Fun Family Travel Vacation

Hotels.com is holding a photo contest that has a grand prize of a vacation for life.  Contestants submit a photo that is supposed to show why they need a vacation.  Web site visitors vote on the photos.  The grand prize winner gets a $102,250 toward a lifetime of vacations.   Those that vote and do not enter a picture are also entered for a daily drawing to receive a small handheld camcorder.  

That is seriously a great prize.  I would probably use some for a vacation, pay bills, and then save whatever is left over.  This is of course after paying the tax on the prize money.

With the purchase of two full-priced adult tickets one child can travel for free on Crystal Cruises.  The offer is good for the 14 day holiday cruise to the Caribbean on Crystal Serenity.  As of this post, the starting cost of a ticket is $7,995 and can be as much as $46,930.  The cruise starts in Miami and visits several of the Caribbean islands: St. Thomas, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Maarten, Curacao, and Turks and Caicos. 

Crystal Cruises –Crystal Serenity Itinerary

Although we may get distracted by technology, there are real advantages that save us all time. My travels are simplified since getting a GPS; we probably argue a lot less about which way to turn. Several different iPhone apps are available to make traveling a lot simpler.

SwamiCity is the first free travel app series to combine the features of 30 individual apps in one easy-to-use interface. This unique application fills the gap between tourists and residents by providing multiple areas of interest, including:

• Events
• Flights
• Weather
• News
• Attractions
• Hotels
• Shopping
• Clubs
• Tours
• Theatre
• Museums
• Galleries
• Performing arts
• Movies
• Dining
• Wi-Fi hotspots

SwamiCity has released 8 travel apps to date, covering the metro areas of: New York, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, San Diego and San Francisco. Major cities coming soon include: Las Vegas, Hawaiian Islands, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, Miami, Philadelphia, New Orleans and others.

Lighthouse Key Resort and Spa is pleased to announce its “Buy One Vacation, Get A Second Vacation Free” deal.

Travelers who reserve Lighthouse Key Disney area vacation condominium rentals during May 2010 travel dates will receive the same number of nights in September 2010 for free.

Those taking advantage of the vacation special will also receive a certificate from The Spa at Lighthouse Key valid for use on their return trip in September. The certificate grants users who purchase any spa treatment, 50% off a second spa treatment of equal or lesser value.

September is a slower month for travelers in the Orlando area and you can expect to see specials during that time of the year. If you do decide to go in May and then return in September, you should see some discounts occurring at the attractions and theme parks in the area. You might just decide to have a relaxing time with the family, instead of going to the theme parks. Because there will be less people, you probably will get a lot more relaxing and quiet time.

Lighthouse Key Resort has many different condo rentals available. Condos may be the right option for families because there is a lot more space to spread out. One-bedroom, 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, and 4-bedroom condo rentals are available at the resort.

You will not get the daily cleaning of the condo, like you would expect from a hotel. They do say on their web site that they clean the condo before your stay and after you stay at the condo and resort. You can also request a cleaning of the condo at an extra charge.

Lighthouse Key Resort and Condo does not provide free breakfast that so many hotels now offer. If you have to feed a large family, the costs can add-up. Of course, you could always make you own breakfast in the condo’s kitchen.

There are definitely negatives and positives to staying in a condo instead of a hotel. Weighing the pros and cons and seeing what is the most important for your vacation experience and wallet will help you decide what is best for you and your family. The buy one vacation rental in May and then get one free in September is an option to consider for your family-it could work it for you in the long run.

Win a family vacation for you and your family. You and 9 members of you family can win a free New Orleans vacation with hotel accommodations.

One lucky grand prize winner will receive up to ten concert tickets per night to the ESSENCE Music Festival® in New Orleans, a $2,000 cash prize, and three-nights accommodations at a local Comfort Inn or other Choice hotel. This year’s ESSENCE Music Festival® will take place July 2 – 4, 2010 and will feature award-winning singers and high profile R&B recording artists. Last year’s ESSENCE Music Festival® drew over 400,000 fans and this year, ESSENCE and Comfort Inn want to make you and your loved ones part of the celebration.

For more information, or to enter the “A Family Affair” sweepstakes, visit http://www.comfortinnfamilyaffair.com/essence.

Parents living in Florida, your preschooler can get a free pass to Busch Gardens for 2010. You must be a Florida resident and your child needs to be 5 and under. Busch Gardens is opening a new Sesame Street themed play area this March and the free passes are to celebrate the event. You can go to http://sesamestreetsafarioffun.com to register for the passes. The passes allow preschoolers get free admission to the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay theme park for the rest of the year.

