Well, the folks over at HotelsCombined.com have done their homework and come up with quite a few great hotels that are supporting Earth Hour. For those not familiar, Earth Hour started back in 2007 in Sydney and has become a global phenomenon. Every March 26, business and individuals all over the world turn their lights off to take a stand against climate change. Last year, hundreds of millions of people participated in 88 different countries and 4000 cities around the world, and this year promises to be even bigger.

Hotels Participating in Earth Hour

Mount Kenya Safari Club

Now owned and operated by Fairmount Hotels, the Mount Kenya Safari Club is a distinguished, historic hotel in Nanyuki, Kenya. The hotel has seen such distinguished guests as Winston Churchill and Bing Crosby. For Earth Hour next week, guests of the Mount Kenya Safari Club will be taken on a moonlit walk during the hour, culminating in a tree-planting ceremony. Other Fairmont Hotels are participating as well, such as the Bab Al Bar Hotel in Abu Dhabi, which will be generating 24-hours worth of energy through lobby stationary bicycles.

Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort

This Delta Hotel overlooking Victoria Harbour in British Columbia is one of a number of the Delta family that will be participating in Earth Hour. Families should take note, because at Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe, Earth Hour will be celebrated through a children’s reading of the Dr. Seuss book The Lorax, along with complimentary cookies earth-decorated biscuits and milk.

Q1 Resort and Spa

This skyscraper hotel along Australia’s Gold Coast is a true visual masterpiece, with its crown tip and looming spire that hover right out over the beach. For Earth Hour, Q1 will be extinguishing the lights that normally grace its iconic top tower for a very visual representation of what Earth Hour is all about.

Orchard Hotel

As one of Singapore’s most attractive and centrally located hotels, right along the busy shopping district of Orchard Road, the Orchard Road Hotel is dynamically placed to support Earth Hour amid the lights and noise of such a busy district. The hotel offers a rather romantic take on Earth Hour festivities by hosting a darkened dinner and cocktails, “Happy Earth Hour” along with an organic “Dinner in the Dark”. So, even if you’re not a guest, you can still participate in this lovely event.

Starwood Hotels

This mega-hotel company encompasses several major hotel names that you’re probably familiar with, such as Westin, St. Regis, Sheraton and Le Méridien, all of which will be going dark during Earth Hour 2011. Incredibly, these hotels will be turning off all of their non-essential lights, including exterior signage, lobby lighting and in-room lighting, and warning guests about the observances through voicemails and notices. Guests are not required to participate in their own rooms, but are encouraged to do so, and Starwood is offering 100 points for participating in the Hour to members of its “Preferred Guest” programme.

We’re sure you’ve been to New York and San Francisco, so instead, why not check out these six alternative spots for great spring city break destinations!

Chicago

The blooming tulips along the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago brighten up the Windy City after its long and brutal winter. The locals are out in full force once the weather gets nice – shopping, eating and socialising on the streets. Just make sure you plan your trip for late spring – warmth doesn’t descend on Chicago until May!

Find hotels in Chicago.

Austin

Spring is the perfect time to check out the bohemian, laid-back Texan capitol – before the heat of summer sets in. The lazy waters of Lake Austin (a reservoir of the Colorado River, right in the city centre) makes the perfect place for inter-tubing with a local brew under the sunshine.

Find hotels in Austin.

San Diego

Sunshine is a key element of San Diego’s comfy California climate, and while it never gets truly cold here, in the spring, flowers are blooming, bees are buzzing and the animals at the world-renowned San Diego Zoo are roving.

Find hotels in San Diego.

New Orleans

The fair New Orleans (sometimes referred to by trendy Americans as “NOLA”), is a great springtime destination because, like it’s sister to the west, Austin, it gets unbearably hot and humid during the summer. There is no better way to enjoy a the French Quarter than by an balmy evening stroll.

Find hotels in New Orleans.

