Santa Barbara: Hotel + dinner for 2 for $299

This jaw-dropping Santa Barbara deal from Travelzoo posted Wednesday and, like many Top 20 deals, may go quickly. A midweek night at the Canary Hotel plus a three-course meal for two at the hotel’s Coast Restaurant goes for $299 -- less than the cost of a typical one-night stay.

[For the record at 1:45 p.m. Sept. 21: An earlier version of this post wrongly said the Travelzoo offer cost $297.]

The deal: The Canary is a little boutique hotel with a downtown location (31 W. Carrillo St.). More extras come with this deal too: free room upgrade to superior or deluxe room, welcome cocktails, wine-tasting passes to downtown wineries, free bike rentals, valet parking, free Wi-Fi and 25% off breakfast. To get this deal, you buy a coupon from Travelzoo and then call the hotel to make reservations and cash it in.

When: The coupon is good for stays Sundays through Thursdays (no weekends) starting this Sunday and continuing through Dec. 29. Blackout dates: Oct. 11 to 13 and Nov. 14 to 16.

Details: I called the hotel to check up on this deal and was assured by a reservation agent that the coupon would be honored if used by Dec. 29.

I looked at online room rates at this hotel on a few random dates and found superior rooms priced at $500 to $525 a night (standard rate) or $275 to $300 a night (best available rate) -- without dinner and extras. Either way, it’s a great savings for a quick getaway.

Contact: Travelzoo