Coeur D'Alene budget vacation help

[mrsbornkuntry]

DH wants to take a family trip when he gets home from Iraq, we live in western WA so we thought to save some money we would just go to Idaho, visit Silverwood, maybe a mining town and do some hiking and outdoors things. The problem is that I can't find anyplace to accomodate our family of 7 for under $200 a night . I'm getting very frustrated. At this point, even with gas, it would come out cheaper to drive to Disneyland, but we've done that trip for the past two years and we were looking for something cheaper and a little less stressful (we aren't looking forward to that drive again and can't afford to fly 7 people).

So does anyone have any suggestions of where I can look for a more reasonably priced place to stay or any other vacation suggestions for the Pacific Northwest? (Not Seattle, we've spent alot of time there already).

 

[victorandbellasmom]

I don't know if this would be considered a budget trip, but have you considered a couple of nights at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound. It's an indoor waterpark/resort that just opened up within the past month. www.greatwolflodge.com The suites will sleep 8, unfortunately its $300+ a night. But it includes access to the waterpark for the duration of your stay.

Have you also considered Vancouver, BC? We love Granville Island, Science World, Vancouver Aquarium and Stanley Park in Vancouver BC. We've only done day trips so I'm not sure about hotel costs.

Another idea is the Oregon coast. We usually do Seaside for the 4th of July. There are lots of things to keep our kids (7 & 10) busy.

 

[BarbR-Atlanta]

We went to Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced "pond-oray") three years ago. Stayed at the Pend Oreille Shores Resort. GREAT vacation! 90 miles from Spokane, near Montana, the very trendy/artsy Sandpoint, and near the Selkirk Loop in BC. We stayed in a two bedroom condo, right on the lake (in our backyard!).

I would recommend this to anyone!

Good luck!

 

[jewlsoregon]

Check out Cedar Mountain Farm Bed and Breakfast. They have a Bunk house that sleeps up to 7, close to Silverwood, and under $200.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

We looked into Great Wolf Lodge, but DH wants to do more and that seems to be just a two or three day trip.

I will look into Vancouver, B.C., that sounds interesting. DH also wasn't interested in the WA or OR coast. I was, but I think the fact that the ocean is so cold here turned him off to it, we came here from the east coast so it's a huge difference to us.

I will definitely look into the other places that were mentioned, neither of those have come up in my searches so you've been a huge help already.

 

[ORMom2Four]

Oh my, stay away from Cedar Mountain B&B.

We stayed in the bunkhouse last summer. It was so gross, there were HUGE ants everywhere that bit the kids! Seriously, so many ants that we had to keep our feet up when we sat at the kitchen table so they would not crawl across our feet. They had those ant bait traps laid around everywhere, so they knew it was a problem.

We even took photos of the ants, lol.

Silverwood was a lot of fun though, and we plan on going back this summer. Of course, we will not stay at Cedar Mountain, no way, not even if they let us stay for free There are some hotels within 10 minutes of Silverwood, we will stay there!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Ewww!

Does anyone have a review of the cabins at this campground?
http://www.wolflodgervcampground.com/cabins.htm

I was thinking of the wolf lodge cabin.

 

[disney-super-mom]

Call the Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites in Hayden, Idaho (just down the road from Silverwood).

They have suites that should comfortably accomodate your family (up to 8 people), and I believe their rates for suites are a little under $200 per night (although try to get a discount of somekind if you can, like AAA, military, Entertainment book, or whatever you can). Your rate also includes a nice continental breakfast, including items like biscuits and gravy, hard boiled eggs, hot and cold cereals, danishes, doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, coffee, etc...

The direct number to the front desk is:
1-208-772-7900

I love the Coeur d' Alene area. It's so beautiful and there's so much fun stuff to do. I hope you can make it work out. It would be a great family vacation destination.

 

[grammynelliebelle]

Have you tried contacting any owners who have properties on vrbo. com(Vacation rental by owner) We found out about that website here on the Dis for disney area vacation rentals. If you see something that would work for your family and you contact the owner they are sometimes able and willing to negotiate a rate that is more affordable. Sometimes not, but it is worth calling. Good luck! Grammy