Little girls wanted to be them, boys wanted to date them. Now, travelers can get them at a discount… we’re talking about the Radio City Rockettes, of course.

Good news for travelers heading to Atlanta this holiday season: If you’re wishing for a little Christmas cheer, courtesy the high-kicking Rockettes, the Atlanta Marriotts have a deal for you.

Stay a night at one of the Atlanta hotels owned by Marriott and you can grab tickets to the Christmas Spectacular at a fraction of the cost. Stay at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, the Atlanta Marriott Suites Midtown and the Renaissance Atlanta Hotel Downtown, and book the the Rockettes® Radio City Christmas Spectacular Package which includes:

• Accommodations for one night
• Complimentary hotel parking (including valet at the Marquis)
• 20 percent discount off food and non alcoholic beverages in the hotel restaurant/lounge
• $10 off Christmas Spectacular tickets for select shows (the $45.50 and $65.50 seats)

The Renaissance is the closest hotel to the Fox Theater, where the show is being held. Prices for the package at the Atlanta Renaissance range from $119-$129 a night. Book the Atlanta hotel package at The Marriott Suites for $139 to $189 a night, or stay at the The Atlanta Marriott Marquis for $159 to $199 a night.

Of course, there are a few rules to follow:

• The package runs from November 19 to December 6, 2009
• The show tickets must be booked separately via Ticketmaster using code MARROX
•
• The 20 percent restaurant/lounge discount is valid when the show ticket is presented to the server
• Package rates are per room, per night, and blackout dates may apply

There’s more t0 Miami than South Beach and Collins Avenue. Miami hotels are as diverse and unique as the people who inhabit the city, so finding a Miami hotel that suits your needs is as important as the first cocktail you order at the beach.

The hotel, like the pretty pink umbrella placed in your drink, will be the first impression you’ll remember on your Miami vacation.

On a recent trip to Miami, we checked out the Mandarin Oriental Miami - a 5-star hotel located in Brickell Key, near downtown Miami and only a short cab ride from South Beach. Here’s our review:

Location: If you’re looking for a Miami hotel away from the chaos of the city center, but close enough to see it all shake down from your hotel room balcony, the Mandarin Miami is the place to stay. Each of the rooms feature balconies or terraces that overlook either Miami Bay or the Miami city skyline. Brickell Key is a 1.3-mile island accessible via bridge from downtown Miami and only a few blocks away from the the restaurants, shopping and conveniences of downtown Miami.

Rooms: The rooms in this Miami hotel are decorated Miami-style with Asian-influences. The white flowing drapes, white bed linens, white sofas and chairs, and white towels and robes - symbolic of luxurious Miami Beach - are flanked by dark wood furniture and bamboo bath amenities. The rooms, which range from standard size to suites, are roomy and open, allowing two people to co-habitate comfortably without stepping over each other’s luggage and dirty laundry. Our favorite part: The LCD TV that swivels so you can watch TV from any area — in the bed, on the sofa, in the bath…

Customer service: Luxury hotels pride themselves on personal attention to their guests and the Mandarin’s customer service is no exception. Immediately upon walking into the hotel, we were greeted by employees, offered iced tea and asked what paper we wanted in the morning (New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal or a local Miami paper).

Amenities: You don’t have to leave your room at the Mandarin Miami if you don’t want to - everything you need to survive is located within arms reach. The refrigerator is stocked with food including chips, power bars and candy, and a variety of soft drinks and bottled water. The TVs come complete with Spanish and English channels, including HBO and pay-per-view movies, so you won’t feel bad about staying in bed a little longer. The bath robes and slippers are a perfect addition to the home-away-from-home atmosphere and each room has an in-room hairdryer, iron and ironing board.

Should you choose to leave the room, the Mandarin Miami has plenty to offer. The spa has been rated one of the best in the nation and we can attest to this rating - take advantage of the steam room, sauna and showers that can easily host a disco party with your 10 closest friends. If you’re seeking some sun time, head to the pool or Mandarin’s man-made private beach, both overlooking the bay.

Downside: If you plan to work while you’re here you’ll pay for your Internet access. Prepare to pay $15 for 24-hours. On the flip side, the WiFi was fast and reliable.

