Family travel deals | WeJustGotBack.com

Saw it on Travel Ticker: Arizona hotels from $49

Katrina — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:16:00 -0700

We admit it. We've fallen head over heels for the deal-finding site Travel-Ticker.com, which is currently touting deals at Phoenix, Scottsdale and Sedona hotels that are hot enough to live up to their desert heat. Case in point: A $49 deal at Scottsdale Links Resort for a one bedroom suite, next door to a brand-new championship golf course and offering access to two pools. We were also wowed by the $59-and-up deals at two Phoenix Hiltons—the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort and the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort—both of which have waterparks and command high season rates starting at about $150 a night.

Even if you're not heading to the desert, Travel Ticker is a go-to site for discovering impressive deals. You can click on your destination on the home page, or browse the Hotels Under a Hundred page, where every deal comes in at under 100 bucks a night.

Save up to 50% at Starwood Hotels' summer sale

Jinny — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:11:00 -0700

Starwood Hotels and Resorts (whose brands include W, Westin, St. Regis, and Sheraton) just announced a week-long Summer Sale at locations worldwide with savings up to 50% off stays between July 16 and October 12. Among the US properties taking part in the promo are the W Times Square (nightly rates start at $199, compared to the regular price tag of $359), and the Sheraton Boston Hotel (nightly rates from $139, regularly $195). Farther afield, hotels in Mexico and Asia Pacific are also part of the sale. When we did some price-checking, we found that savings varied considerably from property to property—some approaching 50%, others not so much. One thing is definite: The clock is ticking on this offer. You have to book by July 20.

Save $100/night at Costa Rican all-inclusive

Jinny — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:00:00 -0700

With sweeping views from bluffs overlooking Culebra Bay and a menagerie of resident wild parrots, monkeys, and sea turtles, the Allegro Papagayo resort makes for a memorable place to stay in Costa Rica. (It's also just 30 minutes from the airport, something you don’t always find at eco-destinations.) Once you arrive, there are plenty of activities to keep your crew busy, from beach soccer and volleyball to snorkeling and kayaking. There’s also a kids' club for the 4-to-12 set, a knockout freeform pool, and a private beach club on an island just offshore. Pricing is all-inclusive, which means you won't be opening your wallet every time you turn around.

The Allegro Papagayo is offering discounted rates starting at $68 per person, per night, through December 31—and kids 12 and under stay free through December 18. When we priced out stays on several date ranges for a family of two adults and two kids, we did indeed find nightly rates starting at $136 per room (or, as advertised, $68 per person). This is about $100 less than the regular nightly rate. One caveat: The discounted rates are non-changeable and non-refundable, so make sure your dates are set in stone before booking.

Chop $400 at Florida's South Seas Island Resort

Jinny — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:25:00 -0700

There’s a charming, old-time island feel to Captiva Island in southwest Florida, thanks to an absence of mailboxes, stop lights, billboards, fast food restaurants, and buildings taller than a palm tree. Instead, you'll find miles and miles (and more miles) of pristine white sand and a natural playground for active families. At the northern end of the island sits the newly-renovated (to the tune of $140 million) South Seas Island Resort, which was named one of the top 10 family beach resorts by Parents magazine. It's a sprawling village-style resort set along 330 acres on Pine Island Sound, more than half of which is a dedicated wildlife preserve and estuary. There's an on-site naturalist and an extensive roster of programs designed to introduce guests to the local environment, including guided kayak tours and a learn-to-fish program. When it’s time for some fresh water, kids and parents can hit the new H2Whoa! Slide pool complex, which features a corkscrew slide and 16-foot plunge slide.

Now through October 31, the resort is offering a Summer Escape Package. Stay three consecutive nights, and you’ll get a fourth night free (same as a 25% discount), a 20% discount on food and beverage, free breakfast for kids 10 and under, and a 10% golf discount at the Captiva Island Golf Club. Golf’s not your thing? The discount also works at the resort’s nine tennis courts. When we priced a trip in August for a family of two adults and two kids, we found a nightly rate of $149 for a traditional room (add $30 more for a waterview).

Considering the value of the free fourth night ($149), free kids' breakfast for four days ($10/kid x 2 kids x 4 days = $80), and a 20% discount on everything else you eat and drink (let's say, worth $170 over four days), we estimate that the package delivers about $400 in savings. Play that round of golf or match of tennis and you’ll save even more.

Saw it on ParentsConnect Local: Summer in Chicago

Jinny — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:15:00 -0700

Thoughts of lunchboxes and homework are long gone. Now we're all about picnics, popsicles, and Kick the Can. Nothing puts smiles on kids' faces like a few well-chosen family outings for the summer. We’re turning for inspiration to ParentsConnect Local, whose great events calendar features hundreds of warm-weather happenings in more than 50 cities around the country. Here's a sample of what we found on the summer calendar in Chicago:

Family Fun Festival — Birthday Celebration Week: In honor of Millennium Park's fifth birthday, The Chicago Office of Tourism is saluting the many neighborhoods that make Chicago special. For example, Urban Gateway's teaching artists help kids make Artist Trading Cards, using souvenirs from several Chicago neighborhoods, like maps, menus, and stickers. A collaborative diorama project gives kids an opportunity to construct miniature replicas of famous Chicago buildings. Free for all ages. (July 13-19, 10am-3pm; 312/742-1168)

Sheffield Garden Walk: This neighborhood festival features a Kid's Corner, moon walk, pig train, and kiddie Ferris wheel. Family entertainment includes a magic show, face painting, storytime, dancing, and live music. $6 suggested donation. (July 18-19, 12:30pm-dusk; 773/929-9255)

