THE BIG TRAVEL DEAL

Hotels: Rate Deals and Frequency Promotions for the Spring
Tariff talk and trade wars may be playing out in real time around the world and travel will be affected soon. But right now hotel rates remain surprisingly high. To find some deals, you'll have to scratch for rate deals and frequency promotions. Here is some of what I found this week:
        Choice Hotels is offering double the AAA discount at many properties, which these days include American hotels aligned with Radisson. The usual AAA discount is 10% at most chains, but Choice is promising "up to 20%." Book by May 4 and complete your stay by May 18. Information: the Choice LIMITED TIME OFFER page.
        Drury Hotels may be the best hotel chain no one talks about, possibly because it does not have locations in big U.S. media markets. At the moment, Drury is offering 10-20% off daily rates. Stays must be completed by May 22. Use promo code SHINE. Information: the Drury WARM UP page.
        Hyatt Hotels has been relying on a standard array of promotions in recent years. This newest one, however, is interesting, if not exactly rich. At 20 of its resort and gambling locations, you earn 777 bonus World of Hyatt points per night. You can earn the bonus for up to 10 nights until June 9. Information: the Hyatt STAY, PLAY & EARN page.
        Loews Hotels is a small chain, 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 and the chain will throw in up to $200 a day in food and beverage credits. Information: the Loews A SUITE DEAL page.
        Omni Hotels is the official lodging partner of the PGA Tour, so the chain is capitalizing on the link with golf swag and course discounts. Book a golf package at one of 10 Omni resorts and you will 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. Information: The Omni PGA TOUR GOLF PACKAGE page.
        Wyndham Hotels continues to play with its Wyndham Rewards program. Its latest promotion: 15,000 points after four nights of stays before June 16 if you book by May 9. What does 15,000 points get you? Free nights at a few of its hotels, but, more importantly, a $50 gift card at Starbucks, Amazon or other retailers. Information: the Wyndham STAY ANY 2 NIGHTS page.

THIS WEEK'S OTHER NEW BARGAINS

Turkish Airlines: May Business Class Deals to Istanbul and Cairo
Turkish Airlines serves more international destinations from its Istanbul hub than any carrier in the world. It has nonstops to Istanbul from many U.S. cities. Its business class is well-regarded. And Istanbul Airport wins raves for design and amenities. (Walks are daunting, however). On the other hand, many travelers prefer not to fly to or through a country controlled by an unpredictable autocrat (Is there any other kind?) who's tried to remake once-secular Turkey into an Islamic theocracy. Which is a long-winded way of saying these otherwise nifty deals are your call. The airline is selling business class from Miami to Istanbul for as little as $2,276 next month. Boston to Istanbul is $2,837. Cairo, always a tough get, is a deal via Istanbul, including $2,460 roundtrip from Washington/Dulles and $3,212 from Houston. A warning: Fares vary wildly depending on the day you travel and when the carrier is offering its best deals. Information: the Turkish Airlines OUR MOST POPULAR FLIGHT OFFERS page.

Amtrak: 40,000-Point Acquisition Bonus for a MasterCard
Unless you travel in the Northeast Corridor, carrying an Amtrak MasterCard is probably a fool's errand. But if you do ride Amtrak frequently, this promotion might appeal: Instead of the standard 20,000- or 25,000-point acquisition bonus, the come-on to take an Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred MasterCard has been upped to 40,000 points. The spend requirement is low ($2,000 during the first three billing cycles), the annual fee ($99) is low enough, you'll earn three points for every dollar spent on Amtrak travel and get a 20% discount on onboard food and beverage purchases. The rest of the card's offer is (ahem!) pedestrian, however. The enlarged bonus points offer is available until April 30. Information: the Amtrak LAST CHANCE page.

