The Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, set on a hilltop on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, welcomes families with a kids' club (ages 4-12), three freshwater pools,
private beach, loads of water activities, and even daily iguana feedings. Guests have the option of booking a room-only rate or an all-inclusive plan. All-inclusive stays can often
make sense for families, because you pay one price up front and then don't need to open your wallet for meals, amenities, and activities. For a limited time, you can get the all-inclusive plan for less when you stay a minimum of three nights between now and August 22. Plus, kids ages 12 and under stay, eat, and play for free.
To find out if this offer was a good deal for families, we price-checked a short getaway for a family of two adults and two elementary school-age kids. The sale price on the all-inclusive rate is $402 a night, or $1,206 for the minimum three-night stay. The package includes:
- three-night stay in a resort view double room (room-only rate is $200/night x 3 nights = $600)
- three daily meals and beverages for two adults (worth about $90/day x 2 adults x 3 days = $540)
- house wine and alcoholic beverages for two adults (worth, say, $25/day x 2 adults x 3 days = $150)
- kids 12 and under eat free off of the kids menu (worth about $40/child x 2 kids x 3 days = $240)
- one half-day admission for two kids to kids' camp ($40/child x 2 children = $80)
- kayak or sailboat rental (double kayak, $20/hour x 2 kayaks x 1 hour = $40; sailboat, $30/hour)
- 8% room tax (worth $48)
- 10% resort fee (regularly $60)
- 15% food and beverage gratuity ($149 on a $990 tab)
If a family of four with two young kids were to pay for all of these elements separately, a conservative estimate of the total spend would come to $1,907. Opting for the promo all-inclusive rate would save $701—which translates to a whopping 37%. To look at it from another angle, the promo all-inclusive rate of $402 a night is 33% less the regular all-inclusive rate of $592 per night.
Deal or no deal? If you've got kids 12 and under, this offer delivers substantial savings. If you've got teens, however, the savings are considerably less significant. For each kid over 12, you'll pay an additional $95 per day on top of the base price. A family of four with two teens would pay a total of $1,776 —still a 7% savings compared to booking the components independently.
This offer is good until May 31. As usual, there is some fine print; think blackout dates and a three-day cancellation policy. Book online or call 888/582-9104 and mention promo code PKGFEBAI.
