Las Vegas: Snag a room at the Hard Rock Hotel for $69

I got excited when I saw a Groupon offer in my e-mailbox Monday for a single night stay at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas for $129. Apparently, so did everyone else. The deal sold out Monday about a day before the offer was supposed to close. But if you feel as though you missed out, don't despair. Here's an even lower-priced deal if you love the idea of staying at this hip on-the-Strip spot.

The deal: The Groupon offer for the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas made sense only if you were staying on a weekend when rates can start as high as $299 for a Saturday night. Otherwise, you can score rooms starting at $69 plus tax a night for a midweek stay.

When: There's no deadline to book this rate, but room rates can change quickly and are subject to availability.

Tested: I checked the Hard Rock Hotel's website and found a standard room with a king-sized bed (same room Groupon was offering) for $69 plus tax a night, March 28-31. I also found that rate good for 11 nights in April as well. Total for two nights with tax comes to $154.56. Note that price doesn't include the $16.80 daily resort fee. Neither did the Groupon offer.

Contact: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, (702) 693-5000

It's a 50 State Search for "America's Cupcake Queen" 2011

Marketing Firm Looks to Crown "America's Cupcake Queen" 2011

The rise of the Cupcake baking business is so explosive that even people that aren’t even old enough to drive are opening for business. In the last 3 years, cupcake baking has become a popular trend. So much so that The Food Network launched a reality based competition called “Cupcake Wars”.

The cupcake baking business is springing up in every neighborhood, every jurisdiction – across the United States. You can see their creative websites, Facebook pages, recipe blogs, and even their logos as sponsors for multiple events-almost anywhere.

As part of market research and ongoing social media campaigns, the Marketing Firm that set forth the 2010 Business Challenge and America’s Best Photographer Contest, Whilly Bermudez Media- continues its “America’s Best” series with a nationwide 'Social Media Contest' to crown "America's Cupcake Queen 2011". The process calls upon people from all walks of life to 'nominate' their favorite Cupcake baker/creator. 

The nominated bakers and their respective Logos will then be placed on display in the WB Media Facebook page. Facebook users can then cast votes for their favorite Cupcake Master simply by "Liking" their logo within the respective photo album. The contest begins April 4, 2011 and runs until April 22, 2011-at noon. The Cupcake baker / stylist with the most "Likes" under their logo will win bragging rights of "America's Cupcake Queen 2011" as well as a Free Marketing Services for their business- provided by MediaThrasher.com and other perks.

The entire voting process takes place on the company's Facebook Page Facebook.com/WhillyBermudezDotCom but you can nominate your favorite baker by sending an email along with their logo to: AmericasBest@WhillyBermudez.com  (nominations/registrations will be accepted only until April 1st 2011) 

For questions, please contact WhillyBermudez.com or send an email to the address above.

Testing the waters in Antarctica: Are You Crazy?

A penguin approaches a leopard seal in Antarctica. (mantin)

Testing the waters in Antarctica: Are You Crazy?

In this photo shot by Times reader "mantin," a penguin investigates a leopard seal as his friends stand by to watch this potentially fatal encounter. Unfortunately for this brave little guy, leopard seals are one of Antarctica's top predators and are known to eat penguins.  

Cruises:
The cost of sea cruises varies, but if you're getting much change from US$5000 for a 14-day circuit, it's not a bad deal; a few companies now offer cruises for under US$4000, but these are few and far between. Most ships have a range of accommodation options - if you don't mind bunking in with a few other penguin-spotters (and sharing the bathroom) you can reduce your bill significantly. At the other end of the scale, if you require a corner suite with a marble bathroom, private butler service and your own satellite telephone, you can start adding the zeroes.

Average Cruise Costs:

Basic wildlife viewing & landings - (9-12 days)	$3,500 - $10,000
Mountains, Icebergs & Glaciers - (11-16 days)	$9,000 - $16,000
Falklands & So. Georgia - (15-21 days)	$10,000 - $23,000
The Great Explorers Trip - (25-29 days)	$12,000 - $35,000

Flights to Antarctica:
Currently, the only tour operator servicing commercial overflights to Antarctica is based in Australia, which is where the flights originate from.  Economy flights to Australia average $3500 for coach to $6000 and up for first class.

Antarctica overflights generally include meals and complementary bar service, videos and tour guides. New Year's Eve flights are offered and are quite popular.

Average Flight Costs:
Most flights last roughly 12 hours
First Class - $5,000
Business Class $3,400 - $4,200
Economy - $ 2,000
Additional surcharges and fees not included.
The average flight duration is 12 hours (depending on departure point). About four hours are spent flying to Antarctica, four hours over Antarctica and the remaining four hours traveling home.

Expeditions:Expeditions vary depending on what is offered, what you want to do and what you're willing to pay.
Climb Vinson Massif (16 days) - Prices from: $26,000
Fly to the South Pole (10 days) - Prices from $25,000
Patriot Hills Fly & Stay (10 days) - Prices from $14,000
Dronning Maud Land Fly & Stay (9 days) From $22,000
Skiing Across the Continent Flights and Support - $ Varies

Take your sweet time exploring Maple Madness

There are few smells as sweet as the aromas from a rustic, wood-planked sugarhouse, with the one possible exception being the maple-walnut-stuffed French toast served on Sundays at the Cabernet Inn in the heart of New Hampshire’s ski country.

