The Lollipop Road

Posts Tagged ‘hotel deals’

As we get closer to spring break and the winter weather continues to hammer much of the country, travel deals are becoming a bit more scarce.  This week, I’m looking at deals across all categories of travel to come up with the very best deals.

Let’s start with the simple – Marriott is offering up to 40% off it’s regular weekend rates at select participating worldwide hotels for stays through March 21, 2010.  Reservations must be completed by January 22, 2010 and include a Friday or Saturday night stay.  The best part is that you can also get the discount on their Stay For Breakfast rates, which includes breakfast for two adults and two kids 12 and under.

Moving on to the adventurous – Disney Cruise Line is offering an amazing deal on it’s April 10, 2010 transatlantic sailing aboard Disney Magic.  Sailing from Port Canaveral to Castaway Cay, Madeira, Cadiz and Barcelona, this 14 night repositioning cruise only happens a couple of times each year.  An Inside Guarantee is priced at $799 $699 for the the 1st and 2nd passengers and $464-$699 $389-$599 for 3rd and 4th passengers, depending upon age.  A family of four with two young kids can do this trip for $2,880 $2,455!  One-way airfare back from Barcelona might be pricey, but this would be a great time to use your frequent flyer miles.

And finally…the unique – The Tyler Place Family Resort offers a far from ordinary experience at it’s small family resort in Highgate Springs, Vermont.  Catering to families, this all-inclusive getaway is like nowhere you’ve been before.  Pre-season dates (May 28-June 19) are available at up to 50% off regular rates.  For as little as $363/night for a family of four, you can enjoy this all inclusive waterfront location where there is no TV, no video games and lots of quality family time.

Disclosure

With its mild winter temperatures and year-round sunshine, Palm Springs, California makes a great winter destination for families looking to escape the cold, snowy weather in other parts of the country.  Even in the dead of winter, average highs hover around 70°F, but plunge into the 40′s overnight.  The best time to visit is March-April or October-November when temperatures are most comfortable.

Palm Springs offers lots of family friendly attractions.  Our top three attractions focus on the outdoors, because after all, when you’re here, you’re looking to enjoy the sunshine, right?

1. Joshua Tree National Park – Situated in the desert just one hour from Palm Springs, this park offers something for all ages and is a great spot for a picnic or overnight camping.  The West entrance at Joshua Tree is located 5 miles south of Highway 62, which can be easily accessed from Palm Springs.
2. The Living Desert – A Zoo of sorts, this expansive desert oasis takes you through North America all the way to the villages of Africa while exploring wildlife in a “natural” environment.  Perfect for kids of all ages, this park is located in Palm Desert, about 25 minutes from Palm Springs.
3. Palm Springs Aerial Tramway – A cool oasis in summer and a snow covered playground in winter, the Mount San Jacinto Park and Wilderness offers a quick getaway for hiking, exploring, sledding, snowshoeing and skiing.  The tramway is located on the western edge of Palm Springs off of Highway 111.

The closest airport is Palm Springs International, located just miles from downtown.  Most major airlines offer seasonal or year-round service from major west coast cities (Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Chicago, Phoenix, Portland, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton), but expect to pay a premium.  Ontario (62 miles), San Diego (84 miles) and Los Angeles (106 miles) are usually cheaper alternatives, all within a two-hour drive of Palm Springs.

Unless you intend on hibernating at a downtown resort, you definitely will want to rent a car, even if you are flying into Palm Springs.  There is no public transportation to Joshua Tree, so a rental car will be essential if you plan a visit there.  Outside of downtown Palm Springs, there is little traffic and getting around the area is pretty straight forward.

TIP: We usually fly into Los Angeles and drive to Palm Springs.  Not only is the airfare cheaper, but so isn’t the rental car.  Making your way across I-10 during peak travel periods can be a challenge, so avoid rush hour and weekend travel if you can.

One thing that there isn’t a shortage of in Palm Springs is hotels.  With everything from the no-frills roadside motel to the 5-star spa resort, Palm Springs offers visitors lots of choices.  If you are visiting in the winter months, remember that evenings do get quite chilly and some hotels may not heat their outdoor pool during the winter season.  Choosing a hotel within walking distance to downtown will provide for easy access to restaurants and nighttime shopping, especially during the peak season when downtown parking can be a challenge.

Weekday stays will yield the best availability and cheapest rates.  Expect weekends to be more crowded and more expensive, especially in the peak winter season.  In the past, we’ve stayed at both the Quality Inn and Vagabond Inn, each about a mile from the action.  For under $70/night for a January midweek stay, the Quality Inn is a good value.  You may find lower rates at other hotels in the immediate area, depending upon your dates.

If it’s convenience you’re after, try the Colony Palms Hotel or Viceroy Palm Springs.  Both upscale hotels are located within walking distance of downtown and offer January midweek rates starting around $119/night.  With a full service spa and luxurious surroundings, either hotel will make for the perfect getaway.

Over the next two days, we’ll be highlighting some of the areas finest attractions (hint – see our list above).  With family friendly attractions, lots of outdoor activities and mild temperatures, this desert oasis will soon become your kid’s favorite.

Disclosure

Whenever I make travel reservations via the internet, I always try to find a coupon or discount in addition to whatever rebates that may be available.  After years of searching for a one-stop website for coupon codes and discounts, I stumbled upon RetailMeNot.  Having used this website almost exclusively for the last year, I can tell you that it has the most extensive listing of coupon codes on the internet…that doesn’t mean that they always work. Read the rest of this entry »

We’re going out with a bang and ringing in the new year with hotel deals that will help you loose pounds – off the price that is. Ramada’s Encore brand is having a special £20.10 sale at hotels throughout the UK.  Book between December 14th and 20th or January 1st and 8th for stays through February 28, 2010 and pay just £20.10 per night including VAT.  These rates are pre-paid and non-refundable.  Family rooms are available at select hotels. Read the rest of this entry »

I just discovered a great new resource for hotel loyalty reward information and it brought back memories of the days when I was a mileage and point junkie.  Can you imagine staying at hotels or flying around the world just to earn points and miles…with no other purpose?

My craziest adventure was flying to Singapore on two consecutive weekends just to earn miles and elite status with Northwest Airlines.  I didn’t do it the easy way either…trip one took me from Washington DC to Detroit to Seattle to Tokyo to Singapore and back.  But the second trip was insane – Washington DC to Memphis to Los Angeles to Honolulu to Tokyo to Singapore and back.  Those were the days…before kids of course. Read the rest of this entry »