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Slice the Price
On Travel
Family-Friendly
Vacations—and Deals
There’s no doubt about it, planning a vacation for a family of four
or five can be financially prohibitive. To the rescue: a mom who
started a travel agency and Web site catering to families, after
having problems planning her own affordable family vacations. Her
site,
www.vacationkids.com, a full-service travel agency now run with
the help of other moms just like her, offers best deals at
“baby-friendly resorts,” “family of five friendly resorts” and other
packages. Plus “Ask Mom” family travel advice and a family travel
library of information.
—Nicole
Pugliese
A Getaway, Just
for California Girls
Need
to get away from the stress, the kids, the husband? There’s nothing
like a little pampering and relaxing with friends at a spa to change
your outlook. And if the spa is located in the heart of wine country
so much the better. The masseuses at Wilkinson’s Hot Spring Resort
in Calistoga, California, will work the kinks out of your tense
muscles without putting a dent in your wallet. Choose from a range
of relaxing treatments, including mud and mineral baths, facials and
massages, ranging in price from $55 to $149. Rooms run from $109 to
$199. Or try the special summer package (available July, August and
September): stay overnight Sunday through Thursday, with use of all
mineral water and therapy pools, plus one treatment, for only $299
($149.50 per person, double occupancy). For more information or to
make a reservation, visit
www.drwilkinson.com.
—Nicole
Pugliese
Diners’
Delight
Heading out of town and hoping to snag a seat at one of the hottest
restaurants in your destination city? Let the Internet be your
concierge. SavvyDiner.com, recently written up in The Wall Street
Journal, will book a table for you in advance. Here’s how it
works: Go to the site (www.SavvyDiner.com)
and sample the menus of the various restaurants listed. Select your
dining pleasure, choose a date and time (24 hours in advance), and
SavvyDiner.com will call ahead for you to make the reservation.
Often, the restaurants they list reserve tables just for SavvyDiner
customers, so you’ve got a good shot at getting seated. After you
make your reservation, SavvyDiner will send you an e-mail
confirmation.
Now, to save
money on your meal, surf on over to
www.restaurant.com and see if the restaurant you’ve chosen is
listed among the 5000 establishments on this site. Then purchase a
Dining Certificate, at half price or less, towards the cost of your
meal. For instance, $10 will get you a certificate for $25 off a
meal at Bleu Martini in downtown Philadelphia. Bon appetit!
—Nicole
Pugliese
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