Labor Day, that odd holiday that serves more as a temporal marker and one more excuse to get away before the rush of life ramps up again, is fast approaching. We would be remiss not to mark the coming Labor Day weekend with Labor Day pointers. In theory, there are scads to be had out there, though many of the good ones seem to be booked.
Here's on that caught our eye. And like several Labor Day packages we noticed, but were too late to catch, these rates run into the month.
The web states that rates start at $149 a night for a double. When we called this afternoon, we got a quote for $139 per night. But the reservationist said there wern't many left. The next rate was $159.
To try and catch these low rates, call 1-800-834-7015 and ask for promotional code LRR. If you're in, you're going to Disney World! Back at the resort, you can make a splash in any of six pools, a 106-foot waterslide, waterfalls and whirlpools and water volleyball.
The Hilton's Grand Vacations Club in Orlando, the mecca for family vacations, has put together two themed packages that either a family of brainiacs or a family who loves to karaoke will probably appreciate.
The first package is the "Out of the World" getaway which includes a NASA-themed kids welcome amenity and admission to four for the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex where the family will get a guided tour of the entire place.
The package is only good through September 30th and starts at $257 per room. To book call the resort directly at 407-465-2638 and request rate code KSC.
The next package is the "Hilton Grand Vacation That Rocks" which is available through December 31. It includes karaoke nights on the hotel property and a $50 Hard Rock Cafe gift card. Could the karaoke night be the start of your child's very own High School Musical? (Yes, we've seen this movie. More than once.) Just remember, a three-night minimum is required and rooms start at $119 a night. For more information, book here.
[Ed. Note: Welcome to our weekly feature, Good Rate/Bad Rate where we profile two hotels in the same city and decide which one is the better option for you. The screenshot for this story was taken on March 14, 2006 and rates are subject to change. Enjoy.]
The Nick Hotel is offering an amazing rate as part of their Shoulder Season plan--in non-hotel speak that means the months of September after Labor Day through to Thanksgiving or just before Christmas.
For $125 a night, you and the kids can stay in a two-bedroom Nick Kidsuite, meet SpongeBob at breakfast and have all sorts of Nick adventures.
However, there are some restrictions. You will have to take your kids out of school for some days since the rate applies for weekdays only (on the weekends, it is only $20 more.) The good news is Columbus day, October 9, is not blacked out. But Thanksgiving week is, of course.
Additionally, this a pre-paid deal, meaning you have to book by July 1 and pay the money then too. So we wouldn't suggest this deal unless you know for sure that you and your family will be in Orlando on those dates, come hurricanes, ear infections or standardized testing.
If you and your significant other are down for some kid-like fun on a random weekday then you can book the king suite for $113.
We also suggest that you call the hotel personally to reserve this deal, as we know that they are not the best when it comes to honoring special rates.
Back in May, when the new Nick Hotel agreed to offer a 10% discount to HotelChatter readers and we thought--cool.
The Hotel Mavens get a discount at a brand new Orlando theme hotel--sounded good to us. Only problem is it turns out there was a whole lotta miscommunication, capped by a terse message to us, saying:
The Nickelodeon Hotel does not offer your readers, nor anyone else that references your "secret code", a 10% discount off of our hotel rates. Please remove this information from your website.
Wow. Huh? Thought we had a deal? If you want to put a timeframe on it alls you gots to do is email us and let us know when you want the deal to expire.
[Publisher's Note July 20, 2005: Back in May the Nick Hotel was nice enough to offer HotelChatter readers a special 10% discount.
However, this morning we received this note from Matthew Treski, who works for the hotel:
I did some further research and found that the Nickelodeon Hotel does not offer your readers, nor anyone else that references your "secret code", a 10% discount off of our hotel rates. Please remove this information from your website.
Apparently all of you HotelChatter readers were calling the Nick Hotel trying to get the hotel deal that was offered to our readers.
That's cool--that is how we thought the deal worked too--and we were specifically told this deal did not have an end date. However, it appears that end date is today, or was at some point in the past that the Nick Hotel failed to communicate to us.
So, we are sorry if you called the Nick, said "Great" and they acted like they didn't know what the hell you were talking about--that had to be embarrassing.
In the future, if we will triple screen our offer partners, and think about adding some other safeguards, as for you guys, if there is a "HotelChatter reader" (must be a HotelChatter reader deal) deal that you call on and don't get let us know about it will ya? That is what we are here for.]
Ok, so this place is supposed to be for kids but maybe they could let some of the older folks have a little fun too? Plus, this property is offering HotelChatter readers a special rate, so they are all good in our book. So sorry, but we like places that offer the Hotel Mavens deals.
The 777-unit hotel likes to think of itself as the anti-Disney but really it stole some of the Mouse's good tricks, including a character-breakfast with SpongeBob Squarepants and lifesize Jimmy Neutrons and Dora the Explorers everywhere.
[Publisher's Note July 20, 2005: Back in May the Nick Hotel was nice enough to offer HotelChatter readers a special 10% discount.
However, this morning we received this note from Matthew Treski, who works for the hotel:
I did some further research and found that the Nickelodeon Hotel does not offer your readers, nor anyone else that references your "secret code", a 10% discount off of our hotel rates. Please remove this information from your website.
Apparently all of you HotelChatter readers were calling the Nick Hotel trying to get the hotel deal that was offered to our readers.
That's cool--that is how we thought the deal worked too--and we were specifically told this deal did not have an end date. However, it appears that end date is today, or was at some point in the past that the Nick Hotel failed to communicate to us.
So, we are sorry if you called the Nick, said "Great" and they acted like they didn't know what the hell you were talking about--that had to be embarrassing.
In the future, if we will triple screen our offer partners, and think about adding some other safeguards, as for you guys, if there is a "HotelChatter reader" (must be a HotelChatter reader deal) deal that you call on and don't get let us know about it will ya? That is what we are here for.]
They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so if you want to have fun with your vitamins, you might consider signing up for a `character' breakfast at the new Nick Hotel in Orlando -- and eat with a Sponge.
Gay icon to some, anti-hero to others, if you check in, you'll be immersed in all things Nickelodeon, including themed 2-bedroom suites, a 3000 sq. ft. game room, and a special Recreation Team that leads poolside activities and stages live Nick events at the two gigantic water park pool complexes.
Labor Day, that odd holiday that serves more as a temporal marker and one more excuse to get away before the rush of life ramps up again, is fast approaching. We would be remiss not to mark the coming Labor Day weekend with Labor Day pointers. In theory, there are scads to be had out there, though many of the good ones seem to be booked.
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by barbarab
