Resort Fee

Winter is a beautiful thing in the Arizona desert, with no shortage of sun and mild temperatures. For a kick-back holiday getaway this season, Loews Ventana Canyon resort in Tucson has rooms on sale starting at $89 a night -- but only until Wednesday.  The deal: The resort teamed up with Travelzoo for the limited-time offer . Temps in Tucson are nice and cool in late fall and early winter and great for hiking, golfing or...

La Quinta Resort & Club turned into Bedford Falls? That's the idea behind the 1926 resort's holiday decorations inspired by the movie "It's a Wonderful Life. " After Thanksgiving, the Palm Springs-area hotel will have decorations in place and offer free screenings of the movie, a chance to roast chestnuts -- and a special room rate for California residents. The deal: The California Residents Rate at the resort with a PGA West golf course starts at $135 a night plus tax and requires a two-night stay.

Take a drive on U.S. Highway 395 to Mammoth Lakes, Calif., and pay $395 for a three-night stay at Snowcreek Resort . This package at the 450-acre vacation rental resort is ideal for Labor Day  and good for families that want to hike, fish or just laze around the eastern Sierra site. The deal: Stay $395 includes three nights in a one-bedroom condo. Visitors have access to the resort's athletic club (indoor and outdoor pools, tennis and racquetball, exercise classes)

Golf until you drop? OK, it's not the same as shopping, but a summer package at La Quinta Resort & Club allows you to spend as much time as you like on the resort's five golf courses. The deal: The "Desert Links" play-and-stay package includes a room and unlimited golfing for two starting at $229 per night at the 45-acre resort near Palm Springs. You also get a $25 credit for dining or other expenses, and the resort waives its usual $27-a-night resort fee. The more golf you play, the better the deal, given that a single round ranges from $59 to $109.

Vail Cascade Resort & Spa in Vail, Colo., is offering deep discounts on rooms this spring for a two-night stay. The ski-in ski-out hotel takes up to 60% off room rates, which could be a good deal for those still planning their spring break. The deal: Spring on Sale rates require a two-night stay at the hotel. Use the code "vcspring1" when making a reservation online or by phone. When: The sale is good through Jan. 31 for stays Feb. 24 to April 13. Tested: I checked online and found some of the discounted rooms a bit more than the promised 60% off. I found availability for a midweek rate Feb. 25-27 for a room with a king- or two queen-sized beds for $169 a night plus tax (instead of the published $459 a night)

Ever heard of China Peak Mountain Resort in the Sierra? Well, it depends on how old you are and how long you've been skiing. The resort opened in 1958 , changed its name to Sierra Summit in 1982 and reverted to China Peak two years ago when new owners took over. Whatever the name, it's an out-of-the-way small resort in Lakeshore, Calif., about 70 miles north of Fresno between Yosemite and Sequoia-Kings Canyon national parks. Southern Californians can take advantage of a midweek package that's good through mid-March: $89 a night for a room at the inn plus a free lift ticket.

Surrounded by desert, director Frank Capra once lounged in a cozy casita near Palm Springs and penned the 1946 snowy holiday classic “ It’s a Wonderful Life .” Who knew? The La Quinta Resort & Club wants to make sure you do by offering a special holiday deal. The deal: The offer, called " It’s Always a Wonderful Life at La Quinta ,” gives you a third night free when you stay two nights. Decorations at the resort, through Christmas, will honor the snowy fictional town of Bedford Falls, and the film will be screened for free on Saturday nights in the resort’s theater.

The sprawling Hotel del Coronado near San Diego has been welcoming beach-lovers since 1888. Here's a chance to join the crowd. The resort with the landmark red tower is reducing room rates to as low as $229 a night. The rate is good for stays through December but you must book by Friday to get the deal. The deal: The 3-Day Summer Sale applies to older, smaller Victorian-style rooms that have one queen bed and no ocean view. Some find these rooms creaky; some find them quaint.

Paradise Point Resort & Spa , the 44-acre island in Mission Bay in San Diego, was created by entrepreneur and movie producer Jack Skirball. It opened in 1962 under the name Vacation Village and charged just $8 a night. The hotel will mark its 50th birthday Oct. 11 with some nice savings for guests who want to sample this vintage venue. The deal: The resort, which sits on a man-made island, spent $20 million in 2009 renovating its 462 rooms. The grounds take full advantage of a landscaped island motif, with palm trees, lush gardens and lagoons.

WHERE TO STAY Bay Shores Peninsula Hotel, 1800 W. Balboa Blvd., Newport Beach 92663; (949) 675-3463 or (800) 222-6675, http://www.thebestinn.com . About a block from the beach on Newport Bay. 25 rooms. No pool, but free parking, Wi-Fi, breakfast buffet, video rentals and use of beach equipment. Doubles from $170. Shorebreak Hotel, 500 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach 92648; (714) 861-4470, http://www.shorebreakhotel.com . A block from the beach, 157 rooms and suites in a building that opened in 2009.