Think about the last group trip you went on, whoever developed the annoying twitch in their eye was the vacation planner. Send this article to that poor, lovely soul.
Here are some tips and tools to make planning your next family or friend reunion at Arcadia better.
Choose a Budget / Pick a Date
The date you book will make the biggest difference in price if budget is your main priority. If you book a 3-weekday stay in Winter, you could pay less than 1/3 of the price than if you stayed Labor Day weekend. Here’s a breakdown on how the date affects price.
Holidays are most expensive, but offer extra perks – Arcadia will throw free holiday activities like pancake breakfasts, scavenger hunts, pool games, movies on the lawn, etc. Check the newsletter or our event calendar for the holiday activities that month.
Weekends are more expensive and more crowded, but easier to plan time off work and school. Weekends often come with more kids classes, on-site activities, and town events.
Weekdays are the least busy and least expensive. If you can swing the time off work or school, this is where it’s at.
Winter is a gem at Arcadia. It’s the slowest season with the lowest rates and you can play outside without melting. Keep in mind, though, the lazy river and slide are not always heated in the winter, and Arches Grill at the pool is closed throughout most of the season.
Find out everyone’s date availabilities and budget (the easy way)
I nerded out on this one and made a shareable date and budget picker specific for Summer 2022. It can be easily edited to accommodate your needs.
If you’re new to Google Forms, the easiest way to read the results is to click the “Responses” tab and then click the spreadsheet icon.
It’ll open a window to prompt you to “Make a Copy”. (If you’re signed out of Google, it’ll have you sign in first.)
Another idea: Create and share a Google Calendar and have everyone fill in date availabilities.
Choose a Villa
Every villa is beautifully decorated and kept immaculately clean. They’re all owned by individual owners, so each have their own flair and perks. On our Home Page pick your dates and maybe some must-haves then see what’s available.
If your date has a lot of villa options, prioritize a list on what’s most important to you and go from there. Priorities to consider: private hot tub, proximity to the pool, a stellar patio view, game tables and arcade machines, a remote work station, sleeping arrangements, plentiful seating, décor theme, review rating.
Need more room? A lot of our guests have loved booking neighboring villas. Here is a map to see visually which ones you’d like. Or to make it even easier, Villa #4-5 and Villa #28-29 are set up to be booked as a set.
Food
Spring through Fall, enjoy a poolside lunch or dinner at Arches Grill. See the menu here.
Our villa kitchens are set up to feed and seat large groups. Here is a list of the kitchen items available in every villa. For specific small appliances, you can come to the clubhouse and check one out for FREE!
A 3-minute drive (or scenic 15-minute walk) on the same road will take you to Harmon’s, a nice grocery store with perks like an artisan bakery; fresh made delicious sides, salads, and meals; ready-to heat meals; a soup bar; salad bar; gelato station; and more.
Restaurants in that same parking lot include: Mo-Betta’s Island Food, Café Rio Mexican Grill, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop, and Swig Soda and Sweets.
For more restaurant ideas, follow stg_eats on instagram for reviews and guides or search yelp.
Getting Around
If you’re going to be traveling around town a lot, the easiest way would be to rent a car, but if you plan on staying at the resort almost full time, then consider an uber, lyft, or St. George Shuttle Taxi service to get you to and from the resort and the airport.
Packing
Things you DON’T have to pack:
- This WHOLE LIST of supplies we provide
- Linens and bedding
- Swim towels
- Pack n play*
- High chair*
- Instapot*
- Air fryer*
- Crock Pot*
- Waffle Iron*
*Make arrangements to checkout at the clubhouse.
Things you DO have to pack:
Please bring condiments, coffee, coffee filters, and spices. Some vacation rentals do have a hairdryer. Please inquire about this before arriving.
Consider a Trip Planning Tool
After some research, I came up with two favorites:
Wetravel.com lets you easily set up itineraries, take payments from travel companions, and ask questions of travelers and receive feedback.
Another option is this handy spreadsheet someone made for their trip and the internet wanted access, so she shared it with everyone. Just select File > Make a Copy to create your own.
Itinerary
We’ve had many families spend their whole vacation at the resort and LOVE it. There’s enough to do to entertain you for days. But if you’re here to see what St. George has to offer, we’ll list our biggest attractions and where to find event info in town.
Hiking – Read our Blog Post on pros of using hikestgeorge.com or alltrails app to find the perfect trail
Kids attractions – Best Resource: St. George Kids website (written by a local) or visit her instagram
Events – Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for events happening that month. Or check out the calendar at Greater Zion or Google St. George Events.
Group Communication and Tracking
Splitting up to play then meeting for dinner? Checking to see when your cousins arrive? Find each other with one of the following apps:
Find My – If your whole group has iOS. If you have a green bubble friend, consider these:
Babysitters
Arcadia Kids Night (ages 5+) is set up to give parents a night off while we entertain your kids. Usually on Friday nights. Check out the details on the activities page.
Craft Classes are offered during our busy season if you need a quiet hour in the morning or afternoon. Check our resort activities booking page
For any other babysitting needs, you can find a sitter to come to your villa on websites like Care.com.
Pet Sitters
Pets are not allowed on Arcadia property, but search HERE for local pet sitter companies or if you’d rather an individual take care of your pet in their home check out Rover.
Oversized Vehicle Parking
City code doesn’t allow us to have oversized parking on the street. To solve this problem, we have a gated oversized vehicle parking area right inside Arcadia for current guests. Park your trailer, RV, boat, etc in our parking lot on the North end of campus during your stay.
