Readers Ask: Where Are the Deals?

Where can I get a deal?

The economy may be booming, but that doesn’t mean we want to spend more than we need to on vacation--especially when we’re feeding and entertaining kids who demand a souvenir at every stop.

Besides, it feels good to snare that elusive family vacation bargain, whether it came from a neighbor’s tip or a late-night session surfing the Web.

I get more questions about how to save vacation dollars than any other topic. Family reunions run a close second.

As we head into the summer vacation crush, I’m hoping we can help each other: Send me your best vacation and money-saving bets. I’ll use them in an upcoming column. E-mail to eogintz@aol.com or write to Taking the Kids, Los Angeles Times Syndicate, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Meanwhile, here are answers to some recent questions:

Question: We want to take a long vacation by auto, picking up grandchildren who will accompany us at different intervals. Can you advise us on the best sources--no Internet or fax--for renting a minivan for 30 days?

Answer: A motor club or an AARP membership typically guarantees discounts, says Kimberly Mulcahy, who works for Budget car rental and is spokesperson for the American Car Rental Assn.

Her best tip: Book in advance for good deals. And if you’re not flying but simply need a larger vehicle for your trip, rent from downtown or suburban locations. They often have special offers the airports don’t. Figure on paying at least $300 a week, but you might save more on longer rentals. All grandparents and parents older than 50 also will be interested in Dollar’s new Silver Dollar Club, which guarantees discounts and unlimited mileage at participating locations: telephone (800) 800-4000, Internet https://www.dollar.com.

Q: My daughter’s a single mother on a tight budget and has promised to take the kids to Orlando, Fla. Do you have any tips?

A: She can find hotel rooms for less than $100 a night and suites for not much more at https://www.quikbook.com or (800) 789-9887. Quikbook, which has just entered the Orlando market, provides hotel discounts in cities around the country, including Boston, New York and San Francisco.

Stop at the Orlando Visitors Center at 6700 International Drive, tel. (407) 363-5800, to purchase discount theme-park tickets, saving as much as $9 on multi-day passes. You can also request a free Magicard by calling (800) 643-9492, Internet https://www.go2orlando.com, which offers a price break at local hotels, restaurants and attractions, including Sea World, the Kennedy Space Center and Universal Studios, saving $2 or more per ticket.

If you’re willing to wait until you arrive in town to find a hotel--not wise during the busy summer season--ask the Visitors Center for its “black book” listing last-minute hotel deals up to one-third off.

Q: My grown daughters have never met their many Irish cousins. I have rented a house in the west of Ireland to give us plenty of time for sightseeing and meeting the relatives. Do you have ideas for creating a memorable reunion?

A: Ask the Irish relatives to suggest a good local restaurant for a big reunion dinner. Invite them to a meal at your “home” too. Divvy up the cooking and cleaning. Even grocery shopping can be an adventure overseas. You’ll save on meal costs and be able to reminisce around the table. Splurge on getting each family their own rental car so that everyone can head off in different directions. Certainly you want to plan some activities together, but there’s no reason to force everyone into lock-step, even on a reunion vacation. Encourage the Americans to head off with their Irish cousins to bike, hike or shop while the older generation catches up over a long lunch.

Q: My husband and I are planning a trip to the Caribbean and have decided to take our 8-year-old son on a Carnival cruise. Are there late-night activities for a child his age?

A: Carnival, like other major cruise lines carrying many children, offers organized activities well into the evening and group baby-sitting for $5 an hour afterward. Don’t assume, however, that your particular ship will offer these amenities.

Q: I’m a mother of four, and we’re planning our first long road trip. Where are the best resources for planning our trip?

A: The short answer is the Web. But before turning the kids loose at the computer, spread out a big map and decide your route. Try the Discover America area of the Travel Industry Assn. Web site at https://www.seeamerica.org and link to any state as well as travel sites.

Taking the Kids appears the first and third week of every month.