Williamsburg VA budget trip!

[ban26ana]

I know this doesn't apply to everyone, but we're taking advantage of it. If you're a first responder, you and your party can get annual passes to Colonial Williamsburg for the price of a full-day ticket. Offer expires June 10, 2012. We really luck out, because our first day down there will be June 9!

First Responder info

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

We're back from our trip and had a great time!

We find timeshares to rent in the Williamsburg area for very reasonable rates through Skyauction. Just put the city into the search field They sell the excess inventory of the timeshare companies, especially in the off-season. Be sure to read all the details carefully and calculate how much the total cost will be, including any surcharges and taxes. If there are multiple dates shown, the auction will reopen after the closing date, offering the remaining inventory, so don't get into any sort of a bidding war - just wait for the next auction. Before I bid, I check the property out on Tripadvisor. Tonight there are auctions for Wyndham Kingsgate, Patriot's Place, and Powhatan Resort.

Skyauction also occasionally sends e-mails about week long certificates that you can purchase pretty cheap and redeem later. This is how we ended up in Patriot's Place (and one of our resorts near Disney in December). I had read mixed reviews, but we got a really nice refurbished unit. It looked just like the promo pictures, and the location was fabulous.

Anyone ever stay at Patriot Place?Just wondering if there will be bbq grills

Yes, but they aren't fancy ones. They are standard park-style, charcoal grills with picnic tables near each unit (not on the balcony/porch).

 

[jmunutt]

OMG. That commute stinks. How are you not in the looney bin? Traffic on 64 is enough to send me over the edge and I only drive it a few times a month!

Hey neighbor! My DH used to commute from Mech to Norfolk every day for a few years. He then transferred to DC, which is much worse traffic wise.

I do agree though that summer traffic around the tunnel stinks!

 

[bdink921]

Just returned from our Williamsburg vacay last week. Rented a timeshare at Wyndham Kingsgate through vacation upgrades. com found on the Bonnet Creek thread on the Orlando Resorts section. Awesome place for the 8 of us!! Beautiful resort for less than the price of a budget hotel with so many amenities. We bought bounce passes online before our trip and visited Colonial Williamsburg (ok, the little kids really didn't get it but enjoyed anyways), Jamestown Settlement (big hit with the kids), Water Country (lots of fun and not crowded at all), and Busch Gardens (nice park, rain/storms hit on days we were there so lots of rides down at times but we managed to get on/see most of what we wanted to). It was very hot when we were there so we did spend alot of time at our resort. Went out for a couple of meals and ice cream but mostly ate at the condo -- huge money saver. This was probably our lowest budget vacation ever and we had a blast. Thanks for all of the tips . Funny thing is my totally non-Disney loving DH asked where I found out about the resort and I told him 'disboards of course' . He was speechless for once.... Now that the history vacay is out of the way, I can plan for our WDW trip next June .

 

[leahjade]

Anyone know a good place to rent a condo near Busch Gardens/Williamsburg? I checked out VRBO but the prices seem a lot higher than we're used to paying for a vacation rental. Or even a nice reasonably priced hotel that has free breakfast would work.

 

[got2sammies]

Just returned from our Williamsburg vacay last week. Rented a timeshare at Wyndham Kingsgate through vacation upgrades. com found on the Bonnet Creek thread on the Orlando Resorts section. Awesome place for the 8 of us!! Beautiful resort for less than the price of a budget hotel with so many amenities. We bought bounce passes online before our trip and visited Colonial Williamsburg (ok, the little kids really didn't get it but enjoyed anyways), Jamestown Settlement (big hit with the kids), Water Country (lots of fun and not crowded at all), and Busch Gardens (nice park, rain/storms hit on days we were there so lots of rides down at times but we managed to get on/see most of what we wanted to). It was very hot when we were there so we did spend alot of time at our resort. Went out for a couple of meals and ice cream but mostly ate at the condo -- huge money saver. This was probably our lowest budget vacation ever and we had a blast. Thanks for all of the tips . Funny thing is my totally non-Disney loving DH asked where I found out about the resort and I told him 'disboards of course' . He was speechless for once.... Now that the history vacay is out of the way, I can plan for our WDW trip next June .

Being a local I am glad to hear that you had a wonderful time... I am sorry those crazy storms put a damper on your BG days... BG is a wonderful park...and Jamestown is always a field trip for our 5th graders

 

[babyflo1]

Anyone know a good place to rent a condo near Busch Gardens/Williamsburg? I checked out VRBO but the prices seem a lot higher than we're used to paying for a vacation rental. Or even a nice reasonably priced hotel that has free breakfast would work.

In early June we stayed at the Woodlands hotel next to the Williamsburg Visitor Center. It was very reasonable, a little more than $100 per night, and breakfast was included. Nice pool. Rooms clean, not spectacular but entirely acceptable. Staying near the visitor center was a bonus as you can take the shuttle from there to most places in the area.

 

[leahjade]

Darn, I should have bought the Busch Gardens/Williamsburg bounce tickets a few weeks ago when they were $100 each. Now they are up to $129!