Zipair: Stripped-Down Business Class to Tokyo, Still Some Great Fares
Zipair, the Japan Airlines subsidiary, had a tortured birth. But the discounter now flies nonstop to Tokyo/Narita from six North American gateways: Honolulu, LAX, San Jose, San Francisco, Houston and Vancouver. Its stripped-down business class is priced with wide swings, but fares are down if you can book soon, as in the end of April or early May. One-way prices up front are as low as $953 from Honolulu and US$990 one-way from Vancouver. From U.S. mainland gateways, fares are cheapest from the Bay Area ($1,283 from San Jose, $1,308 San Francisco), but notably more ($1,583) from LAX. The newest destination, Houston/IAH, starts at $1,483 one-way. In summer months, prices jump substantially and currently are around $1,700 or more one-way. Even at higher prices, however, Zipair continues to undercut the big players on the transpacific routes. Zipair business class offers full-flat beds on Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The so-called Full-Flat Pods are a snug (seats are 20 inches wide between the armrests and pitched at a tight 42 inches) and Zipair fares have other compromises: You pay for seat assignments, checked bags and meals. Information: the ZIPAIR HOME PAGE.

American Airlines: Play Your Cards for Even Bigger Mile Score
Citi finally ponied up enough cash for the exclusive right to issue American AAdvantage credit cards, but it won't happen until next year. That has opened a window for a smash-and-grab score when you play Citi against Barclays, the bank losing its piece of the AA business. Right now, Barclays offers an exceptionally rich opportunity since its basic card (the Aviator Red) is such an easy score. You'll earn 60,000 AAdvantage miles simply by making a single purchase and paying the $99 annual fee. Once you have smashed Barclays, turn to Citi and hit one of its AAdvantage cards. The Business Card, for example, will give you 75,000 miles when you spend $5,000 in the first five months. The $99 fee for this card is waived in the first year. In other words, earn 135,000 AAdvantage miles for $99 in fees and a little more than $5,0000 in spend spread over five months. Even in these inflationary times, that is a good score.

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MEMBERS-ONLY DISCOUNTS

Small-Group October Tours at Special Discounts
Got plans for October? No? Great, because a pair of terrific personalized tours are available at special discounts for JoeSentMe members. The hosts are great friends of the site and, more importantly, fabulous tour leaders. Here are the details of the small-group offers and remember: As with all member-only discounts, these deals are solely for your benefit. I receive no payment of any kind should you join the tours.
        Elifant Archaeo-Culinary Tours is sponsoring a unique itinerary focusing on Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta. Centering on Torino, which doesn't get nearly as much attention from visitors as Italy's other great cities, you'll visit artisanal chocolate makers and the newly restored Musei Reali, home of the famed Savoia sculptures. There will also be visits to Bra, home of the slow-food association; Alba; Acqui Terme; and many other architecturally and gastronomically significant locations. The complete itinerary is here. The trip will be led by Elifant's principles, Maureen Fant and Elizabeth Bartman, starts on the evening of October 12 and runs from October 13-20. The price of the tour is $8,600 per person (double occupancy) and includes accommodations; most meals; and many other perks and privileges. For JoeSentMe members, a 10% discount applies. To participate, contact Elifant and identify yourself as a JoeSentMe member.
        Unlocked Rome is sponsoring a special journey around Rome and then onward to the island of Malta. The trip begins with two days in the Italian capital and focuses on the legacy of Caravaggio, the intensely realistic painter considered a pioneer of the Baroque school. Then a short flight to Malta to explore an island steeped in millennia of history, from Neolithic temples and Roman ruins to medieval towns and fortresses. Full details of the guided journey are here; the itinerary will be led by renowned archaeologist Dr. Darius Arya. The trip runs from October 19 to 26 and includes the accommodations; meals and beverages; the Rome-Malta roundtrip flights; and much more. The price is $7,200 a person (double occupancy), but JoeSentMe members receive a $400 discount and a 30-minute pre-departure video meeting to introduce you to Dr. Arya. To participate, contact Unlocked Rome and use the phrase "Joe Sent Me, he really did!"

