October 13, 2003Travel with Kids Blog Archives |
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Kids Stay Free... Ah, what shiny-bright words these are. But all too often parents imagine more glitter in these deals than they'll find in real-life.
Kids Stay Free: Means Nothing More Than That Vacationkids.com sells lots of family holidays, and founder Sally Black has these words of caution: "When a promotion says 'Kids Stay Free', parents ALWAYS interpret this to mean 'kids TRAVEL COMPLETELY free.'" In fact, "Kids Stay Free" refers only to lodging: kids stay free at the resort in question. Nothing at all is being said about travel to the destination: it's to be expected that kids will pay for airfare (hopefully at a discount rate.) Similarly, "Kids Fly Free" means only that: airfare is free; kids will still pay for lodging, etc. Furthermore, "Kids Stay Free" deals usually have a few caveats: such as, kids stay free in same room as parents. Sometimes there's a further stipulation: kids stay free in same room as parents, using only the beds already in the room. Kids Stay, Play, and Eat Free Quite often, you'll find deals that say "Kids Stay, Play, and Eat Free", and again the wording means only what it says-- or perhaps a little less. "Kids Play Free" generally means that kids can enjoy the activities and kids' programs at a resort without any charge. You may find, however, that motorized watersports aren't included-- this is often the case at all-inclusive resorts. "Kids Eat Free" can mean different things at different places. • At an all-inclusive, "Kids Eat Free" generally means that kids can eat, drink, and snack freely all day and night. • At other resorts or at hotels, "Kids Eat Free" usually has some limitations: such as, Kids Eat Free if they're eating from the children's menu, and dining at the same time as a paying adult. You're Not a Kid Any More... There's another issue also: Just who is a kid? If you've visited Walt Disney World, you may already have been shocked to learn that your 10-year-old --who collects beanie babies and still gets tucked in at night-- is not an official child anymore. At all-inclusives, usually you can count on your child being a kid until age 12. Some resorts extend the definition up to age 16; and a few stalwarts will let kids be kids right up through age 17. The point of it all is that "Kids Free" deals can be terrific: just don't expect miracles; and be sure to check the fine print at the individual resorts you're interested in. Happy travels... 11:23 PM # |
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