Summer 2004
Can't get excited about another family vacation to visit grandma? Then this is the summer to plan a real vacation - and thanks to some excellent military discounts, a real vacation may be more affordable than you think.
Best Deal: Military Discounts on Cruise Ships
"The absolute best vacation deals right now are four- and five-day cruises with military discounts," says Joe Caldiero, Outdoor Recreation Director at Columbus Air Force Base. Many of the top cruise lines - including Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean - are offering considerable military discounts, averaging up to half-price off standard rates. Caldiero recently booked a four-day cruise for a family of four at only $300 per person, including taxes and port fees.
B.J. Norden, Manager of the Navy Leisure Offices for C.I. Travel in Norfolk, says families choose cruises because they're affordable and they offer something for everyone. "Most of the major cruise lines now provide children's programs, so families can divide up and attend the programs of their choice, then meet back for dinner at the end of an exciting day," Norden explains. Specially trained staffs supervise and entertain children while they participate in age-appropriate activities, starting at about age three and going through the teens.
"Cruises are especially great for teenagers," Norden says, "because they feel like they have the run of the ship, but mom and dad don't worry where they are or what they're doing." Special onboard events geared just to teens, like pizza parties and disco lessons are big hits, Norden says.
The cost of a cruise vacation depends heavily on the accommodations you select and your method of travel to and from the port of call. Rates change frequently due to availability. "Not every cruise line offers military discounts on every cruise ship or on every sailing of a particular ship, so the key is to plan in advance," Norden says.
Theme Park Military Discounts
More than 90 million Americans visit theme parks every year, according to statistics tracked by the Travel Industry Association of America. More military families contributed to those statistics in recent years because most major theme parks in the U.S. offered free or reduced rate military admission to honor service members following the 9/11 tragedy. However, most of those programs have not been extended for the 2004 summer season.
Disney's Armed Forces Salute, with free tickets for active duty and reduced ticket prices for military family members, ended in December 2003. Universal Studios, Busch Gardens and Sea World also have ended similar programs. However, these theme parks still make discount tickets available year-round through ticket offices on military installations. These military discounts represent huge savings for families on a budget, says Caldiero. "Theme parks in general aren't cheap vacations, but military discount tickets can save you anywhere from 20 to 40 percent off commercial rates," he explains.
Check with the ticket and travel office at your military installation for the best rates. They almost always beat any Internet deals or promotional offers you might find, Caldiero says. Travel offices on military installations offer military discount tickets to all major sporting events anywhere in the U.S., including the Masters golf tournament and the Super Bowl. Travel offices also arrange various sightseeing and shopping tours throughout the year at prices far below what an individual could arrange independently.
Think 'Discounts!' - Vacation Deals at Military Installations
"If a cruise or theme park are too far out of your budget, then check out the vacation opportunities provided at your own military installation," advises Caldiero. Outdoor Recreation offices at most installations rent top-notch RVs, boats, jet skis and other recreational equipment at prices well below market rates. "We get you off the base for a lot less than you would pay commercially," Caldiero says. For example, his facility rents RVs and campers that sleep up to six people for only $45 a night or less. He recommends this option for families who just want to visit the beach or enjoy the mountains for a few days but don't want to spend money on expensive hotels.
Wherever your summer vacation takes you and your family, the discounts and special privileges available to military members make it more affordable than ever. Take advantage of these travel benefits -; and maybe work in a visit to grandma after all.
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Attorney Sarah J. Schmidt writes frequently about legal issues and military family matters. She's also a military spouse looking forward to her next family vacation!
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Space-A Travel: The Ultimate Deal for Military Travelers - Vacation Travel on Military Aircraft
If you're looking for exciting travel at rock bottom prices, the military's own Space-Available (Space-A) travel option may be right for you. The catch is you must be flexible... sometimes < em="">really flexible, like the time my friends were stuck in Hawaii a week waiting for a Space-A flight home. Hey, a week in Hawaii isn't so bad if your schedule and budget can absorb last-minute changes. And usually, the wait isn't that long.
Here's how it works. The Space-A program allows eligible passengers to take unused seats on DoD aircraft once all the assigned cargo and duty passengers have been accommodated. This means there's no guarantee Space-A travelers will get seats on the flights they want. If seats aren't available, the Space-A traveler must wait for the next outbound flight. Unfortunately, there's no worldwide reservation process for booking seats.
The burden is on Space-A travelers to sign up at each passenger terminal where they hope to find a flight. Space-A travelers are selected based on their category of travel and the time of their registration. In most cases, selection is purely first come, first served. You must repeat the process at the destination terminal for your return travel.
The tradeoff for those inconveniences is that Space-A travelers pay next to nothing for these flights. That adds up to huge savings, says Ann Crawford, Publisher of Military Living Publications, Inc., especially when figuring in the cost of family members' travel. Recent changes in the Space-A program now permit family members of active duty and retired military members to fly point to point within the continental U.S. Previously, family members could only fly Space-A on flights leaving the U.S. or from point to point overseas.
"This is the best thing that's happened for military travelers in a very long time," Crawford exclaims. The program began in 2003 as a test, but earlier this year, DoD announced it was extending the program indefinitely. U.S. Transportation Command reports nearly 20,000 people already have taken advantage of the new program.
"We hope that means DoD will eventually revise the regulation to make this new policy permanent," Crawford says. The policy doesn't extend to all Reservists, however, so check with your local installation or visit MilitaryLiving.com for specific details.
On the Web, travel information specific to the following military services is available at:
Army Travel
Navy Travel
Airforce Travel