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THE DISCOUNTS UP THERE

Delta SkyMiles: Hey, Unhappy Southwest A-Listers, Trade Down to Us
Elite status in Delta SkyMiles, the most cynical, least-desirable program among U.S. majors, is of marginal value. After all, when was the last time you got an upgrade on a Delta flight? Or got a Delta perk you couldn't get cheaper in another program? So it's a measure of the perceived unhappiness of Southwest Airlines elite flyers that Delta is offering them a slightly richer status match. If you are a Southwest Rapid Rewards A-Lister, you'll receive SkyMiles Gold Medallion. If you're an A-List Preferred member, you'll receive Delta Platinum Status. The Delta status, such as it is, is valid until September 30. But remember: If you're a Southwest elite, you'll still receive a free checked bag and get a seat assignment even after Southwest makes it changes. But, of course, your mileage may vary and you may prefer to switch to Delta. It's certainly your call and your travel dollar. Information: the Delta STATUS MATCH CHALLENGE page.

Hainan Airlines: Rare Business Class Bargains to China
Before the pandemic, there were hundreds of weekly flights between the United States and China and Hainan Airlines was a major business class discounter. It offered fine service, too. Skip forward to the present and Sino-American tensions have kept a lid on seats between the world's two largest economies. The result? Business class fares that routinely reach $15,000 on a walk-up basis. Good news, such as it is? Hainan Airlines has some discounts again. Until May 31, Hainan has Seattle-Beijing nonstops for as little as $3,852 roundtrip. Boston-Beijing is even lower: $3,258 roundtrip. To say seats are very limited is a bit of an understatement, but, given the situation, look carefully and be flexible. Information: the Hainan Airlines SPECIAL OFFERS page.

British Airways: AARP Deal Back for All of 2025. Save $200 in Business
British Airways has a long-standing partnership with the AARP and its discount deal is back again--this time for all of 2025. 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 discount in the mouth. The current deal is valid for flights until January 31, 2026. You must be an AARP member, of course, which offers great value for the $15 annual rate. Information: the EXCLUSIVE AARP MEMBERS page.

STAY ON THE WAY/STAYOVER OFFERS

Iberia: Free Stopover in Madrid for As Long as Nine Days
Once a niche carrier, Iberia has made substantial inroads in the U.S. market by offering extremely attractive fares over its Madrid hub. Now another incentive to change planes in the Spanish capital: a free stayover that can last as long as nine days. As with most of the industry stopover schemes, the idea is simple: Find a route and book a stop either on the departure or return via Madrid. Information: Iberia's STOPOVER HOLA MADRID page.

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

IHG Hotels/Chase: When 200,000 Points May Not Be Worth It
Remember when 100,000 miles or points was an astonishing acquisition bonus? Now we've reached 200,000 and travelers don't seem to bat an eye. But maybe pay attention to the new 200,000-point offer from Chase and InterContinental Hotels. It seems to be much less than meets the batted eye. You'll receive 140,000 IHG One Rewards when you spend $4,000 on the Mastercard in the first three months. The other 60,000 points arrive when you reach $9,000 in six months. The problem with this particular stair-step offer? A spend of $9,000 is stiff enough on its own, but the pay off--IHG points--is of questionable value. IHG's program is relatively low value and the plan itself is questionable if you're looking for suites at upscale properties. Still, this is your call. It's always hard to look away from 200,000 of anything. Information: the Chase LIMITED TIME OFFER page.

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.

LODGING BARGAINS TO CONSIDER

Hotels: Maybe You'll Find Rate Savings With a Credit Card
Domestic fares have been flat or falling recently, but hotel and resort prices continue to rise, precipitously in many destinations. Possible solution: hotel discounts and perks offered by your credit card. Of course, the specials below come with caveats. Most hotels in the programs are in the luxury category. You must book directly at the card's special Web site, which would eliminate most or all of the perks you get with elite status at your preferred chain. And you should always check that the rate you're paying is competitive with other offers.
      American Express Platinum Cards feature two plans--Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) and The Hotel Collection--that cover more than 2,600 properties around the world. Bundled with the FHR rates are space-available room upgrades; check-in as early as noon based on availability and guaranteed 4pm checkout; breakfast for two; free WiFi; and property-specific food and beverage credit or other amenity. The Hotel Collection locations offer space-available upgrades and some on-property perks. You'll also receive an annual statement credit of $200 when you book the hotels and five Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at the properties.
      Visa Signature cards claim to offer special rates at more than 900 properties. Perks include space-available upgrade; free WiFi; free breakfast for two; a $25 food and beverage credit; VIP status; and late checkout.
      Mastercard Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, available to some World and World Elite Mastercard holders, covers 3,800 properties. It offers free daily breakfast for two; as-available room upgrades; "if available" early check-in and late checkout; and on-property amenities worth as much as US$100. But there is a catch: The benefit is not available for Mastercards issued in the United States and Canada. They are covered by a much more amorphous travel-benefit program.