Disney has seen a large amount of people sign up for their “Give a Day Get a Disney Day” program. . So far, over 600, 000 people have signed-up and number is continuing to grow. Tickets are for admission to a Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme parks. Programs rules require that participants pre-register at disneyparks.com. To volunteer and get the free ticket, participants must be at least 6 years old and there is only one ticket per person. Volunteering as family is great way for your kids to give back and learn the value of hard work. The money you save at the theme park by having all you kids participate and get free Disney tickets is a great bonus.

Even before the economy became so slow, families have always looked for deals and ways to cave when traveling on their family vacation. For those looking for some travel bargains Orlando has several that may be of interest to you.

Only available through VisitOrlando.com/deals, Southwest Vacations kicks off the Super Deal program with an exclusive Orlando CVB offer starting at $34 a day for a seven-day Orlando vacation. Offer details include:

• From now until March 1, when you purchase a flight + 7-night hotel package at select Orlando hotels, three of those nights are FREE!
  • – Hotel options include locations throughout Orlando including DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal Orlando, Sheraton Safari Hotel & Suites, Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel and more.
• Travelers who book this exclusive Orlando CVB package on VisitOrlando.com/deals will save an extra $150.
• In addition, a 7-day Disney’s Magic Your Way® Ticket can be added to the package for the price of a 4-day ticket.

The Southwest Vacations Super Deal is only available to book until March 1, but travel can take place anytime during 2010. A new limited-time Super Deal will be unveiled on March 2 and new Super Deals will continue to rotate through 2010. For more details and to book, go to VisitOrlando.com/deals.

In addition to the Super Deal, the Orlando CVB unveiled its 2010 Orlando Magicard which provides year-round savings at more than 75 area establishments including attractions, accommodations, restaurants, dinner theaters, ground transportation, golf courses, and cultural arts. The Orlando Magic Card is free and can be downloaded at VisitOrlando.com/deals, requested for mail delivery by calling 1-800-551-0181, or picked up at The Official Visitors Center in Orlando. The 2010 version of the card provides expanded offers including theme park deals and other significant savings options such as free nights plus additional free amenities at area accommodations; buy one ticket, get one free offers at attractions; or straight discounts up to 50% off. Examples include:

• Orange County Regional History Center: One free admission with each paid admission
• Ripley’s Believe It or Not: $2.00 off admission plus second day free
• Orlando Shakespeare Theatre: Purchase one ticket and receive a free second ticket of equal or lesser value
• Funky Monkey Wine Company, Pointe Orlando: Complimentary sushi roll with entree
• Capone’s Dinner & Show: 50% off all tickets plus free souvenir

Marriott’s Grande Vista Resort: Buy 3 nights, get 2 nights free, plus two adult 3-day tickets to any of the four Walt Disney World® Theme Parks

Three people from different places around the world have won a travel contest and now will be able to see and experience the beauty of snow in Colorado. One contestant is from Hawaii, the second is from Atlanta, Georgia, and the third is from Australia.

During their winter adventure, the finalists will travel across Colorado, enjoying a variety of winter activities and working with local experts to learn how to ski, snowboard, snowmobile, snowshoe and more. The participants will also dine at some of the state’s notable restaurants, mingle at the hottest apres-ski spots, experience spas and hot springs and enjoying other vacation pursuits that are popular with Colorado visitors.

“The Snow at First Sight campaign will reveal Colorado’s incredible winter season through the eyes of those who have never experienced snow,” said Kim McNulty, director of the Colorado Tourism Office. “This is an excellent opportunity to use the popularity of social media to showcase Colorado’s destinations and wide variety of winter activities. Through the postings of our winners, ski enthusiasts and travelers of all interests will be inspired to visit Colorado.”

To follow the three winners, visit http://www.SnowAtFirstSight.com; follow them at @SnowAt1stSight on Twitter.com; on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/snowatfirstsight; on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/visitcolorado; or on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/visitcolorado.

The winners will be visiting destinations including Denver, Breckenridge, Georgetown, Black Hawk/Central City, Winter Park, Keystone, Snowmass, Steamboat, Beaver Creek, Vail, Copper Mountain, Ouray, Grand Junction, Crested Butte, Durango, Colorado Springs, Canon City, Salida, Buena Vista, Estes Park, Fort Collins and Boulder.

Guests that visit a Disney theme Park on their birthday will receive free admission to the park. This promotion begins in 2009.

To receive free admission to one of the Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme parks on your birthday in 2009, guests must bring valid ID including proof of birth date. Guests who already hold a valid multi-day ticket they will use on their birthday may choose from other birthday treats instead, however, no cash refunds or credits will be given. To register your birthday and find out more details, visit www.disneyparks.com.