Resorts Make Vacations More Affordable

As we look for money saving vacations, military resorts may be another option. Many civilians may be eligible for inclusion in some military resorts. Military resorts were established after World War II. If you or family member is included in any of these descriptions, you may be able to reduce your cost for a spring break and/or summer vacations. All branches of uniformed services and military installations have a Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) office.

Military resorts are usually located near regular civilian tourist resort areas. The resorts are A-1, top of the line. Armed Forces Recreation Centers (AFRC) have been serving the nation's service members and their families since 1946. Shades of Green, a premier location on Walt Disney World Resort is an Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) located in Central Florida. Just feet from the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay, the Virginia Beach resort called Cape Henry Inn has been open for about 12 years under local management has been acquired by AFRC. The Hale Koa Hotel, or "House of the Warrior," is an impressive resort destination situated on 72 tropical acres on the beach at Waikiki. It is located about 10 miles from the Honolulu International Airport. Personal experience it is a great place to stay. It does have a waiting list, so vacations need to be planned and reservations made well in advance.

The Armed Forces Vacation Club (AFVC) offers DoD-affiliated personnel affordable condominium rentals at resorts around the world on a space available basis. The basic cost is $299 per unit per week. The more popular condos are not available in high tourist season. Sometime there are available units if you can travel within 10 days notice or less. If you have the flexibility to travel outside the U.S., you may be interested is such sites as Offdutytravel.com, offering special travel deals for eligible customers (Active Duty, Retired, Reserve, National Guard, DoD Civilians and family members) on air, cruise and other travel related services.

www.ittaustralia.com website provides you with exclusive access to discounted rates that cover Australia's leading hotels & apartments, tours and car rental. SuperClubs has a resort for every age and life style, a SuperInclusive resorts with 13 resorts in the Bahamas, Brazil, Curacao, Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

Use the GOVARM.COM web site for big savings on rentals of recreational vehicles, vacation travel packages to Hawaii, Mexico, Caribbean, and Asia, vacation condominiums from $244 per week, golf discounts, and hotel rooms.

Military guidelines for eligibility are very specific. Rest & Recuperation/Relaxation was implemented to provide eligible members of all Services and DoD civilians an opportunity for rest and recuperation as well as aid with temporary family reintegration. Armed Forces Service members and their family members, this includes Service Members on Active Duty, Reserve Components (Ready Reserve and National Guard; Reservists in Training) Cadets of Service Academies. Members of the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service and Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on active duty. Armed Forces Retirees (and their families) who retired from active duty or retired from the Reserves with pay, and retired without pay (gray area) are eligible. Honorably Discharged Veterans with 100% service-connected disability (and their families) and involuntarily separated service members under the Transition Assistance Management Program. Personnel separated under the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) and Special Separation Benefit (SSB) programs for two years after separation. Others associated with the Department of Defense- Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets when participating in field training or practice cruises. Delayed Entry/Delayed Training Program (DEP/DTP) recruits (these recruits are part of the Ready Reserve force.

Of course there are honored categories such as Medal of Honor Recipients, former Prisoners of War (POWs) and spouses of current POWs or Service members missing in action. Unremarried surviving spouses of personnel who died while on active duty or while in retired status. Former and/or surviving spouses and family members- Unremarried former spouses who were married to military members for at least 20 years while the military member was on active duty to the Armed Forces. Orphans of military members, when not adopted by new parents, under 21 years old (or over if they are incapable of supporting themselves, or 23 years old if they are in full-time study).

Certain civilians working with DoD are eligible. U.S. Federal employees when assigned in areas outside the U.S. Medical personnel under contract to the military DoD Component during periods when they are residing on the installation. Military personnel of foreign nations and their family members when on orders from the U.S. Armed Forces, or in overseas areas when the major command commander grants privileges in the best interest of the U.S. Paid members of the American Red Cross, Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), United Service Organization (USO), and other type 1 private organizations identified in DoD Instruction 1000.15 (reference (s)) when assigned with U.S. Armed Forces outside the United States. U.S. employees of firms (contractors) working under contract to Department of Defense working on an installation when assigned in areas outside the U.S.

U.S. DoD civilians and family members and retired DoD civilians are eligible. Also DoD contract personnel and technical representatives working full time on the installation, and non DoD Federal employees working on a military installation. The appearance of external hyperlinks on MWR sites does not constitute endorsement. Check your eligibility before making reservations.