenings in the mid 50s). Information; the SATA STOPOVER page.

CREDIT CARD ACQUISITION BONUSES

American Airlines/Citi: Fewer Miles But a Big Statement Credit
There aren't too many wrinkles left in the travel credit card game, so give Citi and American Airlines, um, credit for this one: a card that offers both miles and a big statement credit. Although the standard acquisition bonus for the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard is 50,000 miles, the new offer is an intriguing hybrid. You'll receive a dollar-for-dollar statement credit up to $400 for American Airlines spend in the first six months and 30,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first three months. Depending on your travel patterns and how you value AAdvantage miles, the $400/30,000-mile bonus may substantially outweigh the 50,000-mile standard offer. Your call, of course. The card has a zero-dollar annual fee in the first year, then it's $99 annually. Information: the American Airlines FOR ALL YOUR TRAVEL NEEDS page.

American Express: Ready to Play Platinum Card Roulette?
For all the tough competition, the American Express Platinum Card remains the, um, gold standard against which all other premium cards are judged. Whether you find its $695 annual fee too pricey (Will Allen's conclusion), fair (Bob McGarvey's conclusion) or a hard-boiled calculation (my conclusion) is another matter. YMMV, as they say. If you can justify the card based on club access or statement credits or hotel deals or its excellent earning for airline charges (five points per dollar), now is the time to apply. The public acquisition proposition is 80,000 points, but you can find offers as high as 150,000 points. The problem is finding them because Amex plays roulette with its links and varies the offer based on the browser you use, your browser history or even cookies on your device. Best solution? Google "Amex Platinum 150K points" and you're likely to find the biggest offer with the same purchase requirement ($8,000 in six months).

Wells Fargo: One Travel Card Won't Rule Them All, But Still ...
Wells Fargo hasn't been a big player in the travel card segment. But now comes the Autograph Journey Visa that Wells Fargo hopes will be a category killer. It's compelling, but not a category killer. The Autograph Journey Card offers a strong earnings proposition: 5 points for hotel spend; 4 points on airline purchases and three points on dining and most other travel charges. The annual fee is low ($95) and offset by a $50 annual statement credit against airline charges. There's generous trip-cancellation and lost-luggage coverage, cell-phone protection and no foreign transaction fees. Wells Fargo is even creating a points-transfer operation. Points accrued on Autograph Journey can be transferred 1:1 to Air France/KLM Flying Blue and programs operated by British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus. Wells Fargo promises more partners to come. And there's a hefty acquisition bonus: 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. So where does the Autograph Journey card fail? The car-rental collision-damage waiver is secondary, ride shares don't earn extra points, there's no trip-delay coverage and probably a shallow pool of future points-transfer partners. Still, it's an impressive package for a functional $45 annual fee. Information: the Wells Fargo AUTOGRAPH JOURNEY CARD page.

Bank of America: 70,000 Points in the Worthy Flying Blue Program
The Air France/KLM World Elite Mastercard from Bank of America is worth getting just for its acquisition bonus: At least temporarily, it's been bumped up to 70,000 Flying Blue points for $3,000 in spend within 90 days. But the Air France KLM Flying Blue program is useful for a raft of reasons: While it charges co-pays of as much as $300 one-way on business class tickets, you can often find forward-cabin seats to Europe for as little as 55,000 points one-way. That is substantially cheaper than dealing with Delta's rapacious SkyMiles program. Moreover, you can move American Express, Chase, Capital One, Bilt and Citibank points into Flying Blue. That makes it an incredibly flexible program even if you rarely fly KLM or Air France on paid tickets. The annual fee is $89 and you receive a 5,000-point bonus each year. Information: the Bank of America GET REWARDED page.

Citibank: Premier Card Offers 60,000 Points--and Plenty of Perks
Once a powerhouse in retail banking, Citibank is only a marginal player in the frequency game with just a fraction of the American Airlines business. But it has its own plan called ThankYou and that plan has its moments. The Citi Premier Mastercard now offers a 60,000-point acquisition bonus when you spend $4,000 in 90 days. Plus Citi has jacked up the earnings possibilities: 10 ThankYou points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals until June 30 when you book through the Citi Travel portal. Otherwise, you earn three points per dollar on air travel, hotels, restaurants, gasoline stations and supermarkets. Once a year, you also get $100 off a hotel purchase of $500 booked through thankyou.com. What can you do with the points? You can convert them to cashback rewards, claim gift cards or transfer them to Air France/KLM Flying Blue, JetBlue TrueBlue and a slew of other frequency plans. Not bad for the $95 annual fee. Information: the Citi PREMIER CARD page.