Savannah

Sweet Savannah is Atlanta’s older, more refined and certainly more Southern sister, sitting about 250 miles southeast of the metropolis, right along the Gulf Coast of Georgia. Warm days are shaded by the leaves of giant oak trees in a place that time almost seems to have forgotten.

Find hotels in Savannah.

Portland

Like most of the Pacific Northwest, Portland, Oregon is rainy, to be sure, but in the spring, the clouds part for a few moments and allow through enough sunshine to bring out the locals and the cherry blossom trees. A stroll along the waterfront under pink falling petals followed by lunch at gourmet taco truck really can’t be topped.

Find hotels in Portland.

Boulder

Whether you’re yearning to stretch your winter legs in the grand spaciousness of the Rocky Mountains or simply want to linger of a delicious microbrew on a patio surrounded by hipsters, Boulder’s your city. Upscale yet approachable, this beer-loving college town has high fashion and outdoorsy in the bag.

Find hotels in Boulder.

Guests of Jurys Inn might be given an unexpected prize this March 17th, if the leprechaun fairy visits their hotel room on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day. 17 shamrocks will be hidden under pillows in rooms across the 30 different Jurys Inn hotels in Europe, such as Jurys Inn Prague, and the lucky winners will be treated to a 2-night Jurys Inn stay.

Jurys Inn is hosting the competition to celebrate its Irish heritage. The hotel chain was founded in 1993 as part of the Jurys Hotel Group, which dates back to 1881, when William Jury opened his first hotel in Dublin.

The rules of the competition are pretty simple. All you have to do is book a room at Jurys Inn – any Jurys Inn – on the night of St. Patrick’s Day, or March 17, to be eligible for the prize.

Especially if you are planning to be in Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day, there are a number of Jurys Inn Dublin hotel options to choose from, and they always make a reliable and friendly, not to mention affordable hotel choice.

Mother’s Day on the R.S. Hispaniola

If you’ve never been on the permanently docked ship, which rests on the Thames at Victoria Embankment near the Jubilee Footbridge, it has been reconverted into a rather smart restaurant. The R.S. Hispaniola (which now, cleverly, stands for Restaurant Ship) has two outdoor decks, also, one of which has a lovely view across to the London Eye, making for a very refined dining experience right in central London.

The R.S. Hispaniola will be hosting a special Mothering Sunday programme this April 3, starting with a 3-course Mediterranean menu that will be served for both lunch and dinner. The ship’s in-house pianist will provide a nice mood for the meals, and there will also be the option of changing to more traditional dishes if your mum’s tastes don’t stretch to their avant-garde special menu. £30 per person.

If you’re not in for an entire meal but still want to get your mum out for something special, you could opt instead to do the afternoon high tea – a nice unique take on a rather cliché Mother’s Day choice. Tea will be served with all the fixings – scones, jam, sandwiches, fruit cake, biscuits and coffee, for those that prefer. £18 per person.

Whether you are a resident Londoner or just visiting the city with your mum, the R.S. Hispaniola is a very atmospheric place to dine (where else can you eat literally on the Thames) with a traditional English atmosphere.

The MAve NYC is everything a New York City hotel should be, and at the right price, to boot. First of all, it is located in the trendy Flatiron District, which is in Midtown Manhattan, right on Madison Avenue and just a few minutes’ walk from Gramercy Park and Park Avenue.

The MAve’s prices are also right, offering a reasonably cheap room but without sacrificing any of the boutique elements that you might want in a cute, upscale New York City hotel. Basic double rooms here start out at about £94, and you could do a lot worse for a lot worse in New York.

The styling of The MAve is a sort of chic New York City vibe that bursts with bright primary colours, which offset the plain white walls and bedding, and black furniture. Counted among The MAve’s amenities are free high speed WIFI, H20 bath products and high-def flat screen TVs. It is also a pet-friendly hotel, in case Rover is coming along.

