Taking the Kids™
And Snaring a Summer Deal
Not again!
Just as we get ready for our much-needed summer vacations, gas prices go through the roof. Of course that’s not going to keep us home. Not when we’ve got a Bat Mitzvah in Las Vegas, a wedding in Boston and we’ve promised the kids that this is the summer they’ll finally get to meet Mickey Mouse.
If anything, AAA spokesman Mike Pina suggests, families might opt to save on gas or plane tickets by vacationing closer to home. (Visit AAA’s Web site, www.fuelcostcalculator.com, to see what you might expect to pay for gas on your next road trip.) Or search the Web for airline deals and check sites like www.kayak.com or www.farecomapre.com to compare prices before you book.
Join forces with relatives or another family and save money on renting that beach house or lakefront cabin. You can also save as much as 20 percent if you book air and hotel Hotwire TripStarter, www.hotwire.com/tripstarter, can tell you the least expensive time to visit your dream destination.
Here’s another money-saving idea: Think off-season. Consider vacation spots that are low season in summer and you’ll not only save big bucks, but you can get your rest and relaxation in places you could only dream about in winter — beautiful beaches, gigantic water playgrounds and spectacular spas. (We parents need a little break, too!)
Take Florida, for example. The TradeWinds Islands Resorts near Tampa, www.justletgo.com, offers five-night packages starting at $780. Ready for glow-in-the-dark beach volleyball? Or check out Sandestin’s Family Golf Package, www.sandestin.com, where kids play free. The kids will love the five pools at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin where, this summer, room rates start at $199 — nearly half off. (Visit www.swandolphin.com and ask for the SUM199 rate.)
Think Arizona. (Save 50 percent or more at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa, www.kierlandresort.com, or pay just $99 a night at the Chaparral Suites Resort, www.chaparralsuites.com.)
Or choose Palm Springs where rates at the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort, www.hyattgrandchampions.com, start at just $134 a night and include a $25 spa credit and a free day at Camp Hyatt. The Desert Springs JW Marriott, www.desertspringsresort.com, offers a family package starting at $149 a night — more than $200 less than in winter. They even throw in a pizza delivery and a movie. The kids will love The Living Desert, a combination zoo and nature preserve, nearby.
So what if it’s hot. You’re either going to be at the beach, the pool, the spa or in your air-conditioned room anyway. Play golf or tennis early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Besides, when else can you afford to take the kids to a fancy resort with all the bells and whistles?
Remember to purchase travel insurance, though, hurricane season begins mid-August.
So many families opt for an island vacation in summer when hotels and air travel cost less. Resorts roll out the red carpet for kids, teens and their parents and offer special activities and packages. Even car rentals are cheaper in the Caribbean. Hertz, www.hertz.com, promises a free day to those renting a car for at least three days in the Caribbean or Latin America. (Just make sure to mention the promotion code 993554.) Got enough sunscreen?
By: Eileen Ogintz