30th Annual Chinatown Summer Fair: This popular event features a Lion Dance processional, Asian cultural entertainment, and musical performances throughout the day. Families can enjoy Chinese arts-and-crafts exhibit, a children's area, and street vendors with an array of merchandise. Free for all ages. (July 19, 10am-8pm; 312/326-5320)

Save 50% on villas at Orlando's Reunion Resort

Jinny — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:15:00 -0700

Planning a trip to Orlando? Listen up, since the chance to save almost $1,300 on a six-night vacation doesn't come along every day. Reunion Resort, located just six miles from Walt Disney World, in Orlando, has kicked off a Buy One, Get One Free offer on its roomy villas, which offer more space than your average hotel room. For every night booked at the regular rate in a one- or three-bedroom villa, you’ll get an additional night free. That's the same as a 50% discount for every two nights.

The villas feature fully-equipped kitchens, washer/dryer units, and high-speed Internet access. The resort features a five-acre waterpark with a lazy river, 150-foot flume slide and an interactive water playground complete with fountains and spray jets. There’s also a pavilion area that houses a zero-entry pool, outdoor billiards, and a game room.

When we price-checked stays in August and September, we found regular rates of $368 per night for a one-bedroom villa (which sleeps up to four people) and $428 per night for the three-bedroom unit (which sleeps up to six people). The promotion brings the average nightly rate down to $184 and $214, respectively. Another way to look at it: You can save up to $856 on a four-night stay, or up to $1,284 on a six-night stay! More good news: The deal includes parking, service fees, and taxes. The offer is valid for stays through September 30.

Save up to 30% off in Redondo Beach

Katrina — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:57:00 -0700

Bound for L.A. anytime soon? Redondo Beach—located just south of the city proper—is a solid choice for families that's not as pricey as Santa Monica, but still with plenty of charm. After all, this strip of coastline was once the Beach Boys’ home turf (and surf). Today it’s chock-a-block with shops, restaurants, and a fun beach-and-pier atmosphere. We especially like the new Book Early for Summer deal from the The Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club. Known as the Portofino Inn back in the Beach Boys’ era, this property was recently renovated from top to bottom.

Though summer is well underway, it's still not too late to cash in with this early-bird deal built on a sliding scale. Stay two nights at the 161-room inn overlooking the ocean on one side and the marina on the other, and you get 15% off your stay. Stay three nights and the discount rises to 20%. Do four or more nights and you get 30% off. Regular rates for the summer typically run $239 to $279. On a four-night stay, the package can save you $380 on an otherwise $1,276 tab. Plus, you get a $50 dinner credit at the onsite seafood restaurant, Baleen.

Meanwhile, the hotel offers a pool, firepits on the beach, and free bicycles that you can borrow. (With the pier and beachside paths, this area is very bike-friendly.) Kids will also get a kick out of neighboring King Harbor, home to a colony of chatty sea lions.

The package is good for travel through September 30. You can book online or through the reservations line at 310/379-8481.

Saw it on ParentsConnect Local: Summer in Seattle

Jinny — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:58:00 -0700

So long, backpacks and jam-packed schedules. Hello, barefeet and wide-open summer days. Nothing puts smiles on kids' faces like a few well-chosen family outings for the summer. We’re turning for inspiration to ParentsConnect Local, whose great events calendar features hundreds of warm-weather happenings in more than 50 cities around the country. Here's a sample of what we found on the summer calendar in Seattle:

Summer Celebration: Head to Mercer Island this weekend for live entertainment, a parade, boat rides, arts-and-crafts street fair, and a children's fun zone with inflatables, face painting, miniature train rides, games, and craft activities. Free admission for all ages, though there are fees for some activities. (July 11 10am-7pm, July 12 10am-5pm; 206/275-7609)

Bellevue Arts Museum ArtsFair: Families are invited for lively entertainment, tantalizing foods, and a KidsFair where children can create bubbles, painting, sock puppets, and more. The museum's galleries are open and free to the public. Free for all ages. (July 24-25 9:30am-9:30pm, July 26 9:30am-6pm; 425/519-0770)

Exploring the Beach at Low Tide: A Discovery Park naturalist leads an exploration of the intertidal world of sea stars, moon snails, sea anemones and clams on the north beach. Register in advance. Free for kids 6-19. (July 19 8:30am-10:30am; 206/386-4236)

Southwest 48-hour sale, fall airfares $30-$90

Suzanne — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 05:10:00 -0700

If you're planning a fall getaway, this could be your lucky day. For the next 48 hours, Southwest is having a mega sale on post-summer airfares on all its routes. Sale prices range from $30 to $90 for one-way flights, depending on the distance flown. The fine print: Travel dates are from September 9 to November 18, for flights any day of the week except Friday and Sunday. Hurry—the sale ends tomorrow, July 8, at 11:59PST (July 9, 2:59AM EST).

Go-to Resource: Travelzoo's "Deals Near You"

Suzanne — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:10:00 -0700

There's nothing we like better than a fantastic travel deal. But with gas prices inching upward (boo! hiss!), more families are planning to stick closer to home this summer. To the rescue comes Travelzoo's "Deals Near You" tool, which makes it a snap to find a vacation bargain in your own backyard. Just enter your zip code and up pops a handful of super deals within a few hours' drive of where you live. When we tested the tool with different locations around the country, we found that it routinely generated at least a half-dozen hotel bargains, often for up to 60% below the regular rate. Bookmark this one, folks. It's a keeper.