Not many San Diego hotels can lure travelers with the promise of playing in the snow, but the Hilton Garden Inn, north of the city in Carlsbad, is doing just that. With its Let It Snow package, the 161-room hotel, across the street from a state beach, bundles a hotel stay with two tickets to Legoland, just a few minutes away. Along with the theme park’s special holiday shows and almost nightly tree-lightings, there will be a snowman-building area, with real snow, through New Year’s. During the holiday season, the Hilton is also offering beach-winter perks, such as warm cider and cookies in the
lobby and movies on the oceanfront lawn. The hotel also has a pool as well as an outdoor fireplace.
But does this snow really pack? The package rate starts at $244 a night and includes:
- one night lodging (regular rates start at $149)
- breakfast for one adult and one child (worth about $25)
- one adult's and one child's admission to Legoland (worth $134)
- free shuttle to and from Legoland (always free)
- free kids meals at lunch and dinner with adult meal purchases (worth about $20/day for two kids)
- plush toy and mittems for the kids
If you booked all the one-night components on your own, your total would come to $328—so this package delivers savings of about 25%. Normally these kinds of deals have a slight sting: you get your one-time park tickets bundled in for a great deal on the first night, but if you stay two or three nights paying that same package rate, your savings melt like, well, snow in San Diego.
But Hilton is being more than fair: you
can snap up additional nights for as little as $139 a night—as good or better than
the regular rate. While you get only a pair of Legoland tickets, you can buy additional park
tickets at a 10% discount ($61/adult and $55/child) and
those tickets include free breakfast back at the hotel.
Deal or no deal? Let's hear it for snow days!
The package is good through January 2, 2012. You can book it online through the specials page, or clicking the Let It Snow box when you book. Or, mention the deal when calling 760/476-0800. One important note for scheduling: this time of year, Legoland is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with the exception of Thanksgiving week, Christmas week and New Year’s week.
