Give and get back, especially at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort. If you’re looking for a Bahamas hotel and seeking an extraordinary deal, shed your winter coat and get a free night at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort.

The hotel is kicking off its 2nd Annual Winter Coat Drive in support of the ‘One Warm Coat’ Organization and its ‘Warm Coats Warm Hearts’ Drive, which provides winter coats to people in need.

Book a hotel room at the Sheraton Nassau and donate your winter coat at check-in for a voucher good for one free night on your next visit to the resort (limit of two vouchers per room). The coat drive will run through March 19, 2010, and all coats will then be shipped to One Warm Coat.

You won’t need your winter coat while you’re enjoying the three freshwater pools with flowing waterfalls, a swim-up bar and oversized whirlpools, six restaurants and lounges at this Bahamas hotel. Why not share the warmth with someone in need?

Black Friday is over, cyber-Monday has come and gone, and you spent the two best shopping days of the season gorging on leftover turkey and watching “Elf”. We hope you enjoyed your relaxation time, but since you missed the best sales of the year it’s time to kick it into high-gear.

Listen up, fellas: Nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a night at the Four Seasons. Think “romance” and book a hotel room.

(Don’t worry, we’ll help you…)

Start with breakfast in bed followed by a few spa treatments and dinner by the in-room fireplace. The best part? You don’t have to plan a thing. Grab a Four Seasons gift certificate and let the concierge at one of the world’s best hotels take care of the rest. The gift cards come in any amount from $100 to $5000 and can be purchased online or at any Four Seasons hotel. And, you can feel charitable about your gift: Four Seasons will donate the cost of one bed kit to Sleeping Children Around the World* for every Gift Card sold between December 1-10, 2009.

p.s. Hotel gift cards are available at most major hotels around the world. Contact your favorite hotel group to find out what denominations are available for purchase. Hint: You might even be able to use your gift card for a holiday stay.

Who wants to get cozy in the Blue Ridge Mountains? Good news lovers, the Hotel Indigo opened its doors in downtown Asheville, N.C. (yes, business travelers and families can stay here, too). Located within walking distance from the area shops and art galleries, the newest North Carolina hotel features 100-rooms, and locally-inspired artwork and photography throughout the hotel common areas and in each room.

Hotel Indigo is an upscale boutique brand that draws on the local community. From the locally-inspired murals to seasonal menu items, this Asheville North Carolina hotel might be the one-stop location for all travelers.

Each room at the Hotel Indigo Asheville features oversized beds, plush bedding, hard-surface flooring and spa-inspired showers with Aveda products. Rooms are installed with a 32-inch high-definition flat screen TV and iHome/MP3 alarm clock radio. The hotel also offers menu items and a full service-bar at Phi Bar and Bistro, complimentary parking, complimentary wired and wireless high speed internet access, a 24-hour business center and meeting space for business functions or special events. The hotel also features a pet-friendly policy.

It’s that time of year — time to spread your holiday cheer and extend your giving tree, and Kimpton Hotel is helping to get the charity flowing.

“Cocktails for a Cure” pairs Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants with World AIDS Day, which falls on December 1, 2009. From now until Dec. 9, diners can enjoy any of four Red Ribbon-themed cocktails hand-crafted by Kimpton’s own mixologist Jacques Bezuidenhout, and a portion of the cocktail proceeds will go to the Red Ribbon Campaign.  Book a hotel room at any Kimpton and enjoy some of these themed-cocktails:

o        Grapefruit Spritz: Ketel One Citroen, Campari and grapefruit juice sparked with club soda;
o        Bad Apple: Don Julio Blanco, Lillet, Angostura bitters, apple juice and ginger beer;
o        Orange Blossom Fizz: Belvedere Orange, St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, pineapple juice and sparking wine;
o        Morning Daiquiri: Ten Cane Rum, Grand Marnier shaken with fresh lime juice and orange marmalade

Red Ribbon parties will be hosted at Kimpton hotels in Virginia, Colorado, Texas, Pennsylvania, Utah, California, Washington State, and Washington, DC.

