The idea of getting a connecting hotel room for the kids can mean the difference between a trip and an actual vacation—room for everyone to have their own space, downtime TV shows and age-appropriate bedtime hours.

Granted, the “luxury” of that second room can be cost-prohibitive. The Vancouver Four Seasons, however, is offering to make that second room more affordable with its Family Getaway package, which starts at $255 CDN a night ($261 US) for stays between March 13 and March 27. The offer is good throughout the year, though the rates go up seasonally (you're talking $335 CDN, or $342 US, at the height of summer).

The 385-room hotel is set above Vancouver’s biggest mall, and has landed on the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List and Food & Wine’s "World's Best Places to Eat." It has an indoor pool, gym, spa services, and easy access to the city beyond the mall downstairs. The deal includes:

• 50% off a second room (a $128 value)
  
• Welcome amenities for the kids (t-shirt, worth about $10 x 2 kids = $20)
• Free kids’ breakfasts in the on-site restaurant ($10 x 2 kids= $20/night)
• Daily activities by the pool or in the Playzone Game Room (always complimentary)
• One “Kids in the Kitchen” lesson from the Four Seasons chefs (also complimentary, but seasonal)
  

Deal or no Deal? $128 for a room at a Four Seasons? Deal. The other perks may not amount to much added value, but free is free.

Even if you don’t opt for the second room, there is a lot for families to love about the Four Seasons. While you may pay more for your room than at less luxurious hotels, you always get a lot of value: for instance, you never have to pay to use the kids' clubs, which can run $100 a day for two kids at hotels under the Ritz-Carltons and Fairmont umbrellas. Plus, we love how the Four Seasons adds little welcoming touches such as kid-sized bathrobes to use during your stay.

The Family Getaway Package runs through April 2012. Book the offer by calling 604/684-8111.