Moon over Monterey for $129 O/W

By Clara Bosonetto Maerz

For ajc.com

Did you know that the one-way trip to the moon on the historic 1969 manned voyage took just over 60 hours?

Celebrate this historic day -- and modern commercial flights -- with a moon-related travel tip (had to do it!).

There are a handful of full moon nights remaining in the year, and those are the nights you can stay on the "Moon Over Monterey" package at the Hotel Abrego in Monterey, Calif.

The hotel commemorates the 40th anniversary of Neil Armstrong’s historical moonwalk on these evenings: Aug. 6-7, Sept. 4-5, Oct. 4-5, Nov. 2-3 and Dec. 2-3.

Guests will enjoy a two-night stay, turndown service with MoonPies and a copy of the a new children's book, “Mission Control, This Is Apollo: The Story of the First Voyages to the Moon” by Andrew Chaikin.

The per night rate is $111. Refer to promo code MOON when booking. Make reservations before Aug. 6.

The hotel is a bit on the business-style side, but well located in central uptown and ideal for exploring the area's beauty, history, and nature. Nearby top spots include Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Del Monte Beach is a mile away.

During other nights of the year, Hotel Abrego offers non-renovated rooms from $135 per night with refreshed rooms from $165.

Airfare to the Monterey-Carmel, California region remains a bargain with one-way rates from $129 with Delta-Northwest . The rate requires a 21-day advance purchase notice. Travel is allowed seven days week. No blackout dates apply and this rate is valid on trips finished on or before June 16, 2010.

Start planning your getaway to Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur and other coastal towns at seemonterey.com.