See a bargain? Do the math!

What's the best hotel deal: half off your second night, your fourth night free, or 30 percent off your nightly rate? "Always do the math," advises the family-friendly travel site WeJustGotBack.com, which notes that there are many good hotel deals nowadays but selecting the best can be confusing. In this instance, the 30 percent offer trumps the other two.

For 19 more tips on traveling in troubled economic times, visit www.wejustgotback.com.

Old-fashioned Christmas

The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in Dixville Notch, N.H., will welcome guests on Christmas week with a reception, a commemorative ornament, a sleigh ride, gingerbread decorating, ornament making, caroling, dancing, and wine tastings. Rates for Dec. 19-26 begin at $139 per person, per night. A full breakfast and the holiday activities are included.

Visit www.thebalsams.com or call 800-255-0600.

NYC for under $100

Two new New York micro-hotels, the Pod on East 51st Street and the Jane in the West Village, offer rooms for less than $100 on many (but not all) dates. The rooms are high-tech, stylish, and in desirable locations. So what's the catch? The rooms are tiny and most share a communal bathroom.

Visit www.thepodhotel.com or www.thejanenyc.com.

The gift of travel

• BedandBreakfast.com sells Getaway Gift Cards online in amounts from $25 to $2,000, and in $50 and $100 denominations in many retail stores.

  Visit the website or call 800-GO-B-AND-B (462-2632). Gift cards can be printed instantly online or mailed with free shipping in foil-lined envelopes with a complimentary 64-page directory worth $5.95.

• Hawaii's new Superferry, which takes travelers from Oahu to Maui and back for $49-$59 each way, and takes 3-3 1/2 hours in either direction, is selling gift certificates starting at $50.

  Call 877-HI-FERRY (443-3779). For ferry information, visit www.hawaiisuperferry.com.

A quantum of luxury

The price may leave some James Bond fans shaken, but others may be stirred into action before Dec. 30. Boston's Kimpton Nine Zero Hotel has a Strengthen Your Bond Weekend Package that includes two nights in the 1,200-square-foot 19th-floor penthouse suite, two tickets to "Quantum of Solace," limo service to the film, an in-suite martini bar, two cocktail glasses, and an in-room massage for two. Rates begin at $6,450.

Call 866-906-9090 and ask for rate code PBON. For hotel details, visit www.ninezero.com.

RICHARD P. CARPENTER

Most prices quoted are for double occupancy, minus taxes and fees. Offers are subject to availability. Richard P. Carpenter can be reached at carpenter@globe.com.