The MAve NYC
62 Madison Avenue
New York, NY
Tel: +1 (212) 532-7373
Map | Book

A luxurious Vegas setting for a wedding

To qualify for the free honeymoon stay, couples must book the “Graciously Luxurious” wedding package at Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas by May 31, 2011. The wedding must be held by the end of the year and the package is good for couples with 100 guests or more.

Mandarin Oriental Sanya would make for a romantic honeymoon

Getting the complimentary honeymoon

The free Mandarin Oriental honeymoon offering includes a free 5-night stay at any of the 26 Mandarin Oriental resorts and hotels around the world (of course, this is subject to availability at the time that you book, meaning that your first choice might not always be available). Mandarin Oriental properties around the world range from beachy resorts like the Mandarin Oriental Miami to upscale urban hotels such as the Mandarin Oriental Geneva.

Given that the hotels are all quite luxurious, you could easily rack up the costs in just hotel fare alone to stay at a Mandarin Oriental during your honeymoon, so the free five-night stay is definitely a huge bonus. Of course, Mandarin Oriental doesn’t include airfare, meals or any other extras in the giveaway – it is just the hotel room – but will still probably save a lot of couples a lot of money.

This package could be very attractive to couples who are hoping to have a destination wedding (Las Vegas is certainly a popular place for that!) or a luxurious wedding where they don’t have to worry about any of the details. The “Graciously Luxurious” package is customisable, meaning you can pick and choose from a lot of options in decor, refreshments and style of the wedding to reflect yourself and your spouse-to-be’s individual personality.

Romantic urban honeymoon in Geneva, Switzerland

The free Mandarin Oriental honeymoon package must be booked by the end of May and used by the end of 2011. It is bookable through Mandarin Oriental’s website or by contacting molas-occasions@mohg.com or calling +1 (702) 590-8888.

Royal Wedding Hotel

First opened in 1910, the Goring has a rich history dotted with royal events. It was made famous in 1937 as the first hotel in London to offer ensuite bathrooms, about which King George VI made the famous statement to the Crown Prince of Norway: ‘At Buckingham Palace I have to share a bath with five people! Here [at the Goring] I have one to myself’. The Goring has often hosted British Kings and Queens for high tea and, over the years, has been visited by the likes of Winston Churchill and Prince Charles, among numerous other members of the royal family. This April, Prince William of Wales – Britain’s most eligible bachelor – is to wed Kate Middleton and the rumours are already flying that Kate has chosen the Goring to host her on her last evening of hen-dom.

A grand choice for a royal wedding, indeed, as the Goring is one of the most expensive and luxurious hotels in all of England. The most basic of the Goring’s 71 rooms start out at a price of £410, with their Splendid Connecting Silk Room (pictured below) topping out at a cool £1,525. But hey, if anyone can afford it, it’s the royal family, right?

The Goring
Beeston Place
London
SW1W 0JW
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7396 9000

Dublin tends to get quite packed with tourists during its 4-day St. Patrick’s Festival and accommodation fills up very quickly each year. Luckily, Dublin has numerous hotels, B&Bs and hostels to cater to the shamrocking revelers that descend on the city every spring.

Here are our top picks for Dublin accommodation for St. Patrick’s Day.

Luxury Dublin Accommodation

The Westbury Hotel
Balfe St., Dublin 2
+353 (0) 1 679 1122
Map | Book
Considered one of Dublin’s most beautiful hotels, this historic luxury Dublin hotel is located right off the city’s busiest shopping street, Grafton Street, and is just a few minutes’ walk from Trinity College. The Westbury makes a great choice for St. Patrick’s Day accommodation because of its central location and commitment to outstanding service.

High-End Dublin Hotel

The Clarence Hotel
6-8 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2
+353 (0) 1 407 0820
Map | Book
Owned by famous Irish rock group, U2, what could be more Irish than spending St. Patrick’s Day at the hip Dublin hotel, the Clarence? Located Right on the quays with views of the River Liffey, you can practically see the St. Patrick’s Day parade route from your hotel room, or enjoy a perfect Guinness in their Octagon Bar, where Bono and the Edge themselves love to have a drink.