Maple-syrup lovers can get ample doses of both Saturday and Sunday, March 26 and 27, when this romantic bed and breakfast in North Conway, N.H., and six other neighboring inns in the picturesque Mount Washington Valley host their annual March Maple Madness.

“You can tap into your sense of whimsy and travel from inn to inn tasting savory or sweet maple treats,” said Cabernet Inn proprietor Jessica Zarenko, who plans to serve baked sweet-potato chips with three maple dipping sauces to complement the sugary dishes of maple ginger pecan ice cream and maple apple crisps served at other inns.


The two-day event also includes a “sapenger hunt,” in which guests have to answer questions from innkeepers in order to get clues and scavenge for items along the way. Some items are syrup-related, such as finding an old spile, the spigot used to tap maple trees, while others are more random, like an annual report from a New Hampshire town meeting. Extra points are given if the report is signed by a town clerk or an elected official, and even more points are awarded if the report is from the state’s smallest hamlet.

Those who score the most points can win $400 worth of goodies. Guests also stop at sugarhouses during the inn-to-inn tour to watch “maple sugaring” and sample products.

“If the sap’s running, they’ll be boiling sap into syrup. That’s an amazing process to watch. If you’ve never seen it, it’s magical to watch this clear liquid being boiled into pure maple syrup. And the smell is unbelievable,” said Zarenko, a former Marriott food services manager from Millbury, Mass., who moved to North Conway in 2003 when she and her husband, Bruce, a software engineer, bought the Cabernet Inn.

Tickets for the March Maple Madness weekend are $15 per person and include a maple recipe booklet. Guests staying at any of the seven participating inns (go to BBInnsMWV.com or call 800-866-6131 for more details) pay $10.
The Cabernet Inn is offering a maple madness deal: $329 per couple for a two-night stay, dinner at the Notchland Inn, two breakfasts, tickets to the tour and sugar maple candy treats.

Skiers heading to Vermont on March 19 and 20 can also get a taste of freshly made, 100 percent natural maple syrup during Vermont Maple Open House Weekend, when 140 of the state’s 2,000 sugarhouses open their doors to the public. The sugarhouses, which range from shacks with small wood-fired evaporators to modern facilities with shiny equipment, will offer a range of maple syrup products, including maple-frosted doughnuts, maple salad dressings, maple-coated nuts, maple cotton candy, maple soft-serve ice cream, maple lollipops and maple jelly. For details, go to vermontmaple.org.

Top 10 St Patrick's Day parades

An Irish Mardi Gras of sorts, St. Patrick's Day parades are filled with music, food, tradition and revelry, and take over the streets of these world-class cities. From green rivers to flying potatoes, online travel adviser's Cheapflights.com (www.cheapflights.com) has drilled down to the best of the best of the St. Patrick's Day parades across the globe. Reuters does not endorse this list: 1. Chicago

The Irish Miracle started in 1962, when the city of Chicago dumped orange dye into the river and it turned the entire thing green. Saturday, March 12th, they'll do it again. The best places to see the spectacle are the East side of the Michigan Avenue Bridge, the West side of the Columbus Drive Bridge or upper and lower Wacker Drive between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive. After that, the parade kicks off on Balbo Ave and Columbus Drive in Grant Park at noon. 2. London

Which will draw more celebration -- St. Patrick's Day or Kate and Will's Royal Wedding? We're betting on the latter, but more than 100,000 people are expected to celebrate on Sunday, March 13 to watch colourful floats, marching bands, and Irish groups to raise a glass to Ireland. Specific groups will represent Irish counties, there will be performances of traditional and contemporary dance, and the parade will process through central London from Green Park to Trafalgar Square at noon. 3. Sydney

While most of these locales require patrons to button up and brave the cold, Sydney will celebrate its Irish heritage in sizzling sunshine. On Sunday, March 20, parade goers will don green sunglasses and green t-shirts. Fun-filled and exciting, the parade will represent all 32 counties, and have plenty of floats, costumes, music and Irish traditions. Keep an eye out for the green fountains all over the city. 4. Boston

The first St. Patrick's Day celebration in the U.S. was in Boston in 1737, and the first parade came along in 1901. Now, more than 600,000 parade goers rally each year to watch marching bands, pipe bands, and green-wearing partiers celebrate through South Boston. This year, it will be held on March 20, and begin on Broadway, through West and East Broadway, and then onto Thomas Park, Telegraph Street, and end in Andrew Square. Even if you can't catch the parade, the city's many Irish pubs go nuts for the festivities. 5. New Orleans

