The Real Deal: Round-trip airfare on Alaska Airlines, three nights' accommodations and free flights and meals for kids under 12, from $547 per person — plus about $56 in taxes.
When: Departures daily through March 31, 2009.
Gateways: Portland, Ore.; add $28 for Spokane; and $69 for Seattle; additional gateways available.
The fine print: Does not include airfare taxes of about $56 per person. Based on double occupancy; single supplement varies depending on departure date. Note that Budget Travel readers receive $25 per person off by using promo code AS925OFFSD (offer good online only). Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.
Book by: March 26, 2009.
Contact: Alaska Airlines Vacations, 800/468-2248, alaskaair.com.
Why it's a deal: In a recent Kayak search, we found a $250 round-trip flight in mid-January (United). A three-night stay at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in mid-January costs about $424 per person. Booking independently, you could expect to spend about $674 on the airfare and hotel room. This package deal is saving you $96. Also note that the $522 per person price reflects an exclusive $25 savings, good for Budget Travel readers only. And you can combine this offer with the Kids Fly Free promotion.
Lodging: Your base for the three-night stay will be the Manchester Grand Hyatt. The 1,625-room downtown hotel on the waterfront has an outdoor pool, four restaurants, babysitting services and a spa. You can easily access the Gaslamp Quarter, Seaport Village, SeaWorld and San Diego Zoo.
More: If you're just looking for an affordable hotel rate, the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau is currently running a Road to Happiness promotion with some rooms as low as $69 per night.
Before you go: Transfers aren't included. A taxi from the airport to the hotel will cost about $10, or you could take a shuttle. The temperature in San Diego, even in the winter, averages in the mid-60s Fahrenheit. For more ideas on what to do, visit the official tourism sites of California and San Diego.
