We're pretty sure the Best Western Playa Suites in Acapulco, Mexico won't be keen on hosting Spring Breakers again.
Several Spring Breakers from the University of New Hampshire and Penn State were staying at the hotel when it caught fire early Monday morning.
The students had booked the trip through StudentCity.com and several had just arrived only a few hours before the fire broke out.
One senior from Bedford said she and her friends ran down 12 flights of stairs after their suite began to fill with smoke.
They stood outside in their pajamas and watched the smoke climb, unable to collect their belongings until many hours later, said the student, Ashley Herrin, 22.
"I was stranded with no money, no shoes, no passport in Mexico, with nowhere to go. It was just miserable," she said.
The hotel had recently passed a fire inspection but several students said they never heard any smoke or fire alarms. Fortunately, no one was injured and some students were able to enter last night to retrieve their belongings. The hotel hasn't updated their website but we are sure they won't be taking any guests anytime soon.
We are totally perplexed by this recent partnership of The Raleigh Hotel and Victoria's Secret's PINK line--the more casual sleepwear/loungewear collection from the mass-produced lingerie store.
Today the hotel is hosting "Spring Break 08 Rally at the Raleigh" in which people show up from 1 to 5pm in their PINK favorites (sweats with Pink written on the butt and too-tight tank tops we assume) and get freebies. Some C-list celebs will be in attendance like Brody Jenner, Vanessa Minillo, and models Miranda Kerr and Behati Prinsloo.
The day has a packed schedule of events kicking off with Diving for Dogs where guests dive for those mini-PINK dogs in the pool. There's also twister and dodgeball and of course, shopping for PINK clothes all day long.
If you can't make it, you can still buy a limited edition Pink shirt that says "Rally at the Raleigh."
Apparently the hotel and Victoria's Secret have done this partnership before. We're just grateful that it's only for one day. That and that the whole event wasn't called "Puke and Rally at the Raleigh."
In which, HotelChatter readers are treated to exclusive hotel deals dug up by us.
All deals have a limited amount of rooms attached to them and may sell out quickly.
We can all relive our college days again by taking advantage of these Spring Break deals, minus the keg stands, wet t-shirt contests and chicken-fighting in the pool of course.
Today's Hotel Deals
CasaMagna Marriott Cancun $237 a night for "Get Out of the Cold" Package This deal includes daily breakfast for two and 10% off a spa treatment. Minimum three-day stay required. Call 1-800-223-6388 to book.
The Colony Palms Hotel $99 for either Thursday or Sunday stays Fancy yourself a mobster? Spend Spring Break at the new Colony Palms Hotel where if you stay over the weekend any weekend in March, you can get Thursday or Sunday for $99. Use code PS99.
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort $179 a night in Orlando. If you can handle the Disney crowd, this resort has rooms under $200 from March 13-19. Ask for rate code SDMAR when booking.
The Clift Hotel $198 Leap Year Special on Quikbook Quikbook asks you to book before noon EST on Leap Day (tomorrow) and you will get an extra 10% off. The stays are valid through September but you gotta act fast. Like NOW. The deal is also good for some hotels in Beverly Hills and Chicago.
The Mondrian Scottsdale $125 pre-pay rate The hip hotel offers rooms starting from $125 a night if you book 14 days or more in advance. It's about 10% of the rack rate but you have to search for availability. Call the hotel for assistance. Of course, if you have to cancel not even promising your first born will get you your money back.
Have a hotel deal you think we should consider? Or have a destination and date where you want us to check for hotel rooms and rates for you? No guarantees on either, but you can try your luck by hitting us here: tips@hotelchatter.com.
According to Bookit.com and the Travel Industry Association, family spring break trips are the new travel trend.
"About 70% of households with children will travel together this year," said Laura Veglia, Vice President of Sales for BookIt.com. "From the grandchildren to the grandparents, families today are seeking hot deals on destinations that offer the right combination of activities, dining options and amenities so that every member enjoys their time together."
For that great family spring break Veglia talks about, Bookit suggests a few of the usual suspects, such as Orlando, but does showcase some genuine good ideas.
For the second year in a row, The Sheraton Grand Bahama Island is saying no to spring breakers and making it easy for families to enjoy a seasonal getaway. The resort is not accepting reservations from individuals or groups under the age of 21 for travel between February 25th and March 31st, 2008.
Not quite sure how the hotel is going to enforce this rule but we bet they will be IDing heavily at this property.
Meanwhile, families are welcome to stay here. The hotel was voted the #3 Kid-Friendly resort in the Caribbean by Child mag back in 2005 and is offering two family-friendly options.
The Sunny Savings package offers rooms for $220 a night and includes daily breakfast and complimentary access to Camp Lucaya kids club. (Use Code: SUNNY.)
The all-inclusive Reef Package is $295 a couple and includes all taxes, service charges, resort fees,"non-motorized" watersports (snorkeling, etc.) and food and drink choice at one of three on-property restaurants (Use Code: AIPKG08.)
Also this resort is connected to the Westin and there are some exchange privileges between the resorts but we don't know if that "No Spring Breakers" applies to the Westin as well.
This past weekend we were summoned to South Padre Island, a popular Spring Break spot for college kids, for the wedding of (ironically) an old college roommate.
South Padre Island is a place that we always wanted to visit when we were 21 but eight years later, let's just say the attraction has worn off considerably.
Still out of love for our dear friend, we tripped on down to this Texas vacation isle and spent a night at the Radisson.
For some reason, Quebec City was always high on our Spring Break destinations list. It's certainly not warm in March, and it's not exactly sun-drenched but it just seems so cool. The fact that we'd be spending Canadian instead of Euros always held a little cachet, too. If we ever get around to taking a Spring Break, we might check out the Hotel Dominion 1912, in the heart of the city.
What makes the Dominion such a winner for Spring Breakers?
The rooms are large and the really comfy bed was king sized- the little extras like coffee machine, Bosch music system, well stocked mini bar, (Tylenol- great idea for a weary traveller - we aren't allowed to do that in Australia!), and the Aveda products. Really nice decor, both in rooms and in the bar/fireplace area.
There's nothing like the hair of the dog for the day after. (Not that we'd recommend gobbling Tylenol, but hey, we wouldn't recommend a lot of the stuff that happens on Spring Break.) Once we're back on our feet, you'll find us in the lobby, curled up in front of the fire.
Spriiiiing Breaaak!!! You know Fort Lauderdale is where it all got started, right? Well, after years of not being that great for boozing and partying, Fort Lauderdale's coming back--don't believe the hype that it's all family-friendly these days. (Check out Jaunted editor Davie's video if you don't believe us.)
True, the town probably won't be the sin den it was in the '80s, but you can still re-live the glory days at the soon-to-open St. Regis Resort, Fort Lauderdale. Right on the beach, you won't have far to stumble to find the sand on the hotel's planned boardwalk. With 166 rooms, you won't be inundated with other partiers, but there should be enough folks around that you can easily make some new "friends." May we suggest meeting them on the huge pool deck after a day at the beach?
We're pretty sure the Best Western Playa Suites in Acapulco, Mexico won't be keen on hosting Spring Breakers again.
According to 
