We’re thrilled to be giving away a two-night all-inclusive stay at Woodloch Resort in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, which has been called "one of America's best family resorts" by Better Homes & Gardens and "one of the world's best all-inclusive resorts" by Family Circle magazine. The prize includes accommodations in a spacious Edgewater Suite; three meals daily for two adults and two children; most activities and amenities; and nightly entertainment. 

Celebrating over 50 years of warm hospitality, Woodloch Resort is an oasis of recreation and relaxation for all ages (see our review). With a slew of multi-generational activities ranging from swimming and go-karting to interactive games to a Broadway-style theme show, Woodloch is often referred to as a “cruise on land.” There’s also an 18-hole championship golf course and access to spa treatments at the Lodge at Woodloch. This four-season resort is nestled in the picturesque Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania and is a haven for outdoor adventure. Guests can enjoy hiking and biking, as well as kayaking, sailing, and boating on Lake Teedyuskung.

For a chance to win this two-night vacation for your family, just head to our giveaway page. You can enter once a day through September 30, 2010. So come back again tomorrow!

Our latest giveaway is all about fabulous hotels in fantastic destinations. One lucky reader will win a three-night stay at the Gaylord Hotel of his or her choice, with locations in Kissimmee, Florida; Washington DC; Grapevine, Texas; and Nashville, Tennessee. Gaylord Hotels are known for their flawless service and wondrous interiors. 

The Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, Florida, is just minutes from Walt Disney World Resort. Inside the hotel’s four-acre atrium, guests can experience the wonder of Florida, from the old-world charm of St. Augustine to the island spirit of Key West to the mysterious waters of the Everglades.

Set on the shores of beautiful Lake Grapevine, the Gaylord Texan is located between Dallas and Fort Worth. From the festive restaurants and shops of the Riverwalk to the rugged canyons of Texas Hill Country, the Gaylord Texan brims with authentic Texas style and hospitality, proving that everything really is bigger and better in the Lone Star State.

Overlooking the monuments and skyline of our nation’s capital, the world-class Gaylord National is the crown jewel of the newly developed National Harbor, a dynamic waterfront community set along the historic Potomac River in Washington DC. Kids will love the nightly fountain shows and Potomac Playzone arcade. 

The luxurious Gaylord Opryland is located in Nashville, a city hailed by Travel+Leisure magazine as one of the “friendliest cities in the United States.” The nine-acre resort features lush indoor gardens, cascading waterfalls, and a killer location right next door to the world-famous Grand Ole Opry.

For a chance to win this vacation for your family, just follow directions on the giveaway page. You can enter once a day through September 14, 2010. Good luck!

Every super family vacation starts with a fabulous destination, and Kissimmee, the Heart of Florida has it all! To help you discover that for yourself, we’ll be giving away a total of four fabulous prizes through the end of September. Come back every day to enter and to find out what the next great prize will be!

The iPod touch 8GB is at the top of every wish list, whether you're vacationing in Kissimmee or anywhere there's family fun to be had! Got some time to kill at the airport? Watch movies and TV shows on the brilliant 3.5-inch display. Flick through your music using the revolutionary Multi-Touch interface. And anytime you need a little more entertainment, just tap iTunes to browse and buy on the fly.

For a chance to win an iPod touch 8GB, just follow the steps on the giveaway page. You can enter once a day through August 31, 2010. Good luck!

Every great family vacation starts with a fabulous destination, and Kissimmee, the Heart of Florida has it all! To help you discover that for yourself, we'll be giving away four fabulous prizes through the end of September. Come back every day to enter and to find out what the next super prize will be!

The Kodak PlaySport HD video camera is the season’s gotta-have-it travel accessory when your family is vacationing in Kissimmee or anywhere there’s splashy fun to be had! You can be as adventurous as you like when you bring the PlaySport to the pool, beach or waterpark, or when you’re going fishing, airboating or kayaking. The PlaySport can record your kids’ underwater antics in beautiful 1080-pixel HD, at depths of up to 10 feet.

For a chance to win a Kodak PlaySport HD video camera, just follow the steps on the giveaway page. You can enter once a day through August 17, 2010. Good luck!

We’re thrilled to be giving away a 5-day, fun-filled vacation in San Diego’s Mission Bay, including four nights in a bay-front suite at the Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa; daily breakfast for four people; four tickets to the San Diego Zoo; four tickets to Wild Animal Park; and four tickets to SeaWorld.

