Bargains for the brood

With the right strategies and a little planning, families on the go can save money.

By JUDI DASH

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 14, 2000

[Times art: Teresanne Cossetta]

The travel industry offers plenty of bargains to attract the burgeoning family market, but getting a good -- and convenient -- deal requires an investment of time and an understanding of how the market works. Among the basic strategies for saving money:

• The further ahead you start planning, the more options you will have for savings. Look for ads in newspaper travel sections, search travel Web sites and/or consult a travel agent to find the most current deals.

• Try to get away a few weeks -- or even a few days -- ahead of (or after) the crowds during high-demand times such as midsummer, the Christmas holidays or spring break. Prices at popular family destinations are highest at those times, crowds are most oppressive, and your chance of getting good deals on transportation and lodgings is less likely.

Those with school-age children might consider letting them miss a few days of classes during the school year for a special trip. Teachers may be willing to provide lessons ahead of time for missed days.

Parents of very young children should always opt for off-peak travel to avoid the hassle of crowds, as well as to save money.

• Join the American Automobile Association or one of the gasoline companies' motor clubs. Membership benefits for AAA include commission-free traveler's checks, free maps and route planning assistance, and discounts on car rentals and hotel rates. With a AAA credit card you can charge commission-free traveler's checks up to your card's credit limit and owe no interest if you pay your bill when it's due. Depending on your timing, that could amount to a free loan for up to a month. Some of the other motor clubs offer similar, if fewer, benefits beyond emergency road service.

• Join as many airline frequent flier clubs as you can, even if you rarely fly. There's no charge to belong, and members often are mailed coupons for deals on air travel as well as discounts on hotels, car rentals and sometimes even cruises.

You don't have to fly to earn mileage. Most major credit cards offer mileage tie-ins with major airlines (typically 1 mile for each dollar charged), long-distance phone services (as many as 5 miles for each dollar of long-distance), hotel chains and rental car agencies.

• Consider buying an Entertainment Book for your destination; books are available for about 125 cities in the United States and Canada. These books typically contain discount coupons for airline tickets, hotels, theme parks, bike rentals, children's museum admissions, guided tours, mini golf and a slew of other family activities. At a cost of $24.95 to $52.95 per book, depending on the destination, the discounts could quickly cover the book's cost.

Order the book well in advance at (800) 374-4464. Be careful of claims for "half-price" lodgings, though: The price may be half the full or "rack" rate, usually an inflated amount that few guests pay. Compare these deals with others offered by the same hotel or motel chain.

• Contact local and state tourist boards at your destination; they may offer free or low-cost discount coupon books to area attractions. Staffers there also may know of special family deals in lodging, food and entertainment.

• When you get to your destination, check the local papers for special offers aimed at attracting area residents, especially in the off-season.

Affordable air fares

[Photo: Judi Dash] In summer, chairlifts at Northstar in Tahoe are equipped with bike racks to haul mountain bikes to the summit for trail riding.

• Comparison-shop for fares, since many popular destinations are served by numerous airlines. Be on the lookout for free or discounted companion tickets. But beware how you book companion fares: Often the paying passenger must be older than 18, so a family of four will want to pair one adult with one child, instead of the two adults together and two kids together.

• Usually, the best deals are for flights booked three weeks or more ahead of departure, with a Saturday night stay. You will usually pay a huge surcharge if you book less than a week in advance.

• On most airlines, children younger than 2 fly free if they sit on your lap. If there's an empty seat (most often that's during flights midweek and midday), there's no charge for buckling Junior into it. However, safety concerns dictate that you should put your child into an approved portable car seat that can be held in place by the airplane's seat belt, and that necessitates buying a ticket for the youngster.

• Many airlines offer their own package deals with discounts on hotels, meals and theme park admissions or ski resort fees. Check around.

• If no one is picking you up at the airport, check ahead about alternatives to expensive taxis: buses, commuter vans, subways. When flying into an area with more than one convenient airport, opt for the one with the lowest-priced transportation to your hotel, assuming the airline price is competitive.

• Charter flights can be cheaper than regularly scheduled flights. But they are more likely to be delayed and may involve convoluted connections. Remember, time is precious too.