Lifestyle: The Mandarin Oriental Miami is a luxury hotel meant for the luxury traveler. There weren’t a lot of kids running through the lobby, and we wouldn’t expect there to be - this hotel is romantic, sensual and intoxicating; few emotions we don’t expect the underage to understand.

Overall rating: If you’re looking for an island getaway that is still close to the city lifestyle, the Mandarin Miami on Brickell Key is a great choice. Hint: Ask for a corner room and you’ll get a bigger balcony and better view.

Thousands of New York hotel rooms are up for grabs at any given night, but finding one that fits all your needs can be overwhelming. Luxury, budget, family-friendly, pet-friendly, room-service, WiFi, location, location, location. The options are endless, but on a recent trip to New York, we checked into the Roosevelt Hotel New York, a 4-star 20-story hotel that spans an entire New York City block in midtown Manhattan.

Location: You can’t beat the location of the Roosevelt New York. Located at 45th and Madison Avenues, the hotel is only blocks away from Times Square, Fifth Avenue shopping and Grand Central Station. The midtown location is perfect for families, singles and corporate/business events.

Double room at the Roosevelt

Rooms: The Roosevelt New York looks pretty good for 80-years-old. The room decor is a flashback to the 1920s with gold, blue and brown colors. The walls are bare and simplistic but the room is big and spacious.  There are no fancy frills to these rooms, which make it perfect for families (read: the kids can’t break anything, bump anything or destroy anything).  Depending on the floor and which side of the hotel you’re facing, your views will either be the city, the street or the building next door. However, this is standard of New York City hotel rooms.

Customer service: Everyone we met, with the exception of the front desk check-out attendant, couldn’t be nicer. The Roosevelt New York is a massive hotel in the middle of a massive city, so the massive amounts of people that come through this hotel on a daily basis can be overwhelming. However, the staff manages everyone with ease and courtesy. There is a concierge on duty 24-hours and room service is always available - in both cases, the staff was polite, prompt and courteous.  The only problem we ran into was when we checked-out: either the check-out attendant at the front desk hadn’t had her morning coffee, or asking for a print out of our bill was really a wrinkle in her day. Regardless, we got the bill printed and didn’t let her frown ruin our New York hotel stay.

Room service

Amenities: The Roosevelt New York offers room service, restaurants, bars, and shopping all within the hotel. Mad46 is the hotel’s seasonal bar and worth a visit if you’re here when it’s open. Easily the best mojitos in the city, and probably one of the best views from the rooftop, Mad46 is see-and-be-seen hotspot. We opted for room service one morning and were delighted with the results: a full fruit bowl, English muffin, pot of coffee and orange juice was delivered within 30 minutes for a total of $15. We probably could have spent a little less had we ventured out of the hotel, but breakfast in bed was worth the $15.

For business travelers, the Roosevelt New York has an entire floor dedicated to conference rooms and web access. Internet access costs per day, and the service was spotty. If you’re here to work, you might be better off at the cafe across the street.

Lifestyle: We give this hotel two-thumbs up for families. If you’re in New York with the kids, the Roosevelt New York is a great place to stay. The location is perfect, the rooms are perfect, and on a rainy day you can waste hours with the kids exploring the hotel. Business travelers will enjoy the location of the hotel, as well, but we wouldn’t recommend this hotel for those on a romantic visit to New York.

Overall rating: This is a no-frills 4-star New York hotel with good rates, and some really cool history. The Roosevelt is perfect for those New York travelers who like a nicer hotel, but don’t plan to spend the entire time in the room.  It’s clean, it’s comfortable, it’s convenient and it’s got everything you need in one city block.

Check-out is noon, but your flight isn’t until 3pm. Why waste additional time at the airport fidgeting with kiosks and check-in desks when you can spend time sightseeing? Now, travelers can take advantage of hotel check-out and flight check-in one place. According to USA Today, more hotels are adding airline check-in kiosks in the lobby to help travelers ease the stress of airport chaos.

“Off-site” check-in kiosks are appearing farther away from the airport, including rental car locations and hotel lobbies. Hotel lobbies are an ideal choice for travelers using online check-in for flights. Las Vegas hotels including the Luxor Las Vegas and The Venetian have adopted the new kiosks, which print boarding passes for several airlines. Hotels near the airport, including the Hilton Chicago O’Hare hotel and the Hyatt Regency in Dallas, offer airline check-in kiosks in the lobby.