With its sensational location right on Mission Bay, the Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa lets families experience the very best of San Diego and the Southern California lifestyle. The resort grounds are a tropical paradise, featuring hidden gardens with over 1,000 types of eclectic plants and flowers, exotic birds, 100 varieties of palm trees, and 30 types of hibiscus. At the Catamaran, you can try any number of beach and water-related sports and activities, from boat cruises and sailing to surfing, kayaking or waterskiing—or cool off at the pool or spa. Your family can also enjoy biking, skating, or strolling along the beautiful waterfront.

Mission Bay is the West Coast’s largest aquatic man-made park, covering over 4,000 acres and offering a wide range of recreational activities. Swimmers and sunlovers are drawn to the calm water and warm sand that Mission Bay offers. Mission Bay also offers boat docks and launches, sail and motorboat rentals, bike and walk paths, basketball courts, and playgrounds for children. It’s one of San Diego's most fun-filled spots to visit.

For a chance to win this vacation for your family, just fill out the form on the giveaway page. You can enter once a day through August 31, 2010. Good luck!

We’re so excited to be giving away a four-night stay at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs! The prize includes a stay in a suite for a family of four; daily paddleboat and bicycle rental for four; daily breakfast for two adults and two children in Lakeside Terrace; one-day passes for two adults and two children to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo; and dinner for two adults in Penrose Room, Colorado’s only five-star, five-diamond restaurant, with complimentary access to the children’s program (ages 3-12) for that time.

The Broadmoor is the longest-running consecutive winner of both the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond awards. It is named on both Conde Nast Traveler’s Gold List and Travel+Leisure’s Top 50 Resorts in the US and Canada.

The historic Colorado Springs resort is located on 3,000 lush acres under the shadow of Cheyenne Mountain. The pool complex offers three swimming pools, including an 11,000-square-foot outdoor infinity pool and “Slide Mountain” waterslide, kiddie pool with waterspout, three outdoor hot tubs, and one lap pool. The resort also features an award-winning spa, fitness center, 54 holes of championship golf, six tennis courts with tennis camps, children’s programs for ages 3-12, 24-hour room service, valet parking, and 24 specialty retail shops. Other fun activities for the whole family include horseback riding, rafting, fly fishing, hiking, biking, and a trip to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

For a chance to win this vacation for your family, just fill out the form on the giveaway page. You can enter once a day through July 31, 2010. Good luck!

With its miles of powdery white sand beaches and vibrant hotel, shopping, and art scenes, it’s no wonder the beautiful stretch of southwest Florida comprising Naples, Marco Island, and the Everglades is nicknamed the Paradise Coast. The area is also heaven for kids, with a raftload of fun outings and eco-adventures to enjoy. Play our easy online scavenger hunt, and you could win a four-day/three-night getaway in paradise!

The prize includes:

• Three-night stay at the Naples Grande Beach Resort, a beachfront resort nestled on 23 acres in the heart of Naples. Families can enjoy the three miles of pristine white-sand beach, three swimming pools and 100-foot waterslide, golf, tennis, spa, private mangrove estuary, and supervised kids' club for ages 4 to 12.
• Four tickets for an orientation tour with Segway of Naples, a memorable and unique way to see the local sights. During your 90-minute tour, you’ll explore historic Naples on a Segway—a tremendously fun, safe, and easy way to get around.
• Four tickets for either a deep sea or bay fishing excursion with Cruise Naples. Rod, reel, tackle, bait and fishing license are included. Great fun for the entire family!
• Four tickets for either a sightseeing or sunset cruise with Cruise Naples. During the 90-minute narrated cruises on the calm waters of Naples Bay, dolphins and manatees often accompany the boats and bald eagles and other birdlife are abundant.
• Four jet ski rentals from Cruise Naples. Experience one of the most fun and exhilarating ways to get out on the water.

For a chance to win this Florida vacation for your family, play our scavenger hunt. You can enter once a day through June 30, 2010. Good luck!

Who wants to vacation like a millionaire? We’re thrilled to be giving away a five-night stay at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, once the winter retreat for a Who’s Who of American tycoons, including Rockefeller, Goodyear, and Astor. These days, the historic and still oh-so-grand hotel is a luxurious yet unpretentious place for a laid-back family getaway (see our review), offering an assortment of classic resort activities—golf, tennis, swimming, croquet—and many fun adventures just off the grounds.

