‘Sex & the City 2′ Suites at Chicago Four Seasons

Bring on the new “Glamour Girl” cosmos—“Sex and the City 2” is model-stomping into theaters and the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago has its “Suites and the Second City Package” ready—for girlfriends or couples.

Rates start at $625 per night for an executive suite, and include:

• A $50 gift card to the 900 shops, one per room per night;

• free makeovers at Bloomingdale, one per each guest per stay;

• $100 daily spa credit, one per room, per night; and

• an in-room visit by the Martini Man, who brings his traveling Martini Cart to the guest room.

Reserve for Margaritaville Hotel in Pensacola, Fla.

Jimmy Buffett sells out concerts in minutes in Cincinnati, and the Queen City is famous as the place where Jimmy and his band first dubbed his rabid fans “Parrotheads”—it had something to do with the shark fins, hulas skirts and coconut bras we were wearing in the audience.

So, Cincinnatians will be especially interested in the world’s first Margaritaville Beach Hotel, opening this summer at Pensacola Beach, Fla. It can’t hurt to get on the waiting list for reservations.

“Having grown up in Mobile, Pensacola Beach was the first Florida I ever saw, long before I headed to Key West,” Buffett said in a statement. “It is great to be coming home and making a commitment to Pensacola and the Gulf Coast, especially at this time… Fins Up Pensacola, here we come.”

Magic and Palm Reading at French Lick Resort

French Lick Resort in French Lick, Ind., will be going in for a bit of Mind-Bending Magic this spring. At 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. March 27 and April 17, you can catch magic acts at the resort for $25 per ticket.

Like to have your palm or tarot cards read? Madame Sheri is available before or after each performance for an additional fee. Hotel room packages start at $189 through April 30.

Affinia Hotel Shopping Package from $149

Ready to hit the stores again for Valentine’s Day? Affinia Hotels in New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C. have a “Shopper’s Survival” package now through March 31. The deal includes:

• $50 Bloomingdale’s Gift Card

• Bloomingdale’s signature tote bag with 15% savings pass

• Jacques Torres healthy “AM Quickie” Chocolate Bar for energy and a bottle of water

• Makeover at Lancome in Bloomingdale’s and

• 25% discount at SPAffinia.

Affinia Chicago starts at $199 per night and Affinia Manhattan in New York at $219 per night. At Washington, DC’s Liaison Capitol Hill, An Affinia Hotel, rates are from $149 per night, without the Bloomingdale’s savings pass or Lancome makeover. Be sure to mention the promotional code STYLE when you book.

Inn at Cedar Falls Package from $199

The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls in Logan, Ohio, a member of Select Registry, is offering the Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire package. The $199 package provides one weekday night’s lodging for two in a guestroom with double whirlpool bath; gourmet candlelight dinner in the Inn’s restaurant, housed in an 1840′s log cabin; full country breakfast; and a holiday cookie tin filled with fresh-baked cookies. Valid Sundays-Thursdays through Dec. 24.

Two Nights at Chateau on the Lake from $390

Chateau on the Lake Resort & Spa near Branson, Mo., is offering a special Ozark Mountain Christmas Package from $390 per room for two nights’ lodging in a king room, $50 food & beverage credit at the resort, a Chateau Christmas ornament, use of the indoor pool, hot tub, and fitness facilities, free indoor parking and two-day tickets for two adults to the Silver Dollar City theme park. Based on double occupancy, now through Dec. 30.

Four Seasons Chicago Package from $365

Four Seasons Hotel Chicago is offering a Be Our Holiday Guest package for travelers visiting family in the Windy City. The package, from $365 per night, includes:

• A room with Lake Michigan or city views
• Daily Midwest breakfast for two
• Two complimentary holiday cocktails with roasted chestnuts by the fire in Seasons Lounge
• Choice of pumpkin pie, pecan pie or cookie tray to present to the party host.

Cheers! First-Time Travel Tips to the UK

Travel journalists give trip advice for a living—yammer, yammer–so it’s refreshing to have real tips from real people.

Lee Ann and Bill Hieber of Cincinnati have traveled to the Continent before, but this was their first trip to England and Scotland. They offer a few tested tips:

• Restrict yourself to one medium-sized suitcase per person, on wheels! Much of the UK is not handicap-accessible in the way we’re accustomed to, and you want to be able to maneuver your own bag up and down stairs, on public transportation and along city streets if necessary. Just pack what you really need!

• Take the Underground (London’s subway) to/from Heathrow Airport; a cab is prohibitively expensive. The Piccadilly line of the Underground goes directly to/from Heathrow for £4/$6.50 per person, one way. It took us about 50 minutes from Piccadilly station to the airport, so allow enough time. The Gatwick Express train is a little more expensive than the Underground, but the quickest transportation to/from Gatwick Airport.
  

  Bill Hieber, left, catching up with a fraternity brother in London over a pint. Lee Ann Hieber photo

• Stay in bed-and-breakfasts whenever possible. We chose to plan our itinerary ahead of time and made all our reservations via the internet prior to leaving the U.S. Just “Google” bed and breakfasts in the given location and you’ll get all kinds of information. Not only are these generally less expensive than hotels, but it gives you a chance to interact with the owners and other travelers in a less formal setting. Sometimes in B&B’s the price is “per person” rather than “per room,” so be sure to check that out before making a reservation.

• Get a good guide book and read about each destination right before you arrive there—we like Rick Steves. That way, the information is fresh in your mind. We found so many “free” or “near free” sights and activities that we would never have found on our own. A good guide book is invaluable!

• You just about have to rent a car if you want to get out of the cities and into the countryside. Just keep repeating to yourself, “Stay on the left, stay on the left!” When driving in a roundabout, if you get off at the wrong exit you can usually just go a short way, turn around, go back into the roundabout and correct your mistake. You don’t want to drive in the cities! We arranged to pick up our car at Heathrow after leaving London and turned it in when we arrived in Edinburgh. The cities all have fantastic public transportation.

Marriott Golf Packages from $189

Marriott Golf has fall specials at its golf resorts in Desert Springs, Marco Island, Doral and Starr Pass Golf Club in Tucson. Rates start at $189.

25% off Bermuda’s Cambridge Beaches

Save 25% at Bermuda’s Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa when you book by Sept. 18, for travel through Dec. 31. The offer requires a minimum four-night stay. Complimentary daily breakfast and afternoon tea are included.