Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort

It doesn’t really matter whether you think the recession is over or not. The kids still want to see Grandma for the holidays. Heck, you probably want to see family or friends for the holidays too. But, airline tickets and rental cars might not be in the budget. The perfect solution could be a multi-family road trip. Just rent a condo, pack everyone in, and celebrate like you live there. But, unlike Grandma’s house, you get to pick a destination that everyone will enjoy even if spending time with the family isn’t your thing.

And, there are financial advantages to timeshare rental. Your budget will appreciate all the on-site activities for all ages. Adults can enjoy beer or wine tasting, poker, golf, and other recreational activities. Kids can have fun with craft activities, pool parties, and ice cream socials scheduled throughout the day.  And, timeshare condominiums have all the economical comforts of home. From full-size kitchens to washers and dryers dryers to keep up with the towels and wet suits from those refreshing dips in the pool.

Although most timeshare vacation rentals demand you stay a full week, there are some that let you opt in for as much time as you want, even a night at a time.  For example, you could choose to spend a couple of nights near Disneyland and then drive down to Carlsbad to enjoy the beach and LEGOLAND®.

I asked the experts at ResorTime.com, a popular source for on-line vacation and timeshare condominium rentals, for the top budget and family-friendly destinations. Their advice is to consider options that are chock full of stuff to do, plenty of space and great rates even during the holidays. For our list we factored great deals, good room availability, family activities both on-site and off and proximity to major interstates/population centers. In other words, you’ll have a good time.

Carlsbad, California
Carlsbad is only 20 minutes north of San Diego and is close to theme parks, miles of beaches, some of the best public golf in the country and lots more for families. Check out LEGOLAND®, the fun theme park for kids 2-12 which recently added the SEA LIFE Aquarium.  This beach town is a quick drive to the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld.   Rates for spacious condos start at $99.

Coronado Beach Resort

San Diego
Voted the #1 destination for families year after year, San Diego has something for everyone, no matter what time of year you visit. They don’t call it America’s Finest City for nothing. Downtown San Diego is highly regarded for its excitement, fine dining and bustling atmosphere.  Many families recommend condos in the heart of the famous Gaslamp or across the bridge in Coronado.  Some sites, like ResorTime.com offer restaurant certificates if you book online.

Anaheim
Disneyland is still the go-to place for any family. By stretching out in a condo you can save money on all that park food by eating at least one meal in your room. Some condo rentals even include kid-friendly breakfasts before you head out to see Mickey or drive over to Knott’s.

Palm Springs
Believe it or not, Palm Springs is popular in the summer and winter both. Deals abound during the summer, when families take advantage of the deep discounts, spa deals and excellent golf (just tee off first thing in the morning!).

Orlando
With rates starting at $97, and tons of activities for young and old alike, Orlando is the ideal place for a timeshare vacation condominium vacation. Orlando also has been offering aggressive discounts and offers to travelers, making a vacation more budget-friendly than you might think.  

Lake Tahoe
The sheer number of possible options in this natural wonderland make it a great place to find a bargain, summer or winter. Enjoy boating, water skiing and the ride up to the top of Heavenly in a gondola during the summer. Take a family ski lesson in the winter or just go sledding and relax by the fire. Rates start at $99.

Maui
It’s technically not a road trip, but the “Best Island in the World”, as voted by Conde’ Nast Traveler, is a great multi-family vacation, and many condos are large enough for three generations. Hawaii has also been one of the consistent deals in recent months and rates start at $130 currently. With airfare deals plentiful, this might be the time to convince the family to take hula lessons to work off the Thanksgiving meal.

Sedona, Arizona
Take a slight detour from your Route 66 trip and enjoy the Red Rock Country. Every one gets into the atmosphere with golfing, hiking, swimming and relaxing spas.  Whether you want to get away for a long weekend or take a week to remember what life was like before the Blackberry, Sedona is a great option.         

Branson, Missouri
An easy road trip from anywhere in the Midwest, rates start at $121 for two bedrooms. Good friends can share accommodations or grandparents can bring along the kids. You might even get the 4^th night free.  The golf is great and there is no end to the fun.  Within minutes of downtown Branson, you can find plentiful camping, fishing, hunting, rock climbing as well as beaches and resorts in the 100,000 acres of wilderness area.             

Las Vegas
Definitely a better location for those families with older kids, Vegas’ recent construction boom has given rise to plentiful condo rentals, and they can be very budget friendly. Whether you’re assembling the family for a wedding, weekend getaway or just want to bring the family along on a convention trip, it’s definitely more enjoyable to rent a spacious condo than a cramped hotel room.