Turn that stimulus check from the IRS into FUN

You think your tax refund won't get you far? It could help get you to the Terre Resort & Spa in Marrakech, Morocco. (OCTOGONE HOTELS)

Got your economic stimulus payment from the government yet? Regardless of your opinion of the economy and its direction, using the $300-$600 windfall plus any income tax refund for travel will definitely help you to have a good time. Here are some untaxing offers to consider:

HKH Hotels in New York - the Casablanca Hotel, the Library Hotel, Hotel Elysée, and Hotel Giraffe - is discounting prices $10-$50 from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Regular summer rates at these boutique hotels start at $265-$289. Guests of the Library and the Casablanca will also get a signature totebag. Use promotion code taxrebate when booking.

Visit hkhotels.us or call 888-922-7225 (Casablanca), 877-793-7323 (Library), 800-535-9733 (Elysée), or 877-296-0009 (Giraffe).

Gutsy Women Travel has a Bring A Friend Tax Rebate promotion on four trips: six-day Toronto & Niagara-on-the-Lake, departing July 19; seven-day Montreal & Quebec City, Aug. 13; eight-day Venice & Lake Como, July 12; and nine-day Sicily, Sept. 27. When two travelers combine their rebates and book any of those tours at the regular price, the second person gets a 25 percent savings off the land-only price. That can mean savings of up to $930 depending upon the tour. The offer is good through May. Mention code GWTTXR.

Call 866-IMGUTSY (464-8879). For details, visit www.gutsywomentravel.com.

Octogone Hotels in exotic Morocco has a Buy 4 Nights, Get the 5th Night Free package that also includes a complimentary Royal Hammam massage for two at its Terre Resort & Spa in Marrakech. This offer is good through June 15. Use code taxrebate when booking. Prices range from $200-$800 depending upon the room and time of year.

Call 480-503-8022. For information, visit octogonehotels.com.

In Boston, the Fairmont Copley Plaza's Tax Refund Weekend Package includes overnight accommodations for two and a credit of the 12.45 percent room tax. Rates start at $245. The offer is good through June 30.

Visit fairmont.com/copleyplaza or call 800-441-1414.

Prices for spring and summer have been cut 20 to 25 percent on average at the nine Oasis Hotels & Resorts in Cancún and the Riviera Maya. All-inclusive rates range from $69 per person per night at the Oasis Cancún to $144 at the Grand Oasis Riviera Maya, and $150 at the Grand Oasis Cancún. Add your stimulus and tax refunds to that and you might shout "Ole!"

Call 800-44-OASIS (446-2747). For hotel information, visit hoteloasis.com.

Vegas smorgasbord

United Vacations is giving discounts of up to $125 per reservation on its Las Vegas flight-hotel packages. The savings depend on the hotel: $125 off at selected five-star hotels (use promotion code V125), $100 off at four-star hotels (use V100), $75 off at other four-star hotels and three-star hotels (V75), and $50 off all other hotels (V50). Book three nights or more online and get 1,000 frequent-flier miles in addition to those earned from the flight. Bookings must be made by May 31 for travel through Aug. 31.

Visit unitedvacations.com, call 888-328-6877, or see a travel agent.

Know how you can save?

"The Penny Pincher's Passport to Luxury Travel" by Joel L. Widzer (Travelers' Tales, 2004) is in its third edition. Subtitled "The Art of Cultivating Preferred Customer Status," the book focuses on building relationships with airlines, hotels, and car-rental agencies and turning those relationships into discounts and upgrades. Widzer calls the tourism industry confusing and contradictory, an assessment hard to disagree with.

Pursuit of happiness

The Liberty Hotel on Beacon Hill has an Independence Day Perfect View package that is not cheap but is enticing. Guests will receive up to four coveted seats for Boston's fireworks show and suite accommodations with floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the Charles River. With prices starting at $1,515 per night, the package includes accommodations in a one- or two-bedroom Escape Suite, up to four seats on the Community Boating dock for the Boston Pops performance and Charles River fireworks display, dinner for up to four people at the hotel's restaurant CLINK, Veuve Clicquot champagne and dessert at turndown, and a 2 p.m. checkout. The offer is good July 3-5.

Visit libertyhotel.com or call 617-224-4000 or 866-507-5245.

Touch of home

The Boston Symphony Chamber Players will perform on Queen Mary 2's eastbound trans-Atlantic crossing departing New York on Sept. 4. The six-day voyage to Southampton, England, begins at $1,395.

Visit cunard.com, call 800-7-CUNARD (728-6273) or see a travel agent.

Simpsons special

To celebrate the Simpsons Ride opening at Universal Studios Hollywood this month, Sheraton Universal has an offer that might make Homer Simpson say, "Mmmmmm." The Springfield Goes Hollywood package includes a night in a newly-renovated room, two front-of-the-line Universal Studios passes worth $200, a Homer doll, a doughnut turndown amenity, shuttle service to the theme park, and, if available, an upgrade to a lanai poolside suite. The cost is $419. (The ride is also opening soon at Universal Orlando.)

Visit sheraton.com/universaloffers or call 866-716-8130.

Montreal most musical

Jazz It Up packages are being offered for the 29th edition of the Montreal Jazz Festival, June 26-July 6. In addition to two nights' accommodations and two breakfasts at your choice of four hotels, you get a festival T-shirt, a shoulder bag, a ticket to the Jazz d'ici La Presse series or Rhythmes Bell series, free entry to the TD Canada Trust jam sessions and to the Montreal Guitar Show, and a booklet of savings vouchers worth up to $135. Prices range from about $184-$291.

For that and other packages, as well as festival information, visit montrealjazzfest.com.

Web world

Visiting the loo can provoke anxiety when it's around the corner, let alone around the world. The Bathroom Diaries (thebathroomdiaries.com) reviews the facilities in more than 120 countries, including 9,000 US locations, and, who knows, it just might soothe your nerves.

When not included, hotel taxes, airport fees, and port charges can add significantly to the price of a trip. Most prices quoted are for double occupancy; solo travelers will usually pay more. Offers are subject to availability and there may be blackout dates. Richard P. Carpenter can be reached at carpenter@globe.com.