The Saint Hotel (pictured) in Melbourne, Australia’s funky St. Kilda district had an innocent little idea to entertain its guests on a Sunday afternoon: No Undie Sundie. At the event, female patrons of the hotel’s bar would be able to earn up to $39 USD in drinks vouchers for going commando and turning their underwear over to be hung up behind the bar. For the less stalwart, flashing their underwear at the bar staff would also have earned free drinks.

News of the event reached women’s groups and local authorities after the hotel decided to use a certain widely circulated image of Britney Spears exiting a vehicle on its promotional poster (subtle move). In response, authorities launched an investigation that resulted in a ban on the event.

Hmm, it seems the Saint Hotel may very well be anything but….

Like to strum before you sleep? Or maybe you just don’t feel clean without a rubber ducky in the tub. Guitars and rubber duckies are just two of the unusual amenities regular guests of Affinia Hotels have at their fingertips. Guests can select items from a sizable menu on the hotel group’s web site, and the hotels will stock reserved rooms with those very items - during every stay.

In addition to a six-option pillow menu, the list of possible perks includes items rentable for a daily fee (guitars and putters, both $9.95/day), free loaners for use during the stay like a hair dryer diffuser attachment or a fitness kit with yoga mat and exercise videos, free personal items like travel-sized nail polish remover and contact lens solution and items for purchase like the aforementioned rubber ducky, cupcakes, gel-filled eyemasks ($5 and up).

Affinia has hotels in New York, Chicago and Washington, DC.

Don’t believe everything you read - that’s today’s advice from Travelocity, which recently decided to challenge media buzz about across-the-board increases in travel to major cities by comparing the price of a vacation package in August 2008 with prices from a year ago. The online travel agent found that, while some cities may cost travelers more to visit this year, the average price of a vacation package to many top destinations is within $20 of last year’s. Here are 10 examples and their price deviations from 2007 to 2008. Note that the average price for vacation packages to Atlanta and San Diego actually dropped, albeit just a smidgen:

Atlanta : $1.64 less
Austin : $7.17 more
Boston : $6.42 more
Chicago : $19.73 more
Las Vegas : $17.29 more
Orlando : $7.20 more
San Diego : $8.89 less
Seattle : $8.17 more
South Florida : $16.29 more
Washington , DC : $19.73 more

Long live real vacations!

To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the company’s founding in 1928, the Leading Hotels of the World group is offering a limited number of rooms in properties around the globe for just $19.28  a night. Here’s the deal: Sign-up to participate in the promo, which will run for 80 minutes only starting at 12 noon GMT (8 am EST) on Oct. 1, 2008. During that time, those who’ve registered in advance will be able to book up to two nights for visits between Nov. 15 and Dec. 15 at the promotional rate.

There are eight U.S. hotels and resorts participating in the promo, including the Alex Hotel in New York and the Enchantment Resort (pictured) in Sedona. To peruse the list of participating properties or to sign-up, head to the link below:

Leading Hotels of the World $19.28 Promo

I was sharing some of my favorite destinations and money-saving tips for shoulder season travel with a reporter yesterday, and I thought it only fair to share those same tips and ideas with Kayak.com blog readers. Here’s a round-up of what’s on my radar for shoulder season travel:

1. Iceland. Tourism here drops off at the end of August each year, so it’s not surprising that Iceland Air is offering some good deals for fall. While most travelers hit this island nation during its warmest months, don’t be fooled. The temperatures are colder than those we experience in the States, but they’re not by any means unbearable during the autumn months. It’s easy to tack a few days here onto the beginning or end of a jaunt to Europe, but I like the idea of making a special trip just to explore this country’s diverse landscape and cosmopolitan cities. If you’re a music fan, the Iceland Airwaves 2008 festival on Oct. 15-19 may be the prime time to visit. Packages through Iceland Air start at $891/person, including airfare, festival tickets and two nights’ hotel accommodations in Reykjavik.

2. Madeira (pictured). Visiting Madeira, a Portuguese island located in the Atlantic about 400 miles off the coast of North Africa, offers tropical weather seekers an alternative to hurricane belt destinations in the Caribbean - and, at this time of year, a good value. Flights leave twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays) from Boston Logan International. Right now, you can book a six-night stays at a four- or five-star hotel with round trip airfare starting at $1,169/person through Azores Express. That’s a great deal for an island getaway, if your schedule can handle the semi-inconvenience posed by the two flight choices each week. Note that the temperatures are slightly cooler than you’d find in the Caribbean - expect the mid-70s, not the 80s.

3. Repositioning Cruises. You may be able to score some good deals for last-minute travel on repositioning cruises, i.e. cruises leaving their summer hubs and relocating to their winter stomping grounds. Since these cruises aren’t round trip, they are often less expensive than those that begin and end at the same port of call. At this time of year, ships that have spent the summer in Alaska, for example, will make the trek to Hawaii, the Caribbean and even Asia.

