Never fear, hotel deals are here.
AP Photo

by Ondine Cohane

While I was at Columbia College in the economically challenged New York days of the early nineties, one of my favorite signs on the Upper East Side was Gray's Papaya's "Recession Special," with two hot dogs and a Coke for $1.75. I don't eat hot dogs, mind you, but I liked the fact that the guys at GP were thinking about their customers.

It seems like those days have come again, and already travelers are starting to see a number of deals and price cuts throughout the industry--a smart group that very clearly doesn't want to lose your business. I thought I would start to mention some noteworthy specials in my weekly blog because even if you have to start watching your budget, you don't have to give up your style. Case in point: The chic COMO Hotels and Resorts owned by Christina Ong has just slashed its prices by 200 pounds at its fashionable London properties, the Halkin and the Metropolitan, through May 2009. That's over 300 bucks off the normal rack rate, and both properties have great locations close to Hyde Park, Mayfair, and the shopping of Knightsbridge. And the Met Bar in the Metropolitan is still one of the most happening bars in the city, perfect for nursing a martini in case the FTSE continues to plunge. Travel is a great way to forget the bad news, and savvy shoppers will find plenty of deals and sparser crowds in the next six months. Stay tuned...

Further reading:
* The Halkin
* The Metropolitan
* Word of Mouth