As the world goes virtual, more hotels are making it easier for travelers to do just about everything online: book a hotel room, check-out of your hotel and check in for your flight all from one convenient location. It’s a great way to add a little more time to your vacation (we suggest taking back your time at the hotel pool).

Good real estate is all about the location and thanks to new interactive maps launched by hotelicopter.com, you can be sure your hotel is exactly where you want it to be.

Looking for a hotel near the city center? Need a hotel on the beach? No problem. You can be sure that when you book a hotel you’re getting a room in the exact location you’re seeking.

hotelicopter’s hotel search maps allow travelers to pinpoint hotels in specific locations. To find hotels near a certain address, simply type in the address and the new interactive hotel map will bring up hotels close to your search criteria. Want a Boston hotel in Back Bay so you’re close to shopping on Newbury Street? Need a Chicago hotel in Wrigleyville to ensure you’re only steps from the game at Wrigley Park?  Neighborhoods appear directly on the map, making it easier to find exactly what you’re looking for.

“This is another big step toward empowering travelers to find the perfect hotel deal,” said Adam Healey, hotelicopter`s Co-founder and CEO. “If you are like me and book hotels based on location, this map will be an invaluable tool
for you,” Healey continued. “I believe hotelicopter now has the best mapping functionality of any hotel booking site, and we`re just getting started.”

The interactive map allows you to see the hotel name, star and user rating, and average rates. Take control over your hotel search with the new interactive hotel map, and be confident you’re staying exactly where you want to be.

Think You-Tube is just for crazy wedding videos and stupid human tricks? Think again. Hotels - like the Las Vegas hotel Hotel32 - have started offering ‘virtual services’ via iPod’s and in-room technology. But one San Juan hotel has taken it one step further: the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino recently introduced a ‘You Tube Concierge’.

The San Juan resort convinced an employee to go viral and get hotel guests to share their vacation experiences with the world. The “concierge” spends time meeting guests thorughout the resort and asks them to record a quick 30-second video to send to friends and family as a virtual post-card from the beach. Before your mind goes to amateur videos with handheld cameras (ahem…) let’s be clear: this video clip is professionally licensed and uploaded to the San Juan Marriott Live’ YouTube Channel, for guests to share with the world.

The resort director of marketing said, “Most of us has posted a picture to Facebook with a camera phone or recorded a quick video on their digital camera while on vacation to show family and friends,” said Julian Cable-Treadwell, director of marketing for the San Juan Marriott. “We wanted to find a way to help guests chronicle the great time they are having without having to worry about bringing a camera to the pool or the beach and make it simple for them to share this experience through the popularity of an on-line web channel.”

It’s an interesting concept… but we suggest you keep the camera away from Mom after she’s had too many pina coladas. Trust us: no one wants to see Mom re-create her favorite scenes from “The Graduate.”

The boutique hotel group famous for its animal ways is going green: Kimpton Hotels and The Nature Conservancy are partnering to plant one billion trees.

The Plant a Billion Trees campaign is officially underway and Kimpton Hotels has signed on to help keep the earth a little greener. The hotel’s goal upon completion: remove 10 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, reducing the impact of climate change on biodiversity and human communities. The focus of this conservancy’s efforts are on 30 million acres of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, and guess what, givers, you can help!

No, they aren’t going to send you to Brazil, but you can slip on one of Kimpton’s animal print pj’s and pretend your king of the forest when you book the “Giving Tree” promotion at participating Kimpton hotels.

Use the rate code “TNC” when you book a hotel and receive 10 percent off the best available rate at the Kimpton Hotel of your choice. As a thank you, Kimpton will $10 to The Nature Conservancy, which will provide for the planting of 10 trees in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest.

“The mission of this campaign is both ambitious and achievable.  Every dollar that we’re able to donate to The Nature Conservancy brings us one step closer to a sustainable planet, which has been a guiding principle of our brand since Kimpton was founded in 1981,” said Niki Leondakis, chief operating officer, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, in a press statement.  “The Nature Conservancy has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to preserving the Earth’s precious natural habitats and we are proud to be a part of this important quest.”

