Looking for a tropical getaway with minimal hassle? Consider Puerto Rico: it's just about as exotic as you can get without a passport, and a great destination for families. Kids can practice their Spanish (but English is also spoken), there are no hassles with currency conversion, and flights from the mainland US are plentiful.
Hilton Hotels' Spring Escape promotion is available for trips between April 12 to June 30 at five participating properties in Puerto Rico, including the flagship El Conquistador Resort. This sprawling mega-property, set on 500 acres overlooking the island's east coast, boasts 23 onsite restaurants and lounges, seven outdoor pools, a waterpark, casino, spa, kids' camp, and 100-acre private island. It has a great location close to El Yunque National Forest and just 31 miles from San Juan's airport.
The package includes a free night and a few other extras, with nightly rates starting at $199 in April, and $149 in May and June. To find out if it is really a good deal for familes, we did the math on a four-night weekend getaway in early May.
- 4th night free (in early May, garden-view room rate is $179)
- breakfast daily for two adults and two kids (worth, let's say, $15/per person x 4 people x 4 days = $240)
- $25 casino match bet coupon (worth $25)
- 20% discount on a spa treatment (worth, for example, $33 on a 80-minute massage)
The regular room rate is the same per night as the package rate, so the offer truly delivers a free night. A family of four booking a four-day stay in May with this package would spend $537 ($179 per night x 4 nights - free night). Purchased without the package, this same stay with room and breakfast would cost $956 ($179 x 4 nights + $240), or $419 more than the package total. We're not including the casino coupon or spa discount in the savings calculation, because those elements require you to spend money in order to save.
Deal or no deal? This one is a doozy, delivering an impressive savings of 44% on lodging and breakfasts. And if you choose to spend in the casino or spa, you'll save a bit more.
The bad news comes in the fine print: There is a daily 14% resort fee and 11 % tax, applicable on the room rate and resort fee.
