You don't need them on vacation too. At one meal, our dining companions included a railroad executive from Calgary, a ballet instructor from San Francisco and an U.N. translator from New York. My kids could eat and run while I could dine. Don't expect luxury accommodations. That means rooms are clean, beds are comfortable, towels are plentiful.
Most guests spend such little time in their rooms that the spartan decor is a non-issue.
To me, though, a week without squabbles over the remote control was a greater luxury than all of the above. There are ways to get more bang for your buck. But if you are flexible about when and where you go, it is possible to stretch your vacation dollar just a little more. The program is available only with a departure from New York.