Fourth night free and gourmet picnic at Sofitel hotels

Summer getaways are always nicer with a picnic, especially when someone else prepares the gourmet goodies. Sofitel is offering a picnic basket and fourth night free at hotels from L.A. to Paris. All that’s left is picking the perfect spot to dine.

The deal: The Chic Picnic offer is good at Sofitels worldwide. It includes one basket per four-night stay filled with appetizers, salads and sandwiches, desserts and a bottle of wine or Champagne, soft drinks and bottled water. Sofitel calculates the free night by taking 25% off the daily premium rate for each night. Note too the offer requires full payment at booking time with no cancellations or changes allowed.

When: The deal is good through the end of August.

Tested: I checked online at different Sofitels to check on availability and found these package prices. Note prices reflect the 25% discount each day of a four-night stay (so multiply by four to get an idea of the total cost).

For a close-to-home stay, Sofitel Los Angeles (8555 Beverly Blvd.) package prices start at $216 a night plus tax from Aug. 25-29 and Sofitel San Francisco Bay (223 Twin Dolphin Drive, Redwood City) start at $133 a night plus tax Aug. 18-22. Of course, there’s always Paris starting at $492 a night plus tax for a stay Aug. 23-27.

So how do the savings stack up? On the dates I tested, the 25% discounted package rate reflects the cheapest nightly room rate available at each hotel. Add the free picnic, and it’s a nice break on a luxury hotel stay.

Contact: Sofitel, (800) 763-4835 for hotels in the U.S. and Canada; consult the website for overseas reservation numbers.