Lodging logistics

• All-suite hotels and motels offer plenty of space, most often with a separate room for Mom and Dad and a sofa bed in the living room area. Many have kitchenettes or provide breakfast and offer free parking. Renting a fully equipped condominium is also an enticing option for families.

• For a little more breathing space (and privacy for parents), think about getting two rooms, preferably adjoining, at a hotel or motel. You can save 25 to 40 percent by booking one room for each adult with an accompanying child, since each adult may be charged a single rate and kids often stay free or at a discount when staying with an adult. Once at the hotel, pair up the children in their own room.

• Weekend rates are available at most chains, and many define the weekend as Thursday through Monday. At some places you get a free third night with two weekend nights booked.

• All-inclusive resorts help you keep to your budget, with most food, services and activities included in the price. If traveling with children, ask in advance about children's programs and babysitting for infants; is there a charge for these services? Are child care providers licensed and/or bonded?

• Off-season, ski resorts can be a great bargain. When the snow melts, rates often go down dramatically. You will find lots of outdoor activities, nursery services and kids' day camps.

• Consider renting a family cabin in a state park. These reasonably priced lodgings often have multiple bedrooms and a full kitchen (though you may have to bring your own towels and bed linens). Book way ahead, since demand can be great. Also, consider camping, a great and inexpensive way to bond as a group while semi-roughing it.

• Another great source of bargain accommodations are college campus apartments and dorms, which in summer often are available at bargain rates. The Campus Lodgings Guide lists more than 600 universities worldwide that offer summer accommodations, as well as 400 YMCAs and other sites. The guide is no longer available from the publisher and will not be reprinted. Your local library, however, might have a copy.

• Many chain hotels offer kids' programs for a small fee. This will free up Mom and Dad to have some fun on their own and keep the kids happier than a stint with a babysitter. Chains with kids' programs include Hyatt, Marriott, Holiday Inn, Hilton, Days Inn, Westin, Wyndham and Loews.

• Beware of your hotel's room phone rates: Huge surcharges often are added to long-distance calls made from the room, and fees may be added even for local calls and calls made with a calling card. Use a pay phone in the lobby.

Food for thought

• If you decide to eat a meal at a pricey restaurant, consider going for lunch instead of dinner. Often the same menu at dinner is substantially more expensive. If leftovers are likely, order food with doggie bag potential that can be kept in a cooler or hotel minibar and become the next day's lunch.

• Avoid eating meals in hotel dining rooms (where you'll pay for the convenience) unless it is part of the room price -- and even then, investigate whether there's a better hotel rate without any meals. Instead, breakfast in the room on cereal and fruit or, if you have a car, take the family to a local diner.

• Picnic for lunch and have dinner at a family restaurant. Ask if there's a children's menu, which has kid-size portions and prices.

• Steer clear of room service. Rates are ridiculously steep, and a service charge of up to 17 percent and a per-person surcharge usually are added on.

Cruise control

Cruises are great if you want to know a pretty firm total on your vacation costs before you leave home. But remember that cruise lines increasingly are charging for options not included in the passage price, such as soft drinks and ice cream on deck, computer usage in the business center and shore excursions.

Many ships have special programs for children and/or teens, offered at no extra charge. Many also have free group child care at night, but check ahead about charges.

• Cruise companies often offer bargain air/cruise tie-ins, but comparison-shop to make sure you are getting a good deal and that the flight schedule isn't convoluted.

• Early booking discounts can save you as much as 50 percent, and some lines offer special air fare deals as well as credits toward shipboard purchases. If you are flexible about cabin category and itineraries, you also may get good rates if you book at the last minute, especially at off-peak times.

• Use a travel agent who has expertise in cruises. Familiarity with the range of ships, deals and special programs for families can make a huge difference in your price and satisfaction.

• Shore excursions can cost a bundle, and you may find your family trapped on a bus for hours or shepherded through shops that give the guide a kickback on purchases. Check out the specifics before signing on. You may have more fun exploring on your own or booking your own guide.

-- Judi Dash is a contributing editor to Family Circle Magazine.

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