 

[McKelly]

Darn, I should have bought the Busch Gardens/Williamsburg bounce tickets a few weeks ago when they were $100 each. Now they are up to $129!

No, they are still $100.00, you are looking at the buy there price, if you purchase on-line before you go, the tickets are still $103.00.

You had me worried there!! We are leaving in three weeks and I hand't purchased mine yet either!!

 

[McKelly]

Just returned from our Williamsburg vacay last week. Rented a timeshare at Wyndham Kingsgate through vacation upgrades. com found on the Bonnet Creek thread on the Orlando Resorts section. Awesome place for the 8 of us!! Beautiful resort for less than the price of a budget hotel with so many amenities. We bought bounce passes online before our trip and visited Colonial Williamsburg (ok, the little kids really didn't get it but enjoyed anyways), Jamestown Settlement (big hit with the kids), Water Country (lots of fun and not crowded at all), and Busch Gardens (nice park, rain/storms hit on days we were there so lots of rides down at times but we managed to get on/see most of what we wanted to). It was very hot when we were there so we did spend alot of time at our resort. Went out for a couple of meals and ice cream but mostly ate at the condo -- huge money saver. This was probably our lowest budget vacation ever and we had a blast. Thanks for all of the tips . Funny thing is my totally non-Disney loving DH asked where I found out about the resort and I told him 'disboards of course' . He was speechless for once.... Now that the history vacay is out of the way, I can plan for our WDW trip next June .

We are leaving in three weeks and are staying at Kingsgate too!

Our friends might visit us for the day. Is there a secure entrance, or can anybody just drive in?

Thanks for the help!

 

[leahjade]

Thanks! Can you tell me what all is included with the Bounch Tickets for Williamsburg? Does it include shows, films, tours etc. Also how many days should I plan to see everything? How many days to see it all at Busch Gardens?

 

[leahjade]

We are leaving in three weeks and are staying at Kingsgate too!

McKelly - how was your trip? We're staying at Kingsgate in 2 weeks. Is there a lot to do - how far to the parks? Is 2 days long enough for Busch Gardens and 2 days for Colonial Williamsburg to see and do it all? May throw in a day at Jamestown too.

 

[McKelly]

McKelly - how was your trip? We're staying at Kingsgate in 2 weeks. Is there a lot to do - how far to the parks? Is 2 days long enough for Busch Gardens and 2 days for Colonial Williamsburg to see and do it all? May throw in a day at Jamestown too.

We don't actually arrive until 8/4 - sounds like we will be there at the same time! We are planning on Busch Gardens, Water Country, Colonial Williamsburg, a plantation, Norfolk (Nauticus museum and USS Wisconsin), Sandbridge Beach and the four Jamestown and Yorktown sites - all in a week. I am hoping for great weather to get it all done!

 

[leahjade]

are you getting the bounce ticket? It says $103 on website but when I click it into my cart, it goes up to $129?

 

[McKelly]

are you getting the bounce ticket? It says $103 on website but when I click it into my cart, it goes up to $129?

Yes, I bought the bounce tickets. It will give you 20% off before you checkout.

 

[leahjade]

Thanks for your help! The only thing I didn't see included in the Bounce pass is free parking at Colonial Williamsburg. Is that correct?

 

[McKelly]

Thanks for your help! The only thing I didn't see included in the Bounce pass is free parking at Colonial Williamsburg. Is that correct?

I'm not 100% positive, but I think parking at CW is always free, for everybody.

 

[bdink921]

We are leaving in three weeks and are staying at Kingsgate too!

Our friends might visit us for the day. Is there a secure entrance, or can anybody just drive in?

Thanks for the help!

There is a gated entrance, sometimes it was open. You open the gate with your room key. I'm not quite sure how visitors would get in unless you meet them at the gate.

 

[bdink921]

McKelly - how was your trip? We're staying at Kingsgate in 2 weeks. Is there a lot to do - how far to the parks? Is 2 days long enough for Busch Gardens and 2 days for Colonial Williamsburg to see and do it all? May throw in a day at Jamestown too.

Kingsgate is off Bypass Rd and everything is an easy drive from there. CW is about 5 minutes away, BG maybe 10-15 minutes. There are lots of stores and restaurants nearby as well as mini-golf, go-carts and stuff like that. Water Country was alot of fun too. We went on a 95+ day and it was just perfect. We went to BG 3 times on our bounce ticket -- those darn afternoon thunderstorms LOL. We saw/did everything we wanted to. The resort itself has a mini-golf course, 2 game rooms, tennis courts, small restaurant, indoor/outdoor/adult pools, and a movie theater. There was karaoke by the pool every night and even movie rentals. We found the resort to be great after a day out. So much better than a hotel room. FWIW the kids enjoyed Jamestown Settlement much more than CW. Have fun

 

[bdink921]

Thanks for your help! The only thing I didn't see included in the Bounce pass is free parking at Colonial Williamsburg. Is that correct?

Parking at CW was free. Loved not having to pay for parking at BG and WC too.