Good deeds, good karma

This column usually tells travelers how to save money. But this week, in the spirit of the season, I'm offering tips on how travelers can give away their cash and time to charities.

Giving can be as painless as donating a few frequent-flier miles, joining a short charity walk on a cruise ship or sanding a picnic table for a couple of hours at a national park.

Occasionally, you can even profit by being generous. Some hotels, for instance, reward volunteer work with room discounts or include charitable gifts in package deals.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Reserve a room that gives back: Under the "Giving With Aloha" package, some Marriott hotels in Hawaii will donate your room rate for the final night of a five-night stay to charities such as the American Red Cross. For a Jan. 10 to 15 stay with this package I recently checked on the website of Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki Beach, the daily rate, which included room and breakfast for two, started at $189.

Through Dec. 30, the Renaissance Seattle Hotel is donating 5% of its "Make-A-Wish Come True Holiday Package" to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Package prices, including room, two "Nutcracker" ballet tickets and more, start at $199 per night -- a savings of nearly 30% off regular rates.

A good way to find such packages is through DealBase.com, a website that searches for hotel deals. Go to