Chase: 100,000-Point Bonus to Take an Ink Business Card
As airline frequent flyer programs get less generous, smart travelers are banking miles with banks. Chase Ultimate Rewards points, for example, offer a 1:1 transfer to United, Southwest, several international airlines and some hotel chains, too. There seems to be less risk by banking points with Chase and moving them to your programs as the good deals--or award availability--warrant. One of the current stars in the wide Chase portfolio? The Visa Ink Business Preferred Card. For the $95 annual fee, you'll receive an acquisition bonus of 100,000 points when you spend $8,000 during the first three months. You'll also earn three points per dollar spent on travel; shipping charges; payments for cable, Internet and phone services; and some advertising purchases. Is $8,000 in spend too much to ask for 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points? Chase points out that its previous threshold was $15,000 . I point out that a few years ago it offered 80,000 points for $5,000 in spend. So your call, I guess. Information: the Chase EARN 100,000 BONUS page.

Best Western: Slightly Higher Card Fee, Many More Points
FNBO, which issues Best Western's credit cards, has upped the annual fee on the premium version of the Best Western Rewards Mastercard. It's now $89 a year, up from $59. But the paybacks are much larger hauls of Best Western Rewards points. The acquisition bonus is now 80,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first three billing cycles. And the nice ongoing perk--bonus points for annual spend--has been hiked to 40,000 points when you spend $5,000 a year. Best Western Rewards isn't a sexy lodging frequency programs, of course, but Best Western represents many excellent mid- to upper-tier hotels in overseas markets. If you're bored of the other chains, now is a good time to give Best Western and the FNBO Premium MasterCard a shot. Information: the FNBO CHOOSE HOW YOU EARN page.

Capital One: Savor Cashback With a $300 Statement Credit
Capital One has come roaring back in the wallet wars with a fine points-transfer option and generous acquisition bonuses on its flagship Venture X card. But I'm convinced the best card offered by Capital One is Savor. It offers 4% cashback on all dining and entertainment spending and 3% on grocery spending. It is a compelling offer for a card with a $95 annual fee. Now there's an additional perk: a $300 statement credit when you spend $3,000 in the first three months. Information: the Capital One SAVOR REWARDS page.

LODGING BARGAINS TO CONSIDER

Hilton Honors: The We're-Not-Even-Trying 2Q Promotion
Hilton Honors isn't a bad program per se, but Hilton has devalued its points so severely that the huge chain must constantly offer quarterly promotions to remain competitive. Which is why its 2Q promo--2,000 points per stay is so pathetically weak. And it's even worse than last year's second quarter promotion, which at least offered 4,000 points for resort stays. In other words, Hilton certainly doesn't seem to care if you book with its hotels and resorts just now. If you are, however, you might as well register and gather your crumbs. The promotion runs until September 2.

Air Canada Aeroplan: Fourth Night Free on Hotel Redemptions
Airline frequency programs stopped offering good deals on hotel redemptions decades ago, but Air Canada Aeroplan (and its related credit card) is a unique frequent-flyer plan. So maybe this isn't as much of a surprise as you might assume: If you are an Aeroplan credit card holder, you'll receive a free fourth night when you book participating hotels using Aeroplan points. Book six nights with points and receive two free nights. The promotion is available for stays through December 31, 2024. Information: the Air Canada EXTEND YOUR REST FOR LESS page.

Loews Hotels: Some Sweet Stuff With Suite Rentals
Loews Hotels is a tiny hotel group with a tiny footprint (just 15 cities), but many travelers swear by the chain's properties and services. If you're one of them, then consider this special offer. Reserve a suite at most Loews outposts around the country and the chain will throw in some goodies: up to $125 a day in food and beverage for up to seven nights and the property's fastest WiFi service. Information: the Loews A SUITE DEAL page.

Omni Hotels: Golf Swag From a PGA Partner
Omni Hotels is the official lodging partner of the PGA Tour, so the chain is trying to capitalize on the link with golf swag and course discounts. Book a golf package at one of 11 Omni resorts and you'll receive: one round of golf per registered guest each day of your stay; unlimited use of the driving range; a pack of Callaway golf balls; a PGA Tour hat for each adult; and a $100 resort credit. The participating Omni properties include resorts in Arizona, California, Texas, Virginia, New Hampshire, Florida, Colorado, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Information: The Omni PGA TOUR GOLF PACKAGE page.