4. Southern Caribbean. Many destinations below or outside the traditional hurricane belt are offering fall travel deals to entice travelers who may otherwise be avoiding the region for fear of tropical storm trouble. On Nevis, for example, the Nisbet Plantation Beach Club is offering a $500 airfare credit to offset the cost of travel for visits between October and December 1, 2008. Basically, the resort refunds $500 of the lodging costs on stays of seven or more days when you checkout. In Bermuda, Nine Beaches is offering a slew of specials good through the fall. One gives guests who stay four or more days a $300 gift card. The Curacao Tourism Department is offering a Curacao Now promotion that woos travelers with $100 airfare credits, $140 food & beverage credits for use at island eateries, one day of free car rental and one day of free diving.

Travel during the official hurricane season (June-November) to Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Florida destinations can yield attractive bargains at hotels and resorts many travelers avoid this time of year. Even in the face of the active hurricane season we’re experiencing this year, we’re all for hurricane season travel - if you keep some tried-and-true pieces of advice in mind before, during and after you travel.

1.    Look for Hurricane Guarantees. Before you book, search for hotels and resorts that offer refund or reasonable rebooking policies in the event of severe weather. Usually, travel companies and associations will only offer this sort of guarantee for weather so extreme that transportation to and from the area becomes dangerous or impossible, but that’s not always the case. The Bermuda Hotel Association, for example, offers travelers the option of canceling reservations within five days of their trip when a hurricane-force storm is predicted to come within 200 miles of the area. Note that these policies differ from hotel to hotel, resort to resort, so be sure to read all the fine print before booking your stay.

2.    Consult the Experts. While you’re still in the planning stages for a trip that falls during hurricane season, consult the National Hurricane Center to determine which destinations are more likely to experience severe storms during your preferred travel time. The next step? Consider avoiding these destinations completely, or choosing destinations that fall outside the regions where hurricanes are most likely to hit that month. For example, in October, hurricanes have historically been less likely to hit southern  Caribbean islands like St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Aruba and Barbados.

3.    Try a Cruise. If you’re set on visiting the Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico during hurricane season, a cruise may be one of the best ways to avoid a ruined vacation planned far in advance. Why? In the event of severe weather, cruise ships can alter their routes and ports of call. You may not get to visit the islands on your original itinerary, but you’ll still be able to enjoy your time on the high seas.

4.    Opt for Travel Insurance. Travel insurance can save the day when tropical storms threaten to wreak havoc on an expensive vacation. That said, travel insurance policies vary widely from provider to provider. Some offer solid coverage that will result in a substantial refund when a hurricane hits, while others may tack on too many restrictions to be worth the extra money. The only surefire way to know that you’re getting a good policy is to read the fine print carefully. In fact, read it twice.

5.    Be prepared before, during and after your trip. Several weeks before a trip scheduled during hurricane season, start paying close attention to weather patterns in your destination area. If a tropical storm is predicted to hit during your trip, contact your airline or travel agent immediately to discuss flight change policies and options. Being on top of things can be a huge help in this arena – especially when you’re competing for seats on alternate flights with hundreds of other similarly-affected travelers. When you embark upon your trip, take copies of any travel insurance policies, hurricane guarantees or other documents that you’ll need in the event of a hurricane. Getting your proper refund or rebooking your reservations will often depend on policy rules regarding evacuation procedures, schedules, etc. Make sure you play by the rules, or you may be out of luck when you try to submit a claim or request an itinerary change. Lastly, save any and all receipts and issued tickets. You’ll need to submit documentation after your trip to substantiate your travel insurance claim.

Do you have any great tips for hurricane travel? Share them with the Kayak.com community by leaving a comment. Or get in touch directly at lsanders (at) kayak (dot) com.

Airline tickets may seem more expensive than ever, but here’s the silver lining: as airfares climb, online travel agents are trying to encourage fall travel by offering good deals on hotel rates. The best current example is Expedia’s 50 Percent Off Hotels promo, which cuts nightly rates by up to 50 percent on stays of four or more days. The discounts are good at a handful of hotels in a slew of popular destinations - from Los Cabos to Los Angeles.

To take advantage, you’ve got to book by Sept. 30 and travel by Oct. 20, 2008.

With fall stretching out before us, we’ve been thinking about the autumn leaves, hot apple cider and crisp nights ahead. From a one-family farmhouse in Wisconsin to a sprawling Tennessee estate known for combining sportsman activities and epicurean delights, here are five farms to visit this fall:

Little Sugar River Farm
The Farm
Located 30 miles south of Madison, this Wisconsin farmhouse home (pictured) for up to six adults at only $340/night is a steal for groups, but also a romantic little Midwestern hideout for couples seeking a slower pace. The owners will also cook meals in the home’s commercial kitchen using mostly organic farm produce and local products, or let guests wing it themselves with free reign over the garden and the hen house (just don’t tick off the rooster).
Farm Chores
Explore the farm’s 20 acres of pastures and fruit orchards. Pick flowers from the gardens. In winter, ice skate on the farm’s frozen pond or snowshoe across the beginnings of the property’s restored prairie land.
The Bunks
A stay here means you’ll have the run of the house. The master bedroom upstairs offers two-person soaking tub, 250-thread count linens, thick bathrobes and towels.
Get off the Farm
Less than a quarter mile from the property, the Sugar River Trail offers 23 miles of hiking and biking land – or in winter, cross-country skiing. When you’re done with the great outdoors, drive the 10 miles to the neighboring town of New Glarus and its Swiss village, complete its own brewery.