Best Western: Not the Best Best Western Deal, But …
There's a funny moment in The Big Bang Theory when Amy explains to Sheldon that her Best Western isn't "best Best Western [but] the third best Best Western I've been to." I feel the same way about this iteration of the chain's latest Rewards promotion. In its very predictable way, Best Western rotates offers. Sometimes it's a free night, sometimes it's a $100 gift card and now it's the third-best offer: a $50 Best Western electronic gift card after two nights at any property in the United States, Canada or the Caribbean. You can score as many as two cards during the promotional period, which lasts until May 11. (The cards can be used at any BW worldwide until August 3.) Advance registration is required, of course. Information: the Best Western LIMITED TIME OFFER page.

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, 2025. Information: the Air Canada EXTEND YOUR REST FOR LESS page.

Hilton Honors: Double Points Because Double Points Is The Minimum
The Hilton Honors program is so weak as an earning vehicle that the hotel chain routinely must offer double award points just to stay competitive. So keep the chainwide Double Your Stay promotion in perspective. You'll receive double points between January 1 and April 30. There's no limit to the earnings and the promotion is valid at all Hilton hotels and resorts worldwide. Information: The Hilton DOUBLE YOUR STAY page.

IHG One Rewards: 3,000-Point Bonus for an App Booking
I waffle on the value proposition offered IHG One Rewards, the loyalty program of InterContinental Hotel and its many other brands. But if you're an IHG player, there's no reason not to pounce on this: 3,000 bonus points for booking a stay through the IHG app. The offer seems fairly straightforward: be an IHG One Rewards member, register for the promotion, then book via the app and complete a stay within 30 days.

Omni Mount Washington: Third Night Free and an F&B Credit
The enormous, enormously popular and enormously expensive Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, offers thrilling views, excellent restaurants and a cornucopia of activities: a spa; golf and tennis; stables; ice skating, snowshoeing; and several types of skiing. But like many resorts, it has trouble filling off-season days. The solution: a buy-two-get-one sale. When you book two nights at the Flexible Rate, you will get a third night free. Also included: a $50 food-and-beverage credit. What isn't included: the tax and resort fee on the third night. As always with offers of this type, don't assume this rate is the cheapest. Check it against the price of paying the lowest available rate for three nights. Information: Omni's BUY 2 NIGHTS, GET 3RD NIGHT FREE page.

BACK HERE ON EARTH

National Car: ONE TWO FREE Returns After a Six-Year Absence
Once upon a time, there were two deals to rule them all: The Hyatt Faster Free Nights and National Car Rental's ONE TWO FREE. They were essentially the same promo: You rented twice (a room or a car) and you earned a free day. Faster Free Nights ended when Hyatt chose to offer bonus-points promos. And the pandemic killed ONE TWO FREE. Or so it seemed. But in something of a surprise, National has revived its 2-gets-1 deal for the first time since 2019. After switching to an odd bells-and-whistles points system in its last years, National has returned ONE TWO FREE to the basics: Emerald Club members who rent a midsize car or larger twice will earn a free day. The wrinkle now is that you can't game the promotion. Rentals that qualify must be at least two days long. There is also a governor on the freebies: They do not include the taxes and many the annoying fees rental firms invent. Another note: Much like the early days, only rentals in the United States and Canada apply. This year's promotional period lasts from April 1 to June 22. All freebies must be used by December 31. Examine the full terms and conditions here. Advance registration is required. Information: the National ONE TWO FREE page.