Sunday, March 13 marks one of the biggest street parties in New Orleans -- a St. Patrick's Day parade that trades beads for potatoes and cabbages. Bring a picnic basket and enjoy the costumes, flowers, floats, and moon pies, or simply meander from club to club enjoying the festive atmosphere. Be prepared for floats passing by to throw cabbages, carrots, onions and potatoes. It all starts on Metairie Road at 11 am. True to form in New Orleans, the city proper has plenty of celebrations downtown as well. 6. Dublin

Of course, anywhere in Ireland takes the cake, but Dublin and Galway both uniquely celebrate. The bigger of the two, the Dublin parade is largely entertaining, and part of a week-long festival, which includes the grand parade on St. Patrick's Day itself. Theater troupes, artists, puppets, dancers, and marching bands from all over the world will accompany the celebrations, and on the other days (March 16-20) expect more fun like boat races, comedy shows and films. 7. New York

Even though it's an entire ocean away from Ireland, it's no surprise that New York City has the largest St. Patrick's Day in the world. Led by the U.S. 69th infantry, this rolling fête usually boasts around 150,000 marchers, and draws more than 2 million spectators per year. On March 17, it will kick off at 11 am on 44th Street, up Fifth Avenue, past St. Patrick's Cathedral, the American Irish Historical Society, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 83rd Street to 86th Street, where the parade finishes at around 5pm. 8. Savannah

A little southern hospitality goes a long way with the Irish, apparently. Savannah serves up green grits, green fountains and a whole lot of fun. More than 400,000 Irish-loving parade watchers will gather to experience the show on March 17th, and side events that are perfect for partiers and families alike.

Another Irish gem, Galway has the smaller, quainter celebration of all things green. The charming town by the sea is known as one of the most picturesque places in the country, and people all over will celebrate dressed completely in green and waving the Irish flag, waiting for the parade to start on March 17. Drinking, dancing and pub-going are even more important than the parade itself. 10. Montreal

It's the longest running St. Patrick's Day parade in Canada, and this year it will be held on Sunday, March 20. Tens of thousands of spectators forfeit their poutine for Irish fare, and although it's a little more toned down that other places, it still packs a punch. It all starts at 12 noon at Fort and Ste-Catherine Streets. 

Las Vegas Hilton's package with drinks, breakfast and more starts at $49.95

Las Vegas Hilton's package with drinks, breakfast and more starts at $49.95 a night

The Las Vegas Hilton has a sweet special good through the end of the year: Rooms start at $49.95 for a midweek stay and come with such extras as drinks, breakfast and a discount on gift shop purchases.

The deal: The Escape to Vegas package includes a room, two free cocktails at the hotel's Tempo Lounge, two free breakfast buffets, two free passes to the fitness center and a 15% discount in the hotel's gift shop. It's good for midweek stays; a two-night minimum is required. Use the code "PETV09" when making a reservation by phone.

When: The offer is good through Dec. 30; some blackout dates apply.

Tested: In checking this deal online, it took a while for me to find dates at the rock-bottom price. After trying several dates, I found a room with king-sized bed from April 19-21 at that rate. Total with tax for two nights: $102.95. Pretty sweet deal considering that the same room on other dates can cost more than that each night.

Contact: Las Vegas Hilton, (888) 732-7117

Is Mexico safe for spring break?

Is Mexico safe for spring break?

That's the 64,000 peso question these days, as debate rages.

On the one hand, the Texas Department of Public Safety has issued a warning discouraging students from going to Mexico for spring break because of safety issues.

On the other, Mexican officials say that tourism there increased last year, despite drug-cartel violence and the world's economic woes.

Big travel packager Funjet Vacations just announced that "despite a continued stream of negative media coverage, over 253,000 travelers visited Mexico from Texas in December and 210,000 in January compared to 224,000 and 196,000 in the previous year, respectively.

"The number of people flying out of Texas cities into Mexico is up 12% from last year, and December saw the most travelers for that month in a decade," said Mike Going, president of Funjet Vacations. "Year after year Mexico remains a top travel destination for both Funjet Vacations and the Texas market and we are optimistic about the forecast for 2011."

Funjet has some spring break deals in Mexico for under $600 for three nights, including all meals, booze and airfare.

Meanwhile, the Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau is fighting back by saying that comparing the Caribbean's No. 1 resort destination to other parts of the country as far as safety goes is wrong. It says Cancun welcomed about 5.9 million international visitors, an increase of more than 400,000 over 2009. It also says it has camera surveillance in tourist areas, increased security, more lifeguards and a special call center for tourists.

The U.S. State Department does have a travel warning in place for Mexico, mainly emphasizing danger in border towns and cities such as Monterrey. The warning says, in part: "Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime reported in the border region and in areas along major drug trafficking routes. Nevertheless, crime and violence are serious problems. While most victims of violence are Mexican citizens associated with criminal activity, the security situation poses serious risks for U.S. citizens as well."

I have just landed in Cancun and noted more security and tourist ambassadors. So far, I have yet to hear of serious incidents involving spring-break vacationers this year. Have any readers experienced safe trips or disturbing incidents in Mexico? Please share. I will be writing more about this, and also would like to know your feelings about travel to Mexico.