If you want to take thefamily abroad this summer or fall, but don't want to shell out chateau prices,then think small--think cottages. That's the message of Home at First, aPennsylvania-based outfit offering complete packages in Europe and New Zealandthat start as low as $1,390 per person (based on two people travelingtogether), which includes airfare, a cottage for a week and a car. That's theprice for low season in the English Lake District. Regular cost for the samepackage is $1,550 per person, high season supplement add $299. You can stay anextra week in the same place for just $480 more, per person, or at a differentapartment/cottage for $510.
You can even forget theairfare if you think you can do better, and pay them only $990 per person, andstill get a car rental. Decline the wheels, and the price goes down to $810. Ifyou increase the number of persons traveling with you, the cost remains thesame with air, but decreases slightly for the other options.
The firm is running a KidsStay Free program, which allows children under 12 traveling with parents,grandparents or guardians to stay free in Britain and Ireland, though they dohave to pay the necessary airfare. One kid stays free for every full-payingadult in the party, and availability is limited to participating lodgings only.(Kids Free offer not available in New Zealand or Scandinavia.)
Accommodations mentionedabove are in low-rise apartments (two stories) on a beautiful converted countryestate overlooking Esthwaite Water, a small lake just west of Lake Windermere.
And if you don't love thegorgeous Lake District (maybe you hate Wordsworth and Coleridge or theirpoetry), you can look for vacations elsewhere in England and Wales, as well asScotland, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden or New Zealand.
For more information, go towww.homeatfirst.com, or phone 800/523-5842 or 610/543-4348, fax 610/543-4970 ore-mail info@homeatfirst.com.