To learn more, visit www.kimptonhotels.com/programs/red-ribbon.aspx

Ah, Thanksgiving… that magical time of year when you cram the kids in the car for the 6-hour car trip to Grandma’s or brave airline security with Baby Bjorns and strollers for the cross-country flight to celebrate the holidays with the inlaws. Maybe the guest bedroom is made up for your stay, or maybe junior is home from college with his new girlfriend so you were booted to the nearest hotel. Hindsight is always 20-20, so before you curse the kid and his sorority gal, and yell at Mom for giving up your room to a stranger, take these tips for making hotels your home for the holidays:

Hotel Deals. It’s impossible not to get a hotel deal right now, but if you’re one of those travelers who waits until the last minute and hasn’t read any of the tips for grabbing deals, allow us to break it down for you:

If you can be flexible with your travel dates prepare yourself for some freebies. For example, stay two nights get the third night free; book a hotel room for three nights and you’ll likely get the fourth night free, etc. In addition, hotels are throwing amenities at guests so don’t turn down the free meal, spa discounts or ‘hotel credits’ that can be used at restaurants or gift shops. You never know when you might need a break from turkey and yams, or when you need a new pair of pants that fit after gorging on Thanksgiving dinner.

When you book a hotel, make sure to check the special offers pages first. Hint: You can book a hotel room online and then call the reservations specialist with your booking reference to barter the price and room upgrades. Don’t wait, though- the closer to Thanksgiving, the higher the room cost.

Hotel Upgrades. While you’re booking your hotel room, why not grab an upgrade? It’s no secret the travel industry has taken a hit this year and hotels are offering some great deals for travelers in an effort to fill rooms. When you check in, ask for an upgrade immediately. If there isn’t one available, request a corner room on any floor. Corner rooms are always a bit larger and have enough room for a rollaway or two, if needed.

Hint: Everyone is sympathetic to family pow-wows. It wouldn’t hurt your chances to tell the check-in agent that you’re using this hotel as a sanctuary and you would be forever grateful if she can help make your stay a little more zen.

Hint #2: Sign up for a hotel’s loyalty program prior to your stay. It is free to sign up and more often than not will get you special treatment (even if you sign up the day before your scheduled stay).

Keeping it Kid-friendly. If you’re traveling with the little ones, keep them engaged in the trip by giving each one a task. Let them help with the packing process, give them each their own ‘space’ in the hotel room by labeling a drawer for each child. To keep things fun, hide little trinkets in the drawer so each time they open it they find something new!

Thanksgiving week is the biggest travel week of the year so preparation is key. Before you get in the car or head to the airport don’t forget:

• Directions if you’re driving; airline tickets/e-tickets if you’re flying
• Check-in online to save yourself money if you’re checking bags
• Double-check that you have all medications and personal items the night before you leave.
• Keep one ‘surprise’ in your bag for the kids — if a meltdown occurs in the middle of bumper-to-bumper traffic, or while you’re waiting in the mile-long line at airport security, a little bribe goes a long way.
• Eat well, give thanks and don’t forget to share a smile with the people on the airplane or at the hotel who are traveling with you to be with their families for Thanksgiving.

From all of us at hotelicopter - have a wonderful feast and a Happy Thanksgiving!

What’s one way to feel good about the environment while traveling to different cities? “Green” hotels are popping up all over the United States - if you’re feeling eco-friendly and want to bring a little bit of green from home on you next trip, book a hotel at one of our top 10 U.S. green hotels.

1. Seattle: Hyatt at Olive8: This city-chic hotel is located in the heart of Seattle and close to all the top tourist attractions, including the famous Space Needle. Each room features light controls, dual-flush toilets and water-reducing showerheads. Can’t quite place the smell after the the cleaning crew has made up your room? That’s because the housekeeping staff uses chemical-free cleaners - which means all natural scents waft through this Seattle hotel.

2. Miami: The Four Seasons Miami Hotel Brickell Key: This five-star hotel is make our list of top green hotels thanks to its efforts to reduce water consumption, and improve indoor air quality through proper air conditioner maintenance and efficient filters. For the environmentally-conscience guests, the Miami hotel also has recycling programs and uses non-toxic cleaners, high-efficiency equipment and low-mercury light bulbs.

