Seen them on the screen? Now give them a gander in real life

The Feb. 27 Academy Awards will no doubt inspire many people to see the places where the Oscar nominees took place. CheapOair.com knows this, so has lined up deals linked to the Best Picture category, with reservations required by Feb. 28. Here they are:

Black Swan -- New York: The offer is for the Bentley Hotel, starting at $ 159 per night.  Sample round-trip airfare starts at $288. Click here.

The King's Speech -- London: A package from New York to London starts at $363 per person and includes  airfare and a four-night stay at the Hilton Wembley Plaza. Click here.

 The Fighter -- Boston: A package from Los Angeles to Boston starts at $477 per person and includes airfare and a four night stay at the Hotel Marlowe-A Kimpton Hotel. Click here.

Inception -- Paris: Visit the location where Leonardo DiCaprio taught Ellen Page the intricacies  of The Pasiv dream machine. Starting at $ 119 per night, stay at Holiday Inn Paris La Villete. Sample airfare starts at $468. Click here.

True Grit -- Texas: A package from Los Angeles to Austin begins at  $611 per person and includes airfare and a four-night stay at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. Click here.

Social Network -- Silicon Valley: This deal takes you from New York to San Jose starting at $608 per person and   includes airfare and a five-night stay at the four-star Four Points By Sheraton San Jose. Click here.

You will not be surprised that assorted taxes and fees are extra and that prices may be higher on some dates. 

Search Amazon.com for Academy Awards

Trivial question

What is the southernmost city in Australia? (Answer somewhere below.)

Skate your way to savings with Boston packages

Starwood is sponsoring the first-ever ice rink at the Prudential Center in Boston. The rink will be open to the community for one month. In celebration, the Sheraton Boston is offering two Share the Ice  packages:

The Family Skating package includes four tickets  to the Rink at Prudential Center (a $40 value), and complimentary valet parking (a $44 value), with rooms beginning at $199 and suites from $279. In addition, the first 50 suites booked for stays between Feb. 20-25 get four tickets to Disney on Ice.

The Date Night package offers a romantic skating experience for stays before March 6. This package include a room with an outstanding view of the Charles River, complimentary valet parking and two tickets to the rink.

Stays can be booked at www.sheraton.com/boston.

Travel tip -- and we do mean 'tip' 

When it comes to tipping, hotel maids often get left out. Because few guests actually see the maids, some people figure it is easy to skip the tip. Others might want to tip but aren't sure whether the money they leave just before checking out will go to the maid who has done most of the work in the room. The answer is to tip daily. Leave a dollar or two on your pillow before going out in the morning. The maid who does the work will get the tip and your room will sparkle.

Kennebunkport resort rewards early bookers

The people at the Rhumb Line Resort in Kennebunkport, Maine, say they are tired of seeing the last-minute guest get the best deals. So they are rewarding those who book well in advance, with the best available rates and deals.  With the Rhumb Line’s new Best Booking Deal guests who book well in advance can take satisfaction in knowing that those who wait will pay more. In addition, youngsters 16 and under stay free in their parents' room. Current deals include two nights' lodging, a $25 dining certificate to a choice of several Kennebunkport restaurants, continental breakfast, Free wifi and use of the resort’s indoor pool, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, and fitness area, all  starting at  $125 per couple. Visit www.rhumblineresort.com/specials.htm or call 207-967-5457.

Worth quoting

“Too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely lengthens the conversations.” -- Elizabeth Drew

How about Italy for a family spring break?

TourCrafters has an Italy by Train package that takes in the sights of Rome, Florence and Venice. The 11-day/10-night package costs $1,129 ($985 if booked by March 1) and includes round-trip air from New York, an arrival transfer, accommodations at the hotels Brasile in Rome,  Meridiana in Florence and Malibran in Venice, daily buffet breakfast, tickets for the Eurostar train, a half-day tour in each city, a Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tour in Rome, service charges and VAT tax. The package is valid from March 1 to April 15. Air fares from other cities are also available.

For details, visit www.tourcrafters.it.  For reservations, call 800-482-5995.

Fascinating fact

Indonesia has about 13,000 islands.

Forgot Valentines Day? You can still escape the doghouse

Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa in Jupiter, Fla., has created a Get Out of the Doghouse package designed for those who made a mess of  Valentines Day.  The package,  at $1,299,  includes a night of luxury, oceanview accommodations in the penthouse suite, a  four-course dinner for two prepared in grand butler style by the resort’s executive chef, a half-day in the Spa, including two, 50-minute signature treatments followed by a duet massage complete with champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries, flowers, two cocktails called Kiss Up Cosmos, and an  “I’m in the doghouse” T-shirt and leash. Visit www.jupiterbeachresort.com and use promo code UDIRTYDOG.

Trivial answer

Hobart is Australia's southernmost city.