Mid-Range Dublin Hotel

Harding Hotel
Copper Alley, Fishamble St., Dublin 2
+353 (0) 1 679 6500
Map | Book
This bright and clean hotel enjoys an amazing location just off of Dame Street, adjacent to Christchurch Cathedral. Despite its very reasonable rate offerings, the Harding Hotel is quite central and has a boutique hotel feel. It’s location just a stone’s throw from St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the St. Patrick’s Day parade route doesn’t hurt, either, and the cosy onsite pub, Darkey Kelly’s, makes for a great warm-up St. Patrick’s Day pint.

Cheap and Cheerful Dublin Hostel

Litton Lane Hostel
2-4 Litton Lane, Dublin 1
+353 (0) 1 872 8389
Map | Book
This cheap and cheerful Dublin hostel was once a recording studio where famous Irish musicians like U2, the Cranberries and Van Morrison all recorded albums. The walls are lined with spray painted silhouettes of the artists and new and upcoming bands and musicians are welcomed to play in their comfy common room, even in exchange for a free night’s stay! What’s better, the hostel is located up a small alley near the quays just off O’Connell Street, so you will only be a two-minute walk from the St. Patrick’s Day parade and dozens of pubs.

So, I hope you can celebrate love today, in whatever form it takes wherever you are. Here are some photos that I think express love, in all its many forms, around the world.

This can often be true, and that’s why Viator has compiled a huge list of what they call “private tours” – tours that are given to single or small group travelers that take them to more in-depth places, hidden spots or behind-the-scenes where ordinary tourists might not otherwise be allowed. Though not necessarily cheap, these tours offer you the feeling that you’ve really uncovered something special, and it’s hard to put a price on that.

And Britain has numerous such tours, including these five that Viator feels are the very best in British hidden and private tours.

Private Viewing of the British Crown Jewels

The British crown jewels are on display in the Tower of London and are one of London‘s most popular tourist attractions. So popular, in fact, that guests are moved through the rooms on a conveyor belt so as to speed things along. If that doesn’t really float your boat (it certainly doesn’t float mine), you can opt for a private tour of the jewels given by a “beefeater” who explains their history and significance in-depth. The tour costs £112.

Private Rental of a London-Eye Capsule

Although not a tour, the prospect of spending an hour in your own private capsule on board London’s magnificent ferris wheel is pretty sweet. For £440, you can rent out a capsule for an hour of private viewing, marriage proposals, a mini-party in the skies of London or just about anything you want to do (just don’t ever tell us what you did in there!).

Private Viewing of Stonehenge

If you ever wanted to know a little bit more about those creepy prehistoric stones out on the A303, you can take a private tour with a small group and learn a bit more about their geology, not to mention getting right up close to them. To boot, the tours, which include stops in Bath and the scenic town of Lacock, cost £89 and are given at either sunrise or sunset, just to up the Druidic creepiness factor.

Private Tour of London’s Hidden Pubs

There are so many pubs in London that it’s impossible to visit the city without setting foot inside at least one, but there are no guarantees as to how authentic or historic it might be, especially in the more touristy areas of the city. However, this private tour leads you to five truly hidden (and unusual) pubs scattered to odd ends of the city. Even if you’re a Londoner born and bred, you might learn a thing or two on this tour.

Taxi Tour of London

Whether you want to know where Sherlock Holmes solved his most famous murders or simply want to find a particular celebrity’s house, taxi drivers are the brains of London and are truly some of the most knowledgeable in their city at finding places (I guess it goes with the job!). So, some smart tour companies have employed a few of these old hats to give tourists a thrill, driving them through the city in a vintage black cab and offering a more in-depth tour of London than you’d get almost anywhere else. The tours cost £112 for two hours but can be split between 5 people sharing the taxi.

For more info on these tours or to book one, visit Viator.com.