Late Summer Getaways for a Steal
By Suzanne Rowan Kelleher
Club Med
If your kids are still too young for no. 2 pencils and spiral notebooks, you’re in the zone to score an exceptional deal on your summer vacation. Timing is everything. Set your sights on late summer, when older kids have already started heading back to school and many family-friendly resorts dial up the savings for families with younger kids. Here are late-summer escapes perfect for celebrating the joys of little ones:
Where: Highgate Springs, Vermont
Why: Because this all-inclusive family resort on the shores of Lake Champlain has the best children’s program we’ve encountered, which partly explains why so many families return year after year. Kids and their parents get to experience a week of unbridled, old-school fun – from savoring maple snow cones to canoeing, zip lining, fishing, hiking, sailing and poling across Edward’s Bay on log rafts, Huck Finn-style. A week here is an antidote to busy parents’ overstressed lives, and end-of-summer rates are a sensational steal at up to 40 percent less than what you’d pay in July.
(MORE: Find kid-friendly attractions in Vermont.)
Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World
Where: Disney World, Florida
Why: Because a brand new 444-room Four Seasons hotel is opening inside Disney World in early August, and it’s going to have a Tom Fazio-designed golf course, spectacular five-acre playground with a family pool, lazy river, climbing wall, water slides, and splash pad. Did we mention the nighttime views of Magic Kingdom fireworks? Book two nights and get your third night free.
Winnetu Oceanside Resort (Photo: Diego Barrientos)
Where: Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
Why: Because this kid-friendly resort on iconic South Beach offers a quintessentially upscale yet family-focused Martha’s Vineyard experience. Book three nights in late August and save 20 percent on your stay. A slew of complimentary perks, from help-yourself bike rentals to yoga classes, make this resort a standout.
Where: Orlando, Florida
Why: Because when big kids clear out for school days, the mega-popular Nick Hotel drops its rates and lays out the orange-and-lime green carpet for preschoolers, from Nick-themed arts and crafts to character parties with Dora the Explorer and other beloved stars. Book the Stay 6 Days and Save package and save 30 percent on a week-long vacation.
(MORE: Discover Orlando with these top kid-friendly attractions.)
Where: Port St. Lucie, Florida
Why: This Florida all-inclusive resort caters well to families with babies and toddlers, with its complimentary amenities such as baby food and bottle warmers, and a free Mini Club Med program for pre-schoolers that offers a mix of crafts, story time, swimming, and beach time. A week’s stay in August costs nearly $300 less than in July, and kids 4 and under stay free.
Suzanne Rowan Kelleher contributed this to www.MiniTime.com.