Leaping Lamb Farm
The Farm
An Oregon homestead since 1896, this family-run working farm offers a slice of the simple life with farms stays in a guest cabin suitable for families and small groups. D.I.Y. breakfasts consist of produce and eggs fresh from the farm.
Farm Chores
Sampling the homemade jams and cider the farm produces after the fall harvest. Year-round, pitch in by collecting eggs from the free range chickens or feeding the farm’s sheep.
The Bunks
One cabin offers two simple bedrooms outfitted with queen-sized beds, a covered outdoor deck, full kitchen and living room with futon couch.
Beyond the Barn
Take a drive through surrounding Alsea Valley to visit small wineries, alpaca farms and cheese producers.

Black Star Farms
The Farm
A stay in this northern Michigan farm’s eight-room inn puts you on 120 acres of land a stone’s throw from Grand Traverse Bay. Guests rave about the inn’s gourmet breakfast served each morning.
Farm Chores
Visit the property’s horse stables, the owners’ Leelanau Cheese Company creamery (known for its Raclette) and the Black Star Farms Winery (try the fruit brandies).
The Bunks
Rustic farmland abounds outside, but the guestrooms will make you forget all that. Dressed up in the kind of contemporary decor one might find in a big city boutique hotel, the rooms are wonderfully appointed with welcome touches like Aveda bath amenities and a complimentary bottle of the farm’s house red wine. Some have fireplaces and spa tubs.
Beyond the Barn
Tour the area’s many wineries (including Ciccone, owned by Madonna’s father) or explore the cute shops and laid-back restaurants in the nearby town of Sutton’s Bay.

Blackberry Farm
The Farm
In the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, this 4,200-acre estate is a farm adept at pleasing even the pickiest gourmands and city slickers. Artisanal foods produced onsite range from jams to cheese to chocolate. Other reasons to go include the Farmhouse Spa, fly fishing and Camp Blackberry for kids.
Farm Chores
While the kids are learning how to dye wool or make apple cider, the adults in your group can indulge in cooking classes, horseback riding and sporting clays.
The Bunks
The 59 guestrooms here come in many shapes and sizes. Rooms, suites, cottages and house all impress with their Georgian antiques, and all room rates include three meals a day.
Beyond the Barn
With its mountainous location, the sky’s really the limit here when it comes to outdoor activity. The farm will arrange overnight camping trips for guests, as well as cycling, fly fishing, canoeing and golf excursions.

Smithfield Farm Bed & Breakfast
The Farm
Head to the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills to find this 200-year-old gem, located about an hour’s drive west from Washington, DC.
Farm Chores
Meet the animals at Smith Meadows farm, a working farm that produces grass-fed meats and eggs and shares the property with the bed and breakfast. Pick apples in the orchard or stroll along the 350-acre property’s quiet country roads.
The Bunks
Four guestrooms and a private cottage make up the accommodations, which include gas log fireplaces and antique furnishings – some offer whirlpool tubs, canopy beds and private entrances.
Beyond the Barn
Explore Crystal Caverns in nearby Strasburg or brush up on your history with a visit to area Civil War battlefields like Antietam, Cedar Creek or Harpers Ferry.

How can the average traveler end up slightly (albeit very slightly) richer just by bringing a video camera along on an overnight hotel visit? Before you get the wrong idea, let’s be clear. We’re not talking about that kind of video (we’ll leave those to Kim and Paris).

But back to the matter at hand. Last week saw the official launch of Tripr.tv, a web site that features short, user-generated videos of hotel rooms in properties around the world. Vacationers-turned-amateur filmmakers upload 30 to 120 seconds of footage, which in turn appears alongside hotels offered through partner sites Expedia and Booking.com. When a hotel room is booked after viewing one of Tripr,tv’s videos, the company receives a commission, one third of which goes to the person who submitted the film.

The average payout is $10 a booking, based on an average booking of $400. Not enough to cover the cost of your next vacation, but maybe enough to offset late-night mini-bar raiding fiascos or those pesky resort fees.

We’ve got football on the brain this week (check out our Top 5 College Football Towns to Visit post for more evidence of our one-track mind), so it should come as no surprise that the the Tailgate in Style Package from Atlanta’s The Glenn Hotel caught our eye. Falcons fans can bunk in here on game day (and night, duh) and enjoy a location within walking distance of the stadium, complimentary hotel parking, tickets to the game (we’re assuming this raises the rate considerably, as the package is also open to those who’ve already purchased tickets) and dinner for two at the hotel’s steakhouse restaurant Maxim Prime.

Rates start at $359/night for two.