3. San Francisco: Orchard Garden Hotel: Sleep well at this San Francisco hotel thanks to ergonomically correct mattresses, feather pillows and 100 percent combed cotton bedding. All of the rooms at the Orchard Garden Hotel are decorated with low emission paint and carpet.

4. Chicago: Allegro Hotel: If there’s one thing we love about Chicago hotels, it’s the plethora of options along the famous Magnificent Mile. The Allegro Hotel - a downtown Chicago hotel - has water recycling programs and uses non-toxic cleaning agents. Need a cup of coffee before you head out shopping for the day? Pick up a cup of organic, fair trade coffee in the lobby.

5. Las Vegas: The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino: Who would have thought the self-conscience kind can find a place in Sin City? If we know anything about Las Vegas hotels, it’s that they cater to just about every type of traveler, even the green kind. The Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino is Las Vegas’s first eco-friendly property and the largest LEED-certified building in the world.

6. New York City: 70 Park Ave: One of two New York properties on our list, the 70 Park Avenue hotel isn’t just a fancy address - it’s one of the city’s most green-friendly New York hotels. The rooms feature eco-friendly products including in-room recycling bins and non-toxic cleaners.

70 Park Avenue Hotel Room

7. Portland, Oregon: Avalon Hotel and Spa: There’s something to be said for the fresh air of the West Coast. The open roads, the acres of untouched land and the majestic landscapes make up a portion of the scenery that surround this Portland hotel. The Avalon Hotel and Spa is a 99-room luxury boutique that also features 8,000 square feet of protected green space, which also serves as a butterfly house.

8. Jackson Hole, Wyoming: Hotel Terra: It’s no secret Jackson Hole is one of the most environmentally-friendly cities in the U.S., but we’re happy the Jackson Hole hotels have catered to the area. The Hotel Terra offers eco-friendly amenities including refillable aluminum bottles for bath products, and 100 percent organic cotton mattresses, bed sheets and towels.

9. Greensboro, North Carolina: Proximity Hotel: Traveling on the Eastern seaboard has its benefits, including some of the most glamorous luxury hotels. But when we saw this North Carolina hotel combines luxury and eco-friendly amenities, we couldn’t resist adding it to our list. Each guestroom at the Proximity Hotel features extra-large windows to let in the natural light, which results in efficient air quality circulation and a cleaner space in all the guestrooms.

10. New York City: New York Westin: The second New York hotel on our list, the Westin New York at Times Square is green-seal certified and was the first New York City hotel to achieve the recognition. “Green” features include paperless guest registration, and 100 percent recycled and biodegradable room keys.

Have a favorite eco-friendly hotel in the U.S.? Let us know about it!

Admit it: You play Pac-Man while waiting for the train and unleash your inner Mario Andretti with Fastlane when you’re bored. It’s OK, we understand. That’s why Apple invented the iPhone - so the adults can be kids again. But when the time comes for you to be the mature one in the car, iPhone has an app for that, too. No, it can’t keep the kids from asking, “Are we there yet?” every 5 miles, but it can help you find a hotel quicker. Enter: the Starwood Hotels new iPhone Application.

If you’re a Starwood Preferred Guest® Member, this app is for you: The new app allows SPG members to access travel information including their Starpoints® balance, details about an upcoming hotel stay, directions to the hotel, and more, all free of charge. Book a Starwood hotel then use your reservation number and SPG log-in on your iPhone or iPod Touch to retreive details about your reservation.

But wait… there’s more social media fun to be had!

Starwood has also launched a new Facebook page called “TripShare” where SPG members can post photos, stories and comments.

“We want to be everywhere our guests are, and our savvy members are spending more and more of their time engaged in sites like Twitter and Facebook and on mobile devices like the iPhone,” said Chris Holdren, Senior Vice President of Web Services and Starwood Preferred Guest. “By launching these new applications, we are able to foster positive relationships with our most valued customers and add meaningful benefits to their travel experiences, both online and offline.”

Are you a Starwood member? Have you used this new app? Let us know your reviews on the new hotel iPhone application.

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).

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.