Photo: Courtesy of The BodyHoliday
If this doesn’t get your teenager off the couch . . .
Though summer in St. Lucia, the mountainous Caribbean island in the Lesser Antilles, means average highs in the upper 80s and brief rain showers, the off-peak weather also brings better deals than at any other time of year. One idea: Take your kids (12 and older) to an all-inclusive health and wellness resort called The BodyHoliday for an active escape.
Now through September 2nd, the resort, which usually caters to adults only, runs seven weeklong sessions tailored for families called WellFit Families. Beyond the usual array of fitness classes, beach activities, and water sports, the camp-like sessions try to encourage family bonding: Think quiz nights, cooking classes, mother-daughter spa experiences, and father-versus-son beach sport competitions. You and your kids can also acquire some life-saving skills, such as basic first aid, CPR, and lifeguard training.
The resort’s lowest available rate starts at $321 a person per day, compared to $450 during the island’s high season from December to April. The cost covers all meals, fitness classes, group activities, water sports and a daily spa treatment.
You Can Still Snag a Chicago Hotel Room With Views This Fourth of July
Looking for awesome views and great rates for Chicago hotels for some fireworks watching? Book a room from $200 at the wavy Radisson Blu Aqua, one of few hotels in Chicago with balconies that face Navy Pier; have a private party from your room or lounge at the outdoor pool deck, which also faces the lake. Though you won’t be able to see Navy Pier from Hotel Lincoln in Lincoln Park, you will get sweeping lake views and a $50 discount off $189; just book directly with the hotel and mention the code Escape. At Trump Chicago, limited rooms remain from $356, but the views from here of nearby Navy Pier fireworks—be it from the outdoor Terrace, Rebar, or a lake-facing room—are hard to beat.
How to Avoid Getting Bumped From a Flight
“Nearly 600,000 passengers with confirmed reservations were left at the boarding gate in 2012 through no fault of their own,” writes Barbara Peterson in “Bumped From a Flight? Know Your Rights”. Although the Department of Transportation has established new rules and is cracking down on airlines that have mishandled bumped passengers—such as with the fine Delta recently received—checking in early and verifying your seat assignment are still good ideas.
No More Early Bird Gets the Worm With These Last-Minute Hotel Bookings Apps
The latest wave of apps offer big discounts for travelers willing to wait until the last minute—as in the morning of or even minutes before—to book a hotel room via smartphone. Frugal Traveler Seth Kugel test-drives several of these booking programs, including Blink, Booking.com, and HotelTonight and reveals the frustration that comes with the gamble. Read more in the New York Times.