The prize includes a five-night stay in a suite; breakfast buffet in the Grand Dining Room each morning; one Jekyll Island Club logo’d beach towel; passes to either the Georgia Sea Turtle Center or Summer Waves Waterpark; a 10% discount on babysitting; and free rental of beach chairs and umbrella at the hotel’s beach pavilion.

The Jekyll Island Club Hotel was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1978 and is consistently rated as one of the world’s top resorts by publications such as Travel+Leisure. Guests can stay in rooms once occupied by Vanderbilt or Macy, and dine in the same grand room where millionaires enjoyed so many exquisitely prepared meals. The roster of family-friendly activities includes carriage rides, dolphin cruises, horseback riding, geocaching, swimming, and kayaking. Kids can also spend time in the kids’ club while Mom and Dad relax with spa treatments. The island is blessed with a lovely eight-mile beach and 20 miles of bike and hiking paths. 

For a chance to win this vacation for your family, just fill out the form on the giveaway page. You can enter once a day through June 20, 2010. Good luck!

Road trip, anyone? Hampton Inn is having a nice sale that lets families travel more affordably this summer. With the Great Getaway promotion, you'll save 20% off the hotel's best available rate when you stay at a participating property between May 28 and September 6.  Family-friendly choices include the Hampton Inn & Suites Williamsburg Historic District, centrally located near Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown, Jamestown and Busch Gardens. With the offer, nightly rates drop to $119.20 on a July weekend, which is 20% off the best available rate of $149.  Or check out the Hampton Inn & Suites Seattle - Downtown, a stone's throw from kid-pleasing attractions such as Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium and Seattle Children's Museum.  A July weekend night in a two-bedroom suite with a kitchen will cost $175.20, 20% off the best available rate of $219.

Reservations have to be booked by June 15, and a seven-day advance purchase is required.  A word of caution: Be sure your travel dates are firm, because bookings must be fully pre-paid and are nonrefundable and unchangeable.

Ready to commit to your summer vacation plans? Hilton is launching a Great Getaway sale, which is advertised at up to 30% off hotel rooms for stays between May 28 and September 6.  Good at 2,800 hotels around the world—including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, and Homewood Suites—the offer often includes free breakfast, too, for at least two people.

The discount varies a little by brand name: You’ll get a full 30% off at Doubletree hotels; 25%  at Hilton properties;  and 20% at Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites, Hilton Grand Vacations, Hilton Garden Inn, Waldorf Astoria and Conrad. The deal is available at only select Embassy Suites.

Sounds pretty good, right? No so fast. The discount applies to the Bed & Breakfast rate, which is always higher than the lowest regular rate and the regular advance-purchase rate. And the offer comes with some big restrictions: You have to book at least seven days ahead of your arrival and pay in full upfront, with no possible refund.

We shopped at some family-friendly spots to see how the special offer played out. At the Hilton Garden Inn in Williamsburg, the special offer rate was $112 a night, down from the Bed & Breakfast rate of $141. Now comes the comparison pricing: That's 21% off the B&B rate but just 15% off the best regular rate of $129. Meanwhile, the regular advance-purchase, no-refund rate was $105. Think of the special offer as getting a free, cooked-to-order breakfast for each family member for just $7 in total. Rooms at the hotel, less than two miles from the city center, have fridges and microwaves, and the hotel has the obligatory pool.

At the Hilton Los Cabos resort in Mexico's Cabo San Lucas—which has a beach, pool and kids' club—the special offer shaves 25% off this property's B&B rate. The special offer rate for an ocean view room with two queen beds was $194 a night, compared to $259 for the B&B rate, which includes two buffet breakfasts for the grown-ups each morning and free meals for kids 5 and under. When you figure in those free meals, the special offer probably has the edge over the regular advance-purchase rate of $179 a night—but just barely, and only if your kids are very young.

Verdict: This is a great example of how marketing spin can make a just-okay offer sound much better than it is. And it's a good reminder of why you need to follow recession travel rule no. 1 and always do the math. Sometimes this special offer beats all the hotel's other rates—and sometimes you can do better by choosing another rate from the menu. On the upside, this offer usually delivers a free breakfast, so long as you can also stomach the non-refundable risk.

Look for the Great Getaway rates when entering dates online, or mention the deal when calling 800/446-6677. You must book before July 15. Some brands  have their own twists on the rules, such as a three-night minimum and no breakfast at Hilton Grands, or two-night minimum night stay for Wednesday arrivals at Homewoods Suites. As usual, other restrictions may apply.