By my calculations, in about 58 days most kids will be hitting the books instead of hitting the beach. That’s right, in just about two months children will head back to school and the summer of 2006 will be nothing more than a fading memory. Okay, enough of the pessimism. With more than half the summer still ahead of you, why not consider a family vacation to “Paradise.” I have uncovered some “hot” travel deals for families planning to spend part of their summer in Hawaii (if you haven’t booked your trip yet, perhaps these deals will inspire you to do so):
The Ultimate Volcano Vacation
The Royal Kona Resort, located on the Big Island of Hawaii, is offering families a chance to explore a live volcano, lava tubes, steam vents, sulfur banks and ancient petroglyphs at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park through the resort’s “Volcano Family Fun” package.
The package includes room accommodations, a daily Jeep Grand Cherokee rental, a seven-day entrance pass to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where you can watch a natural fireworks show as molten lava meets the waters of the Pacific. If your family loves spending time in the great outdoors then they will love exploring the park’s vast wilderness and hiking through trails that border a variety of landscapes including Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano.
The resort itself is a great place to relax following a day of hiking. It features a multilevel swimming pool, a private saltwater snorkeling and beach lagoon (perfect for beginner snorkeling), four tennis courts, a spa and massage center, and shops.
The “Volcano Family Fun” package will cost a family of four (with a minimum three-night stay in a garden-view room) about $450. The deal runs through August 31st.
For more information and reservations, visit www.royalkona.com.
Free Golf on the “Garden Isle”
For a limited time guests staying at the Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation condominium resort along Kauai’s Poipu shore can enjoy two free rounds of unlimited golf with a minimum three-night stay in the property’s one- and two-bedroom condominium suites.
Two certificates given at check-in are valid for one day each of unlimited golf at the nearby Kiahuna Golf Club. The 18-hole course designed by Robert Trent Jr. is nearly 6,400 yards long and plays to a par-70, with liberal water hazards and tradewinds that make for challenging play, even for experienced golfers. The package is available through Dec. 10th, at rates starting at $165.
For more information or to make a reservation, visit Outrigger.com.