HOTELS: Bonus Points Only If You Stay Where We Tell You
Even as hotel occupancy edges downward, big hotel chains resist offering any promotions that would stimulate travel. In fact, the chains are suddenly narrowcasting, offering promos only at select chains within their bloated collections. At World of Hyatt, for example, the focus is on the Thompson and Dreams brands. If you stay at one of those properties by June 10, you receive double elite credit for each night of your stay. (Register here.) At IHG One Rewards, it is triple bonus points until May 31 if you book at the Even, Avid, Garner or Atwell Suites brands. (Register here.) And if you've barely heard of these Hyatt and IHG brands, that's the point of the promotion, I suppose.

BACK HERE ON EARTH

Oxford: You Can Still Get Smart With a Summer Week to Spare
If you want to give a week of your summer over to education and edification, Oxford's summer-school learning programs are available to book. Running from June 30 to August 10, more than three dozen courses can be reserved, ranging from English Lit and Italian Renaissance Art to modern topics such as artificial intelligence and the concept of time itself. Each course includes ten 70-minute small-group lectures and four 45-minute general sessions. Other package components include: drinks; walking tours; concerts; visits to stately homes; and even punting on the Thames. The course fee also includes accommodations at Brasenose College, daily breakfast and dinner and several lunches. Prices for the week start at $2,700 a person for two in private accommodations or $2,500 for singles. If you don't wish to stay on campus, prices start at around $2,000 a person including lunch and dinners. Information: the INSPIRING OXFORD summer school page.

Trains: How to Ride on the 20th Century Limited in the 21st Century
Despite being defunct for more than 55 years, the 20th Century Limited remains the quintessential American rail experience, feted in song and story and sizzling scenes between Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint in North By Northwest. If nostalgia and R·O·T matchbooks spark something, you can ride the 20th Century Limited even in the 21st century. A group of rail fanatics sponsors trips on real 20th Century Limited cars in June and July. Rides between New York and Chicago include two meals, an open bar, overnight sleeping-car accommodations and all the other trimmings. Riding one-way costs $3,200 per couple. Can't swing the overnight? The group has dozens of day trips between New York and Albany--that's where the train ended its Hudson-hugging itinerary and turned west for Chicago--until early November. Prices for those range from $179 to $399 per person. All this sound too cool to be true? In a way, it is. New York-to-Chicago trips are sold out, although Chicago-New York slots remain. Many New York-Albany trips are gone, too. Information: the 20TH CENTURY LIMITED EXPERIENCE page for overnights and HUDSON RIVER RAIL EXCURSIONS page for daytrips.

Cambridge: Learning This Summer Because, You Know, Cambridge
There's a certain appeal to going to the seats of British learning and spending a week or so in the summer pretending our brains are still flexible enough to absorb new information. (Kidding, I'm kidding...) Oxford's summer programs are the best-known (see below), but Cambridge offers even more intensive one- and two-week summer sessions. The Cambridge courses are lighter on pop-culture stuff than Oxford, but much stronger in deep-dive topics such as Shakespeare, modern art, British law, literature, astronomy, physics, creative writing and Medieval history. Tuition fees start at 995 pounds a week and about 1,900 pounds for two-week versions. You can stay in lodgings located in Cambridge's historic colleges--fees start at 525 pounds for a room with shared bath--or you can arrange your own lodging elsewhere. Courses are available from July 7 to August 3. The class sizes are limited to a maximum of 25 students. Information and details: the University of Cambridge INSTITUTE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION page.

Burj Al Arab: Would You Pay for a Tour of a Glitzy Fantasy?
Burj Al Arab in Dubai was designed to be a glitzy, over-the-top fantasy as well as an outrageously expensive lodging and dining venue. It's built on its own island, is designed to look like the sail of an Arabic dhow and makes the ludicrous claim that it is a 7-star hotel. (They never quite say who awarded the seven stars, of course.) But the place is something to behold. And now they'll sell you a 90-minute tour--ahem, "exclusive" tour--that covers some regional history, the design and creation of the gigantic property, a visit to the wacky atrium and a peek into the hotel's huge Royal Suite. Whether you think such a thing is worth AED299--that's about US$82--may depend on how much free time you have in Dubai and whether you're interested in how the 2% of the 2% live on the road. Information: the Burj Al Arab TOUR OF AN ICON page.