Family Vacation Tips

Where Can Kids Stay Free in 2018?

[fa icon="calendar"] Jan 16, 2018 8:29:00 AM / by Sally Black

Sally Black

Kids stay free 2018Searching for a great vacation deal?

Parents are always want to spend their hard earned dollars wisely. Vacationkids wants to help you make every penny count.

Anything for free is good...right?

Well, sometimes....That word "free" is so seductive. 

Here at Vacationkids, we want to insure our parents get the best vacation values.  To accomplish this, we want to help parents become more informed consumers...

1. Do the travel math on your "kids stay free deal".  Compare the "deal" price with other comparable accommodations in the same destination. Resorts know parents like the word "free".  Some will "bury" the cost  of the kids into a higher adult rate.  For example -

     Resort #1 may advertise a rate of $1599 per adult and kids under 12 stay free. 

     Resort #2 may advertise an adult rate of $1099 per person and $399 per child. 

Which is the best deal???

The actual cost of the "kids stay free" deal for a family of 4 for one week is $3198.00.  By "paying" for your kids at resort #2 your total cost is $2996!....Technically, either way, you are still paying for your kids.

2. Travel Dates Matter - Read the fine print! Seriously it's there for a reason.  The travel business is based entirely on supply and demand.  You may see the resort of your dreams advertising "kids stay free" but if you took the time to read the fine print, it will most likely tell you this offer isn't good during spring break week which is the only time your kids are out of school. Many resorts offer legit free deals during off season weeks when demand is low in order to entice more families to travel.  This is when families with non-school age kids, homeschoolers or parents who don't have a problem taking their kids out of school to travel can score big savings.

3. Free is never totally free - Even if you do hit the jackpot with a great deal, your "free" kids will still have to pay any taxes, fees and local transportation costs associated with that reservation.

4. First you see it, then you don't - Hotels often limit the number of "sale"rooms they offer for any promotion.  Remember, a hoteliers job is to fill their hotel at the highest price to keep profits high. Often hotels will advertise deals and limit availability. This means if you want to score one of these bargain rooms, you need to book early...1 year to 9 months in advance.

So now that you are informed consumers, here are a few vacation spots where  kids stay free...

U.S HOTELS

 

Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts

Choice Hotels

Aston Hotels & Resorts

Kimpton Hotels

Best Western

Marriott

 

 

MEXICO & CARIBBEAN

Iberostar Resorts

Dreams Resorts

Palace Resorts

Paradisus Resorts

Grand Caribe Cancun

Crown Paradise Resort Cancun

Wyndham Resorts

Holiday Inn Montego Bay

 

Cruises 

Yes, cruise ships also offer kids stay, play and EAT free deals too.

MSC Cruises offers "kids free" deals most all year on their ships.  Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Holland America will offer "3rd and 4th passengers free" sales at certain times of the year.

 

Instead of spending hours trolling the internet, work with a travel agent....because your precious time if more valuable than money! We can help you quickly determine the best values to make your family vacation as affordable as possible.

Talk To A Family Travel Agent

 

 

Topics: Affordable Family Vacations

Sally Black

Written by Sally Black

Sally is the Founder of Vacationkids.com Travel Agency and author of the book "Fearless Family Vacations". She is also the Director of Travel Agent Initiatives and Training at The Family Travel Association.

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