My October 2010 issue of Budget Travel magazine featured the Readers’ Choice awards for various travel related categories. I was surprised and intrigued to read that the Finger Lakes Region in New York State was voted the Most Beautiful Wine Region in the World!

The article discussing the region can be read here and here.

Therefore, seeing as the area is easily a one tank trip away, it seems like a feasible alternative. In addition, our family started an annual tradition several years ago, after I met my wife, to make a trip up to different wine regions. So we are proposing to head up to the Finger Lakes wine region possibly over this spring break (2011).

I’m beginning our search by trying to locate any Intercontinental Hotel Group (Priority Club Rewards) properties in the area. The tough part at this early stage in the planning is choosing a decently rated hotel within a reasonable distance to a lot of the wineries, while still maintaining affordability.

I currently have a coupon that Expedia provided to me that will give us $50 off a 2-night stay at any hotel provided we book by the end of February 2011. The difficult part is all the Intercontinental brand hotels via Expedia are non-refundable. Therefore, I’d be locked into going, and should a better deal come along, I have no other option.

I never like to be locked into plans if I can help it, at least when it comes to hotels. Therefore, I’ll continue to watch for other options, which may even include staying outside the Intercontinental brand. Stay tuned for more details of the planning.