GigSky: Free International Data With Elite Visa Cards
GigSky is an eSIM operator offering international mobile-data service at prices below larger U.S. phone operators. Now GigSky is offering holders of Visa Signature and Visa Infinite a deal. If you hold a Visa Signature card, GigSky is offering you 1GB of international data over 15 days and 20% off other service plans. If you have a super-elite Visa Infinite card, the offer is 3GB over 15 days and 30% off other plans. The catch: Your mobile device must be able to handle an eSIM, a virtual card that replaces a standard SIM. Full details of the Visa promotion can be found here.

Film: At 30, TCM Now Sells Cruises, Festivals and Tours, Too
Turner Classic Movies (TCM), celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024 and the TV network has marked the event on-air with some of its most honored movies and new programs. But the channel's corporate owner, Warner Bros. Discovery, is intent on expanding TCM's brand. The TCM Classic Cruise, for example, sails October 8. The five-day roundtrip itinerary on Disney Magic departs from Port Canaveral and makes calls at Disney's Lookout Cay and Nassau, Bahamas. Along the way, you will visit with the TCM hosts as well as revisit classic movies. Remaining staterooms start at $2,710 per person for two traveling together. If you prefer to stay on land, the TCM Classic Film Festival is April 25-27 in Los Angeles. You screen old films (you figured that out, right?) and mix and mingle with movie-themed guests. Early-bird prices for the three-day event start at $399 a person. Pricier packages add a fourth day (April 24) with an opening night gala party and Red Carpet Screenings. Lastly, the TCM Classic Films Tour is a customized version of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. The 3.5-hour program includes film clips, visits to locations not on the Warners tours and a specially trained TCM guide. Prices start at $95 for adults.

Cambridge: Summer Learning Because, You Know, Cambridge
There's a certain appeal to going to the seats of British learning and spending a week or two in the summer pretending our brains are still flexible enough to absorb new knowledge. (Kidding, I'm kidding.) Oxford's summer programs are the best-known (see below), but Cambridge offers even more intensive one-, two- or multi-week sessions. Cambridge courses, more than 130 in all, are lighter on pop-culture stuff than Oxford, but much stronger in deep-dive topics such as philosophy, modern art, British law, literature, astronomy, physics, creative writing and Medieval history. You can also double up, taking a morning and an afternoon course during your school week. Tuition fees start at 1,055 pounds a week and about 2,005 pounds for two-week versions. You can stay in lodgings located in Cambridge's historic colleges--fees start at 525 pounds a person--or you can arrange your own lodging elsewhere. Courses are available from July 13 to August 9 and class sizes are limited to a maximum of 25 students. Information and details: the University of Cambridge INSTITUTE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION page.

Oxford University: How to Be a (Summer) Rhodes Scholar!
It is silly to say that I have a "favorite" deal, but nothing gives me more pleasure each year than writing that Oxford University's Summer Schools have opened for registration. If you're not familiar with the so-called Oxford Experience, the iconic English University uses its campus in the summer for dozens of one-week courses spanning the gamut from pop culture to historical dives and from hands-on experiences to high-art reflections. Courses include meals on campus and, if you wish, accommodations. In 2025, more than 80 courses are held from July 6 to August 23, a week later for the start and finish than usual. Sessions also include distinctly non-academic extras: welcome drinks, pub visits, croquet, Morris dancing and a gala dinner to finish the week. Some of this year's classes: "What Is British Cinema in the 21st Century?" which cogitates on the relationship between British identity and film; "Telling Right From Wrong," an ethics survey; a course on Beatles music and one on Verdi's operas; a course on the post-impressionists and several on Shakespeare; plus dozens more. I mean, where else can you learn about a thousand years of British gardens or the search for German identity in modern times? Prices for the week start at around 1,600 pounds and include course work and lunch and dinner in Christ Church's dining hall. Lodging for a week in Christ Church dorms starts at about 600 pounds. Information: the Department of Continuing Education OXFORD EXPERIENCE 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.