With regard to booking cruises, vacationstogo does not offer any real savings. You are better off going with cruisecompete and getting offers from 4-6 Internet, cruise-only agencies. We usually save about 10% off the going rate. Also, for Alaska cruises, wait until about 60-45 days before the cruise when the prices usually plummet, just have your air/hotel setup beforehand. Finally, if you are going through the inside passage, a verandah is really nice. It is nice to sit out and watch the bald eagles from your balcony.

Ike

Your cabin will already be assigned when you board the boat most of the time it will be printed on your final documents so slipping a $50 isn't going to help in that instance unfortunately…

i don't think the $50 tip trick will work.
Personally I would have switched your cabin selection for the cruises. You really want your own Balcony for an Alaska Cruise. As this is truly a must see all around you cruise compared to other cruises (especially Caribbean). Deck space fills up and people set up shop with their cameras. You'll find space here and there, but it will be cramped. With the Balcony you can have your own little space… Guarantee rooms are great if you get upgraded, but you could be 2nd floor front of ship or 8th floor middle…you never know…It s a good crap shoot…Give me a hard 8! Good luck and enjoy!

What are you complaining about? You're going golfing which is just as expensive as a spa. Groupons/Living Socials are the best way to go for spa deals in a city. Go thru Delta shopping portal and use spafinder to get 10 points per dollar.

Hi Rick,
I've heard good things about spafinder certs.
But I think you should send them to Istanbul for the weekend.Several hotels have hammams and offer guest free use (which are fab btw) and they offer all spa services as well. (see you got me into this hobby and have no one else to blame for this suggestion lol)

Would it take the sting out of the spa services if they were at least *earning* points for their treatments?

Several of the SPG properties (but not all) allow you to earn points on Spa services. There are a few properties in Scottsdale that sound like they would fit the bill, but I'm sure there are more!

There's also the SpaFinder certificates option, which could make sense.

I have gone on several cruises through vacationstogo.com bookings over the last few years. But now when I see a deal on vacationstogo.com or elsewhere, I post the cruise on cruisecompete.com to see what better deals may be available. On cruisecompete.com TA's basically bid for your business. There are a few agents I "met" through cruisecompete that I will approach directly now, as well. I almost always get a better deal than on vacationstogo.com when it comes down to a better fare, extra on-board credit or comped insurance. Occasionally I find an independent agent through other sources that can give a better deal (as on a Crystal transatlantic I booked for this December), but I would usually be comfortable stopping after weighing my options after a cruisecompete.com inquiry.

The Boulders (Hilton property – Waldorf Collection) in Carefree, AZ. Fly into Phoenix. I just had a spa weekend there with my girlfriends from college. We, literally, could not have had a better time.

The spa is fantastic and, frankly, not outrageously expensive. We spent so many hours there (getting treatments, taking fitness classes, hanging by the pool, eating, or just lounging around in robes and talking) it was ridiculous.

If you're looking for something to do while the girls get treatments, etc., they have world class golf and some nice walks from the property. Plus, you can all head to Scottsdale at night (if you want to); it's a cute, walkable (once you drive there), and has lots of good food!