"While the storm clouds gather, far across the sea," is the opening line of "God Bless America," a reflection of thoughts turning towards home during fretful days of WWI. If you're planning vacations currently, the current popular choices are between two diametrically opposed options: closer to home or in relatively far-away and remote trouble-free zones. You could do worse than skiing out west, where winter was late, but snow has been copious, or even farther west, into the Pacific Ocean and its territories. Many programs have freebies for children, the subject for this potpourri of packages and deals.
1. Vail Resorts and American Airlines have expended a popular "Kids Fly Free, Ski Free and Stay Free" vacation package through April 6, 2003. Kids aged 12 and under fly free when accompanied by a paying adult from all cities served by American Airlines or American Eagle within the contiguous 48 states into the Vail airport. Kids 12 and under also ski and stay free at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge or Keystone resorts.
Kids between the ages of 2 and 12 are eligible for a free companion ticket on American Airlines when accompanied by a paying adult (one free child's fare per paying adult). The offer doesn't include taxes and surcharges on the free child's ticket, and other restrictions may apply.
At the resort, each child is eligible for one free lift ticket with every adult lift ticked purchased for a period of up to seven days. Kids 12 and under also stay free in the same hotel or condo with a paying adult (packages based on double occupancy). A sample package from Los Angeles, which includes airfare, four nights of lodging and three days of skiing at Keystone, is $660 per adult (in March).
For information, visit www.aavacations.com or www.snow.com. To book, contact AA Vacations at 800/321-2121, Vail Resorts at 800/404-3535, Moguls Mountain Travel at www.moguls.com or Mountain Vacations at 800/775-7995, online at www.mountainvacations.com. Your local travel agent can also book these for you through GOGO Worldwide Vacations.
2. Through April 15, 2003, kids fly and stay free at Crested Butte and Durango resorts. That's the deal with United Vacations for bookings made by April 7, 2003. Purchase a three-night (or longer) package to either resort and, one child (ages 2 to 12) flies free with each adult air-inclusive vacation air ticket purchased. This is for midweek travel, Sunday-Thursday outbound flights, with Monday-Friday return flights. It's valid from all gateways serviced by United and United Express.
The pricing noted herein is for lodging at the Best Western Mountain Shadows in Durango, beginning at $429 from Dallas and San Francisco, $439 from Houston, $449 from Los Angeles and Chicago, $469 from San Antonio and Austin, $519 from Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, and $529 from Boston and New York.
Prices for Crested Butte, with accommodations at the Sheraton Resort, begin at $459 from Dallas and San Francisco, $469 from Houston, $479 from Los Angeles and Chicago, $499 from San Antonio and Austin, $549 from Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, and $559 from Boston and New York.
The prices are per adult, based on double occupancy, with midweek departures. Pricing will vary based on property and travel dates, and are subject to change without notice. Prices do not include passenger facility charges of up to $18, air segment fees of $3 each segment and September 11th Security Fee of up to $10. Additional children pay full price.
You can purchase these vacations at www.unitedvacations.com or by phoning 888/328-6877.
3. From April 7 through April 20, 2003, United Vacations has a similar offer to Vail. Purchase a four-night or longer ski trip to Vail, and one child (ages 2-12) flies free with each adult air-inclusive vacation air ticket purchased. Sample prices include roundtrip airfare on United, four nights' lodging, three-day Vail/Beaver Creek interchangeable ski lift tickets, and a Christy Sports equipment rental discount and free helmet rentals. Pricing for children is free.
You can stay at the Vail Racquet Club in a one bedroom/one bath condo starting at $589 from Dallas and San Francisco, $599 from Houston, $609 from Los Angeles and Chicago, $629 from San Antonio and Austin, $679 from Atlanta, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., and $689 from Boston and New York. Prices at the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa in a hotel room with courtyard view start at $654 from Dallas and San Francisco, and upward, according to gateway. Prices are per person in double occupancy and for midweek departures. Airport fees and charges are not included in the price.
Again, go to www.unitedvacations.com or phone 888/328-6877.
4. It's United Vacations again, this time with a deal for kids to Keystone. No free air this time, but kids ski free, and lodgings are on a quadruple basis (meaning four persons), so there is still a bargain present here. Prices with lodging at the River Run Deluxe in a two-bedroom, two-bath condo based on quad occupancy start at $689 from Dallas and San Francisco, $699 from Houston, $709 from Chicago and Los Angeles, $729 from Austin and San Antonio, and $779 from Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. Prices are per adult for midweek travel through April 20,2003. Airport charges are not included in the price. Visit the Web site, www.unitedvacations.com, or phone 888/328-6877.
And Now for Something Completely Different...
5. Finally, if you want to get as far from Iraq as you possibly can, consider Fiji, where the Outrigger Reef (part of the giant Hawaiian chain) has a "Kids Stay & Eat Free" offer, allowing two children up to 16 years of age to stay in their parents' room and have three meals a day, all on the house. With a partial ocean view room costing only $209 per night, this works out to just over $52 a person per night, quite affordable when you couple the price with the word "Fiji". The islands are an English-speaking destination, where two of their dollars buys one of ours, more or less making many prices there about half that in the US when related to buying power of the greenback.
The hotel also has two children's clubs, one for 3 to 7 years, the other for 8 to 12 years, with daily activities that entertain, teach and baby-sit the kids from 9 to 9 daily. They can swim, play , learn about Fijian culture, and order lunch and dinner from a special menu that includes kid-friendly food such as hamburgers, pizza and spaghetti.
The resort itself is set on 40 acres on the waterfront, with tropical foliage, a coral lagoon, three restaurants, fitness facilities, tennis, horseback riding, snorkeling, kayaking, live music and firewalking performances. There's also a free shuttle to Kula Eco Park, a nearby nature preserve with guided tours and treetop walkways.
Lodging at the resort is in low-rise hotel rooms or private bungalows called bures. A variety of packages, some including airfare, is available, and Fiji is just ten hours from Los Angeles. For reservations and more information, contact your travel agent, call Outrigger at 800/OUTRIGGER (same as 688-7444) or e-mail reservations@outrigger.com. Their Web site is www.outrigger.com.
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