Somewhere between the last pool day and the first “where is your other shoe” of the school year, a bunch of genuinely good travel news quietly piled up. Half-off all-inclusive stays in the Dominican Republic. Kids and teens flying free — well, staying free — in Cancún. A downtown San Antonio package that finally kills off the two worst line items on any hotel bill. A brand-new 132-foot Ferris wheel spinning up right here in Southern California. And, for the ambitious among us, a list of Japanese day trips you can pull off before lunch. It’s a strange, wonderful mix, and every single one of them is family-friendly, which around here is the whole point. Grab a coffee, scroll slowly, and let one of these turn into your next trip.
Japan’s Best Day Trips Are Shorter Than Your Commute
Turns out you can see a lot more of Japan without moving hotels once. Booking platform Omio mapped 12 day trips reachable by train in under 90 minutes from Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo, with fares starting around £7 — which is roughly what a smoothie costs at the airport. From Osaka, Himeji Castle (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is 28 minutes away, and Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Museum is 1 hour 20. From Kyoto, Osaka is a 12-minute hop, and Kobe — capital of Wagyu beef — is under 30 minutes, which is a compelling argument for lunch. From Tokyo, Hakone delivers Mount Fuji views in under an hour for about £14. Pack light, ride fast, and let the shinkansen do the parenting.
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See it all for less than a cup of coffee. Getty image.
Grand Hyatt San Antonio Solved the Two Worst Parts of a City Trip
Downtown getaways usually come with two quiet villains: the parking bill and the mysterious “destination fee.” The Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk just retired both with its new Park, Dine & Stay package, which bundles nightly self-parking, a waived destination fee, daily breakfast at Moda Fare, and a $50 daily food and beverage credit you can spend on dinner, cocktails, or a strategically timed 4 p.m. snack. The hotel sits right on the River Walk with water taxi access, steps from the Alamo, La Villita, Hemisfair’s Civic Park, and enough museums to justify the phrase “educational vacation.” Available select dates through January 31, 2027 — book at GrandHyattSanAntonio.com/ParkDineStay
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It’s a river and you could walk it for a sweet deal. Photo courtesy of Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk
AVA Resort Cancun: Kids and Teens Stay Free, Parents Stay Sane
Perched on Mexico’s turquoise Caribbean coast, AVA Resort Cancun is an all-inclusive built for families who want everyone entertained at once — a logistical miracle usually reserved for holiday photos. This September, the resort’s Kids + Teens Stay Free offer means the younger crew comes along at no extra charge, which for anyone with a teenager who eats like a small livestock operation feels almost too generous. The package also stacks on discounted room rates, nightly resort credits, complimentary transportation, and an AVA Fun Pass for two, so the only real decision left is pool or beach, and then pool again. Valid for travel through December 18, 2026, so “one last summer adventure” can quietly stretch into fall. Book at avaresortcancun.com.
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All the options. Photo courtesy of AVA Resort Cancun
Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda: Half Off, Fully Chill
Tucked into the pristine coastal town of Michès, this Dominican Republic outpost brings signature Club Med style to families who travel in packs — grandparents, parents, teens who communicate exclusively in shrugs, and small humans who need a dedicated kids’ club roughly 11 minutes after arrival. Good news: there is one. Family-friendly accommodations mean nobody’s sleeping on a rollaway inches from the mini fridge, and the shared activities menu covers the full spectrum from “let’s zipline” to “let’s lie perfectly still under a palm tree and call it personal growth.” Best part: Club Med is running 50% off stays through Labor Day weekend and the final days of summer, which is the rare travel deal that makes procrastinating look like strategy. Book it at clubmed.us/o/last-minute-deals.
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Chill out, it’s half off! Photo courtesy of Club Med Resorts
Irvine Spectrum’s Ferris Wheel Grew 24 Feet Over Summer
The Giant Wheel that’s been spinning above Irvine Spectrum Center since 2002 has officially glowed up and returned as the Spectrum SunWheel — now 132 feet tall, or roughly “I can see my car from here, and possibly my house.” Built by Italy’s Fabbri Group, it features 27 gondolas seating up to six, so the whole family plus that one cousin rides together. Add upgraded in-gondola audio, programmable LED lighting on the rim and spokes for maximum after-dark ooooh factor, and redesigned ride operations to cut wait times — bless them. The grand opening and ribbon cutting is set for Saturday, September 5 at 10 a.m., with live music, DJs, and giveaways. Bring sunglasses and a phone with storage for 200 nearly identical photos.
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A way to get the freshest air. Photo courtesy of Irvine Spectrum Center