With spring break right around the corner, great family vacation deals are sprouting like daffodils. Whether you feel like heading to a resort, a theme park or the beach, we've got you covered with some fresh deals that deliver strong savings.
Spring Bounce Package at Colonial Williamsburg
Has cabin fever hit your house? Colonial Williamsburg, the largest living history museum in the U.S., has announced a Spring Bounce package that includes a two-night stay in a standard guest room at the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel, from $305 per night, plus three-in-one tickets for unlimited general admission to Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area and Art Museums, Busch Gardens, and Water Country USA (valid for up to seven consecutive days).Booked without the package, a two-night stay in June would cost $198 for the room and $525 for the park tickets, for a total of $723. If booked with the package, the same stay would cost $609. That's $114 saved, which translates to about 16%.
The package is valid for stays from March 18-June 16, with a Sunday-Wednesday arrival. It's important to note that the theme parks all have different opening dates: for example, Busch Gardens isn't open on weekdays until May 27, and Water Country's gates are closed until May 21. So, in order to hit all three parks you would need to book your visit for the first two weeks of June. Rates apply to a family of two adults and two kids under age 17 and are based on availability. Book online or call tel. 800/447-8679 and use promo code "spring bounce."
Snag a 25% Discount at Costa Rica's Lost Iguana
For an active and eco-minded rain-forest vacation, you can't go wrong with Costa Rica. We've blogged before about the 120-acre, family-friendly Lost Iguana Resort, and we love its new High Season Special, which promises 20% off for stays of three nights or more. That takes the starting nightly rate from $185 down to $148 -- a solid deal. After all, if you're coming this far, you know you'll stay at least three nights.
Set in Arenal, the 42-room hotel was recently featured on The Bachelor. It faces the lava-flowing side of Arenal Volcano, which is known to regularly spray red lava (at a safe distance) at night. At the resort, you can hike the trails through an 80-acre, old-growth forest, work your way through a hibiscus maze, or swim in two pools. An on-site wildlife guide is available to answer questions or lead you on nature hikes. You can also set up a variety of activities near the resort, such as rafting, spelunking (that's cave-exploring to you and me), zip-lining, fishing, or visiting a butterfly preserve. The resort has a spa, a fitness center, and free wireless, and every room has a private balcony with views. From yours, you might hear a toucan, a howler monkey, or that gurgling volcano.
The discount is good through the end of April, with blackout dates of April 16-23. You can book the deal on the hotel's online request form, e-mail maritzalostiguana@mac.com, or call tel. 011/506-2267-6148.
Save 25% at Orlando World Center Marriott Resort
Less than two miles down the road from Disney's Magic Kingdom, the 200-acre Orlando World Center Marriott Resort is a family-fun playground of its own, boasting six swimming pools (two just for kids), a 106-foot waterslide, daily poolside activities (think dive-in movies, a beach ball drop, hula hoop contests), a sand play area, an arcade, a spa, golf, nearly a dozen restaurants and lounges, and courts for tennis, basketball, and volleyball.With the resort's Orlando Vacation special, guests staying a minimum of four nights will save 25% off the nightly rate. We test-booked this offer on a four-night stay in March and found a nightly rate of $172 for a standard, resort-view room -- which does work out to be a 25% savings off the regular rack rate of $229. The catch with this deal, though, is that you have to pay in full when you book; you can change your travel dates but you won't get a refund if you cancel your stay.
Not comfortable with that level of commitment? We spied another option: a 4th Night Free offer. (You won't find it on the website's "specials and packages" page, but when you plug in dates for a reservation, it will appear as an option.) The nightly rate is $229, but with the fourth night free the rate averages out to $172 each night. That means you'll still get the 25% savings, but you'll be able to cancel up to three days in advance of your stay if your plans should change.
Both offers are good through Sept. 30, and blackout dates do apply. Book online or call tel. 800/380-7931 and use promo code "PRO" or "4th night free."
$75 Daily Credit at LaPlaya Resort in Naples, Florida
We've seen quite a few "luxury for less" offers popping up lately, and here's another one that caught our eye. The 64-acre LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort in Naples, Florida is an oceanfront resort boasting spacious rooms and suites with marble bathrooms, "beach butlers," spa and golf facilities, and water activities that range from pedal boats and wave runners to kayaks and parasail rides. Families can take advantage of movie nights, a kids' aquatic camp, and babysitting services.
With LaPlaya's Frostbite Relief offer, guests earn a $75 resort credit per night that's good for food and beverages, spa services, golf, and even gift-shop purchases. Plus, the resort will waive the $17 daily resort fee. It quickly adds up to big savings. A five-night stay, for example, nabs you $375 in credit and keeps $85 in pesky resort fees in your wallet.
With nightly rates starting north of $450, we're not saying that LaPlaya is not a splurge. But if you're looking for an upscale family beach getaway, the "Frostbite Relief" promotion helps take out some of the chill.
The offer expires April 30, and is subject to availability. Book online or call tel. 800/237-6883 and use promo code "Frostbite."
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