Guilt-free Getaways
Remember those great trips you took before the kids? Back in the day when your hangover woke you up, not a child wanting juice. When the liquid that came in a box was pink wine? Remember when your favorite jeans fit or that nose hair you keep plucking wasn’t gray? While you can’t turn back time (that Cher song is in your head now, isn’t it), you can get away for a long weekend or more with your significant other or a best friend (if you’re lucky, it’s the same person). A recent Kayak survey found that 30% of parents have never taken a vacation without the kids. Everyone needs a break from family, even your kids, so consider one of these guilt-free getaways.
Aruba flights | hotels | cars
Located in the heart of the southern Caribbean, Aruba is the perfect place to soak up some sun with a year-round average temperature of 82 degrees. This island paradise is perfect for parents fleeing the kids, with romantic hotels, luxurious spas, championship golf courses, vibrant casinos and miles of clear blue waves and white sand. Check out cool activities like land sailing, ATV tours, and scuba diving with the fish. No sting rays, we promise. If you’re feeling really adventurous, try mountain biking, customized to your own skill level by a professional tour guide, through the Aruban countryside along donkey trails. After recovering from your uphill trek, kick up your heels at night with live music and street festivities. If you’re feeling lucky, head on over to the Crystal Casino, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with 24 gaming tables and slot machines. Celebrate your winnings with Aruba’s signature cocktail, the Aruba Ariba!
Orbitz Package Deal: Renaissance Aruba Resort for $240/nt
New York City flights | hotels | cars
New York is just a hop, skip, and direct flight away from every major city in the U.S, so pack your bags and drop off the tykes at Grandma’s house. From Broadway shows to the guitar-playing Naked Cowboy in Times Square - New York has it all. Start your morning with brunch at the famous Boathouse Restaurant, nestled in the heart of NYC’s Central Park. Afterwards, check out the scene at the South Street Seaport with more than 100 shops, restaurants and festive outdoor concerts and performances. Feeling frisky? Head on over to New York’s Museum of Sex for shocking and erotic exhibits about human sexuality through the decades. If you need to catch some shut eye in the city that never sleeps - spend the weekend in one of AKA’s luxurious suites. The extended-stay property’s new Sleep School program provides light-sensitive accommodations and a personal sleep screening to help you catch up on your zzzz’s.
Orbitz Package Deal: Visit NYC in style — Air + 2-nts for $455/pp
New Orleans flights | hotels | cars
Let loose in the Big Easy! New Orleans, is steeped in culture, from creole cooking to its long musical history as the birthplace of jazz. NoLa-bound guests can savor the sounds of renowned festivals, like Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest or grab a drink at Lafitte Blacksmith, the oldest structure in the U.S. that’s used as a bar. Indulge in the city’s beloved beignets and cafe au lait at Cafe Du Monde, or sip on a mint julep while listening to authentic jazz spilling out from the streets of the French Quarter. The Marriott and Renaissance Hotels of New Orleans are arming guests with the essentials for an Ultimate N’awlins experience by offering street tokens, pralines at turndown, $20 gift cards to Cafe Du Monde, Pat O’Brien’s and Central Grocery and a city map.
Orbitz Package Deal: $421/pp for Flight + 2-nts at 5-star Le Pavillon
Santa Fe flights | hotels |
cars
With an average of 300 days of sunshine, Santa Fe puts vacationing without the little ones in a whole new light. Take advantage of unique & local attractions like the renowned Georgia O’Keefe Museum, the Santa Fe Opera House, and Loretto Chapel, home of the famous “Miraculous Staircase” seen on TV’s “Unsolved Mysteries.” Santa Fe is the second largest art market in the nation, with more than 100 galleries and studios that art aficionados can enjoy during a walk along legendary Canyon Road. After a long day of sightseeing, retreat to the Eldorado Hotel & Spa for a variety of Southwest-inspired amenities ideal for lovebirds. From a candlelit dinner at the award-winning Old House restaurant to a couple’s massage at Nidah Spa, Santa Fe’s premier hotel is the perfect setting for those looking to rekindle the romance.
Orbitz Package Deal: Experience the turquoise mines - from $138/nt
Deals:
- Fly Funjet to Las Vegas
Absolute lowest prices of the winter!
Funjet - Vacation packages 5 days/4 nights for $199
American Express - Rental cars
From $13.95 a day!
Hotwire - Four cool cities one hot site!
Amsterdam, Antwerp, Zurich, Vienna in style! - Tahiti
Save $1500 with free dinner & breakfast at Tahiti’s finest resorts!
Did you know?
Having trouble leaving the kids? Guilty? Babysitter issues? A vacation without the kids is good for parents and children so Kayak.com partnered with Family Travel Expert Eileen Ogintz to provide a list of tips to help make a trip away from the kids easier on everyone.
GET OVER THE GUILT. Making time for yourselves helps you to be more effective parents and happier spouses. You come back rested and revitalized and that’s as good for the kids as for you.
START WITH A LONG WEEKEND GETAWAY. Don’t plan a two week trek across Africa for your first trip away. It will be better for baby and parents to start with a three- or four-night getaway and work your way up to a week or more away.
DON’T VENTURE TOO FAR. In case you want or have to get back in a hurry, choose a destination within an easy drive or direct flight away from your child.
To see all of Kayak’s tips, including advice on keeping the kids happy while parents are taking a break, visit our tips page.
Getting away guilt-free,
Steve and Paul, Kayak co-founders