Daily Getaways Travel Deals 2018 – Week One
The U.S. Travel Association’s Daily Getaways Travel Deals 2018 – Week One, begins Monday, April 9, 2018.
Week One Rundown
Monday
Universal Studios Hollywood, California tickets
Tuesday
Choice Privileges Hotel points
Wednesday
IHG Rewards Club points
Thursday
Discovery Cove and Sea World tickets
Friday
Avis rental and President’s Club membership
My Thoughts and More Details
Universal Studios Hollywood tickets
For $139 per ticket, you’ll receive 1 Universal Express Ticket, which includes 1-day admission and 1-time express access to each ride and attraction and priority seating at select shows to Universal Studios Hollywood™ in California.
Pricing for this ticket on the Universal Studios Hollywood website runs $179-$259 depending on the day/date selected. At the very least, you’ll save $40 per ticket, and potentially up to $120 per ticket, grabbing this deal. Not bad.
There’s a limit of 9 total tickets per purchase for this deal. Dates of travel are June 1, 2018, through May 24, 2019. It is important to note there are blackout dates associated with this deal. Blackout dates are: 6/29/18 through 8/13/18 and 12/21/18 through 1/4/19.
(250 Available)
Choice Privileges Points
There are four Choice Privileges (Choice Hotels) points packages from which to choose.
The deals are:
- 14,000 Choice Privileges points. Price: $80 (3,143 Available)
- 28,000 Choice Privileges points. Price: $144 (1,571 Available)
- 42,000 Choice Privileges points. Price: $205 (1,048 Available)
- 55,000 Choice Privileges points. Price: $265 (800 Available)
There is a purchase limit of no more than two sets of points per offer, per loyalty number. And a max limit of 8 sets of points per loyalty number across all Choice Hotels offers.
You must be a Choice Privileges rewards program member to purchase, so sign up before buying.
As with any hotel/points deal, which hotel you want to book and when will determine if purchasing the points is a good deal.
IHG Rewards Club Points
There are six different IHG points packages available. You’re getting points at a discounted rate, but how you redeem those points will really determine if the purchase is a good value.
Here are the points packages and pricing:
8,500 IHG Rewards Club points – Price: $50 (2,250 Available)
15,000 IHG Rewards Club points – Price: $89 (2,210 Available)
25,000 IHG Rewards Club Points – Price: $149 (999 Available)
50,000 IHG Rewards Club points – Price: $290 (1,255 Available)
100,000 IHG Rewards Club points – Price: $580 (1,000 Available)
130,000 IHG Rewards Club points – Price: $749 (2,000 Available)
The best play with points purchases is for times when you’re close to a desired hotel award stay redemption, but don’t have quite enough points to get you where you need to be. Purchasing a points package that hits the mark is a good value.
Here’s a random example of purchasing the 100,000 IHG points package for $580 and whether it translates to a good value or not.
A 2-night stay at the Intercontinental: Chicago Magnificent Mile (June 16-18) would cost 100,000 IHG points or $673 (room and tax) for the stay.
You’d save almost $100 buying the points package and booking an award stay over paying for the room. Not bad.
Of course, value will be determined by a variety of factors – type of hotel, dates of stay, length of stay, etc.
Check your desired travel location and dates to see if purchasing an IHG points package makes sense for you.
Discovery Cove, Multi-Park Tickets, and Sea World Tickets
Discovery Cove Dolphin Swim Package – 1 Discovery Cove Dolphin Swim Package which includes: a reserved 30-minute dolphin interaction, breakfast and lunch, unlimited snacks and drinks including alcoholic beverages, free parking and a 14-day ticket to SeaWorld and Aquatica Orlando valid on visits surrounding your Discovery Cove day.
Price: $160
Tickets are valid from time of purchase through 12/31/18. Max quantity per purchase – 6. (200 Available)
Sea World – 1-single day admission for an adult or child to your choice of park (Orlando, San Diego or San Antonio).
Price: $50.
Valid before May 25, 2019. Max quantity per purchase – 6. (1,658 Available)
Florida 2-Park Ticket – Valid for a total of two (2) visits at any of the following parks: SeaWorld® Orlando, Aquatica® Orlando, Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay and Adventure Island® Tampa Bay.
Price: $75.
Valid before May 25, 2019. Max quantity per purchase – 6. (894 Available)
- Pricing for regularly purchased tickets is dependent on date selected.
- A quick look at the Dolphin Swim Package shows pricing starting at $230 and going as high as $340.
- Sea World tickets begin at $59.99 at Sea World San Diego and $79 at Orlando and San Antonio and go up depending on day/date.
Avis Car Rental and Status
The first Avis deal is for a 1-day car rental for $30.
Offer is valid in the U.S. (not New York Metro), Canada, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands and is good on the rental of any car of your choice up to Premium (Group G).
An Avis rental is usually fairly expensive – more than $30/day – so this would be a deal for pretty much any Avis rental situation. If you’re planning a trip this year or early next where you’ll be renting a car, this could be a good opportunity to save a little. However, the bigger question is, could you save even more by going with a different rental car company?
Be sure and read the Terms & Conditions on this deal before purchasing.
$30 certificate must be used by May 15, 2019.
Purchase limit: 7
800 Available
The second Avis deal is for one Avis President’s Club Membership.
Price for the deal is $750.
This is for road warriors. Or people who want to feel special. Typically, you must be “invited” to get an Avis President’s Club Membership.
Is membership worth it? From what I read, benefits are primarily upgraded rentals (2-car-class) and assured car availability. I’ll let you decide if the membership’s worth $750.
Membership will be active for 1 year from date of activation.
Purchase limit: 1
20 Available
Daily Getaways Ins and Outs
All Daily Getaways deals go on sale at 1:00 pm ET the day they are listed.
I’ve noted the quantities available next to each deal – they’re also listed on an individual deal’s page on the Daily Getaways calendar. For popular deals, they will go quickly, so be ready to click the “Buy Now” button right at 1:00 pm.
Actually, if there is any deal in which you’re interested, just to be safe I’d be ready to buy right at 1:00 pm when the deal opens.
As with anything in life, the details matter, so for deals you’re interested in, be sure to look at the fine print…it’s listed on each individual deal at the Daily Getaways site.
So, scope out the deals that interest you for this week, set your cell phone alarm for 12:50 pm the day of the deal and get ready to buy!
I’ll see you next weekend with my rundown of Week 2 deals.
Until then, here’s hoping you get the travel deal(s) of your choice!
*Be sure to share this post on your social media feeds and pass along to others who may be interested in these specific travel deals*
Dolphin image courtesy of U.S. Travel Association and Discovery Cove Orlando
