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A Midwinter Night's Dream
US News & World Report · November 15, 2002

Rolling dunes and towering cliffs with nary a soul in sight. Waves crashing on the shore. A posh room for two in a historic hotel, a spicy omelet of smoked turkey, chipotle, and cheddar cheese for breakfast, and complimentary Christmas candies–for only $149 a night. That's what Peter Flynn, a Saugus, Mass., attorney, will enjoy on his winter getaway.

So what's the catch? Let's just say he won't be sitting in a rocking chair on the Harbor View Hotel veranda, drinking in the water view. Not with an average December temperature of 44 degrees on Martha's Vineyard.

Hot deals. This year, cash-strapped vacationers are likely to follow in Flynn's frigid footsteps. Instead of traditional winter destinations like ski resorts and Caribbean islands, they're considering close-to-home resorts that cater to the summer crowd–and slash prices for winter visitors. (Summer rates at the Harbor View are at least double what Flynn is paying.) "Travelers are looking for value in their own backyard," says Robert Mandelbaum, a hotel analyst with PKF Consulting. Blame war worries and tighter budgets, he says. "No one wants to go far for the holidays."

True, a chilly beach is an acquired taste. But if you bundle up, a seaside stroll "can be very romantic," says Emma Taylor, a Manhattan advice columnist who plans to drive three hours south to Cape May, N.J., for Christmas. She also appreciates the town's winter activities, which include a film festival and concerts. Best of all, she loves the solitude.

A cheap price isn't the only advantage for those who brave the cold. Since summer places have fewer guests in winter, the pampering index soars. Herb and Donna Holland are regular visitors at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, and when they come for Christmas, they're treated like–well, family. Last year, before the hotel's spa opened, the owners even gave guests a sneak preview. The Hollands soaked in the whirlpool, then were soothed by a massage. And how's this for preferential treatment? Through January, the hotel lowers its $120 greens fee to the temperature when you check in at the course. Stop by early, when the reading might be in the 30s, but schedule a round for afternoon, when the temperature will probably have risen to the 50s or higher.

How do you find these deals? Look anywhere people go when it's warm, from Charleston, S.C., all the way up to Kennebunkport, Maine. Destinations promote off-season specials in advertisements and on the Web. And with the hospitality industry mired in its worst recession in decades, these places are falling all over themselves to have you over for the holidays. Take Virginia Beach, Va. Summer is so busy that tourism officials often don't have time to answer their phones. But starting next month, the destination will offer a golf getaway with two nights' lodging and two rounds of golf on any of seven courses for just $99 per person.

Folks who live near Canada get a double bargain–the weak Canadian dollar coupled with winter markdowns. Merrilyn Shape and her husband, Robert, of Sequim, Wash., are drawn north of the border to the Fairmont Empress hotel, a turn-of-the-century luxury property on the banks of Victoria's Inner Harbor. Staying over Christmas Eve? Expect a hand-knit stocking on your door, stuffed with fruit, candy, and nuts. And check out these prices: Rooms start at $119 (U.S. currency) this time of year, a savings of almost $80 over the summer. "Even the shops cut their prices," says Shape.

Winter is also a good time for procrastinators. Sure, Christmas and New Year's can draw a crowd–even at summer resorts–but a flexible traveler can score a deal. Larry Spelts, manager of Charleston's chic Planters Inn, routinely welcomes cold-weather guests who had a hankering for shrimp and grits and decided to make a weekend of it–$175 buys a room in a hotel (with afternoon hot wassail and cookies) that would go for $275 or more at peak season. Low-country cuisine is heartwarming, he says, "but it's the low prices that really leave you warm and fuzzy."

COLD COMFORT
Hotels have a white sale

The weather outside may be frightful, but the price (and the pampering) are delightful.

Victoria, British Columbia
The Fairmont Empress, a downtown luxury hotel, charges a mere $119 a night (U.S. currency) for a room and breakfast. (800) 441-1414 or www.fairmont.com

Santa Barbara, Calif.
El Capitan Canyon's deal: $247 a night, based on two nights, for a plush cedar cabin in the woods, continental breakfast, guided hike, horseback ride, and bike rentals. Even though it's low season, average highs are a balmy 66 degrees. (866) 352-2729 or www.elcapitancanyon.com

San Antonio
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa isn't called "the West Pole" for nothing. Western-themed wreaths and ornaments abound. The price: $109 a night. (210) 647-1234 or www.hillcountry.hyatt.com

Kennebunkport, Maine
The White Barn Inn charges $166 a night (two-night weekday stay, excluding major holidays) for a room plus one dinner at the hotel's gourmet restaurant, Maine's only five-diamond eatery. Guests sip hot apple cider with orange rind to stave off the New England cold. (207) 967-2321 or www.whitebarninn.com

Charleston, S.C.
Planters Inn, a regular on lists of top hotels,adds a slew of free amenities to its four-night Christmas package, which runs $275 a night. Ah, and what amenities: daily breakfast, Christmas dinner, a carriage tour of the historic district, a gingerbread-house-making session, keepsake ornaments spelling out your initials, milk and cookies in your room on Christmas Eve. (843) 722-2345 or www.plantersinn.com

Cape May, N.J.
Congress Hall is newly renovated and a holiday bargain: The oceanfront hotel has a $132 weeknight rate that includes meals and a holiday cocktail. (888) 944-1816 or www.congresshall.com

Edgartown, Mass.
The Harbor View Hotel charges $149 a night for the bed-and-breakfast package. The meal is served in the hotel's acclaimed Coach House restaurant. (800) 225-6005 or www.harbor-view.com

Christopher Elliott is a travel commentator based in Annapolis, Md. All e-mailed questions may be edited, condensed or republished at the site's discretion.