bargains

A few weeks ago, I told you about a fantastic way to explore French Polynesia -- aboard the small, luxey Paul Gauguin cruise ship.

Pacific Beachcomber has just released the ship's 2011 sailing schedule, offering between two and four cruises each month of seven to fourteen nights. You can learn about them in a new interactive preview catalog. (If you find that format as annoying as I do, you can also find the info on the company's website.)

When I first wrote about this ship, some readers...oh let's just say, reacted... to my confession that I dislike large cruise ships, which apparently came across as snobbiness, since since large cruise ships tend to be less expensive than ships along the lines of the Paul Gauguin. I contend that a certain amount of snobbiness is sort of my job description, but nevertheless, allow me to redeem myself by discussing a four-letter word: sale.

Paul Gauguin is offering free airfare from Los Angeles (which is a big part of the expense of the entire trip) and two-for-one cruise fares for all 2011 sailings. If the reach of your inner travel snob exceeds the grasp of your particular financial situation, this is good news indeed.

The Four Seasons on Maui at Wailea is consistently rated as one of the top hotels on earth, and so as you'd expect, this newly renovated property, owned by Michael Dell, isn't meant to be a bargain: its 1,400 square foot stunning ocean-view suites run $2,495 a night. (The sunrise as seen from one those rooms pictured here.)

But the hotel has always been notable for the extras it provides, whether you're in a standard room or a suite. There are no nickle n' dime charges for poolside cabanas, for instance, nor for the sunglasses-cleaning service provided by attentive poolside staff. Also included: yoga, snorkeling, intro to scuba diving classes, and even an outrigger canoe excursion, in which you learn how to row in a traditional canoe, while learning canoeing commands in Hawaiian. What's more, the hotel has no plans to roll back (or start to charge for) these extras given the tough economy.

Still, the Four Seasons Maui is a bit more of a bargain now, as the hotel has just announced a new $395/night entry level rate, for its mountainside rooms, as well as a book four nights, get the fifth night free special. Personally, I'd use the savings to book a spa treatment at the property's hale hau, a traditional Hawaiian thatched roof hut. It's perfectly private, but situated right on the ocean, so you can hear the waves crashing while you're getting massaged, wrapped or facial-ed. A 110-minute massage costs $340 at the hale hau, couples get massaged together for $660.