A hotel package that includes unlimited access to the nearby theme park—that’s a chance to save big bucks, right? That's what drew us to the Spring Fever family package offered at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia. The 422-room, AAA Four-Diamond hotel is a short drive from Busch Gardens, Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown. It offers one-, two- and three-bedroom suites, as well as a marina with kayaks, fishing and paddleboats; there's also a kids’ game room, tennis and golf, including a par-three, 9-hole course. 

The two-night Spring Fever package starts at $679 for a family of four and includes:

• 2 nights lodging in a one-bedroom suite ($239/night x 2 = $478)
• 2 days of admission to Busch Gardens ($64/person x 4 = $256)
• Shuttle service to Busch Gardens and Colonial Williamsburg (always free to hotel guests)
• Breakfast buffet ($14 x 4 people x 2 days = $112 for family of four)
• Unlimited golf on Bray Links course (normally $12/adult, $6/kids 17 and under = $36 x 3 days=$108 for a family of four)

If you purchased for all the components on your own, you'd pay $954 for a two-night stay. Though the package is advertised with a starting rate of $679, we found that price to be elusive. For example, when we checked some April dates—even mid-week dates—the lowest package price we found was $839 for the two-night package. 

Deal or no deal? For the dates we checked, the savings turned out to be a mere 12%, even if you  make the most of the components. But realistically, would you? Would all four family memebers play golf all three days? If you only need one day at Busch Gardens, the admission for four decreases by about $20.  This might be an okay deal for some families, but it's a reminder that you should always price it out to make sure you're getting the best deal for you. 

The package is good from March 25 through May 20. Some blackout dates apply. To book, click on “family specials” from the specials page, or click on the packages tab after entering dates on the reservations page. Alternatively, mention the Spring Fever deal when calling 800/832-5665.