This isn’t Kimpton’s first run-around with community efforts. Kimpton - with New York hotels, Boston hotels, Washington DC hotels, San Francisco hotels, Los Angeles hotels and more - donates to charities throughout the year including The Trust for Public Land and Dress for Success and its own Red Ribbon campaign, which benefits HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness organizations in cities where Kimpton hotels operate.

It’s hot, it’s sexy, it’s shaped like a sailboat, it’s the new W Hotel Barcelona, and it’s taking Western Europe by storm. Ok, we exaggerate, but the opening of this new Barcelona hotel with direct access to the beach gets us a little excited for our next trip to Spain.

After years of planning, the W Barcelona is finally accepting reservations for its Barcelona Nova Bocana location. The new W hotel stands 26 stories and has 473 rooms, all with either a sea or city view. From what we can tell this Barcelona hotel offers the same sex-appeal as its sister W hotels around the world. WET, the hotel’s infinity-edged pool and bar, comes complete with lounge decks and cabanas (how do you say, “cabana boy” in Spanish?); there’s a rooftop bar and on-site spa, courtesy of Bliss; and of course, there’s the signature W BAR. Cozy up to your cabana boy…err, um, take a load off with a cocktail in the W Living Room, complete with access to the W BAR and the WAVE restaurant. If all that drinking and dining did you in, don’t worry — you can work off last night’s calories at SWEAT, the hotel’s fitness facility.

Barcelona is one of the top tourist destinations in Europe, thanks to its history, culture and nightlife. Brush up on your Spanish, live la vida loca, and book a Barcelona hotel - we did a quick check of prices on the W Barcelona site and found rates starting around €249 (~$360). Que bueno!

Who said New York hotels have to cost a fortune? With dozens of hotels in one New York block, the options are endless. But there’s even better news: According to the latest hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI), New York City hotel rates dropped 30% in the first half of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.

“Hotel rates are at a historic low right now and it’s the perfect time to take advantage of the great deals on New York City hotels and around thenortheast. The gap between star categories has narrowed, allowing travelers to enjoy more luxury for virtually the same rate as lower categories,” said Steve Dumaine, senior director of merchandising for Hotels.com. “And extra offers like free internet and dining discounts are becoming more prevalent, offering travelers even more value.”

The hotel price index also showed Las Vegas hotels prices dropped dramatically during a one-year period.

Thanks to a down economy, hotels around the country have dropped their rates but the notoriously high-priced New York hotels have clearly taken a hit. However, despite this drop in rates, New York still ranks at the city with the most expensive hotel prices in the US. But before you balk at the prices, consider the amenities you get with your hotel rooms: find a New York hotel that also offers discounts including spa credits, dining credits or free Internet access throughout the hotel.

If you’re planning a trip to New York, or visiting the Big Apple has always been a consideration, now is the time to book New York hotels. Check out the New York hotel options with hotelicopter for some of the best rates, including photos and amenities, so you know you’re getting the best value for your dollar.

If you’re one of those charitable types - and why shouldn’t you be - this hotel deal is for you: Denver hotel company Sage Hotels is offering a “Give a Day, Get a Night” deal for guests who volunteer at least 8 hours to a registered non-profit organization.

The Sage Hotel portfolio includes select Marriott, Starwood and Hilton hotels nationwide. If you’ve volunteered a day of charity work at a non-profit agency, book a hotel with the Sage Hotels and receive 50 percent off your first night’s stay or a free night (depending on availability) at any of the 53 hotels. Travel is valid March 2010 and include full-service Marriotts and spa-centric Starwoods. Choose from Chicago hotels like the Blackstone or relax on the west coast at a Portland hotel, like The Nines.

Only a limited number of free hotel rooms are available and you have to stay at least two days to get a free night. Of course, there’s the paperwork requirements: to qualify for a free hotel night or 50% off your hotel room, you’ll need proof of volunteer work on official letterhead from the charity.

We think a little paperwork is worth it - for 8 hours of your time, enjoy a night at one of the nation’s best hotels. You give, you get, and what’s more, your giving goes to help someone who rarely gets the benefit of a cozy hotel bed or room service. Our suggestion: get the entire family involved! With the holidays coming up, there are plenty of soup kitchens and shelters that need your help. Tempt the kids with a weekend getaway and do something the entire family can feel good about - helping others.

A full list of participating hotels can be found here: www.giveadaygetanight.com