How To Save Money At Kalahari? [Planning Your Trip] (2024)

Looking for some family vacation fun? The Kalahari Resort is a popular place to create cherished memories and have a blast.

Resort stays can get expensive but there are a lot of ways to save money at Kalahari while still enjoying all of the great activities and amenities.

Whether you enjoy their indoor and outdoor waterparks, want to get pampered at the spa, or just need some quality time with your family, you can plan the perfect Kalahari stay without breaking your budget.

You can save money at Kalahari by planning ahead, being flexible with your travel dates, and bringing some comforts from home. You can also book special add-on activities in advance to save money and take advantage of discounted rates.

For the best budget experience, consider a day trip to splash around at Kalahari’s waterparks or a subscription pass for frequent visitors.

How To Save Money At Kalahari?

Kalahari has a lot of great attractions included in your stay. With everything from an indoor water park to mini-golf, one of the great aspects of this vacation is that you don’t have to leave the property to have a fantastic time.

Many of the attractions are included in the cost of your hotel stay. You can make one reservation and not need to spend extra money to make sure the entire family has fun.

Some of the best ways to save money on your vacation require some advanced planning.

By thinking about where and how you will eat, what you want to do, and when you want to visit, you can get the best savings on all of the activities that you enjoy.

Here are a few ways you can save money at Kalahari.

Book A Suite

This may sound counterintuitive since suites are more expensive than standard rooms, but they can be more cost-effective for your overall vacation spending.

Look for a suite that has a fully stocked kitchen. Making your own meals is one of the best ways to save money on any vacation.

You can make a run to the local grocery store after arriving or bring a cooler full of your favorite dishes, pre-prepared at home.

Not all suites at Kalahari include a kitchen. Make sure that when you book your room, you pay close attention to what it has inside. The suite setups that we recommend for those wanting to cook and eat in their room are:

• King Living Room Kitchen Suite
• 2 Bedroom Kitchen Living Room Suite
• 3 Bedroom Kitchen Living Room Suite

Kalahari also has villas and houses available for larger groups. While a higher price upfront, having the space to sleep everyone in your group and cook and eat family-style meals can be a great boost to your vacation.

Dinner at a restaurant can easily cost hundreds of dollars, which you can save by cooking and eating in your suite.

Dining in your room is a great option for families with young children. You will have less stress and a lower overall cost. It also makes it easy to store leftovers for later, resulting in even more savings!

Pack The Essentials

Kalahari has items that any visitor needs, like batteries and sunscreen, available for purchase. These can be quite a bit more expensive when bought at the resort, however.

Bringing them from home will help you save money at Kalahari without worrying about getting a sunburn or your camera running out of battery.

If you do forget something, take a quick trip to the supermarket to save money. While having things available right at the resort is great, you will pay more for the convenience.

Day Visits To Kalahari

You don’t need to commit to an overnight stay at the resort to enjoy Kalahari. You can go to the waterpark for a day trip that is very affordable.

If you are a frequent day tripper, take advantage of one of Kalahari’s Epic Passes to save money.

You can purchase a one-month or three-month subscription that allows you to visit the indoor and outdoor waterparks at almost any time. There may be blackout dates but those are pretty infrequent.

The best savings is to opt for the three-month pass if you plan to use it often. Each person in your family will need their own pass.

This is a fantastic way to have fun at the waterpark without spending a lot of money on hotel accommodations.

Park Your Own Car

Kalahari offers valet parking as well as free self-parking. Because so many of the great features are right there at the resort, you probably won’t need to drive your car much after you check-in. Parking your car yourself can save you money on the valet costs.

Tip: Unload luggage at the curb and drop off one person from your group to start the check-in process.

Self-park your car and meet back up in the main lobby. This will save time and money, allowing you to get to your vacation fun even faster.

Planning Your Trip

Like with any vacation, the more you plan ahead, the more opportunities there will be to save money while still having a great time.

If you have flexible travel dates, book your trip during one of their less busy seasons. Because Kalahari is a great choice for families, dates and times when kids are out of school tend to be the busiest.

The summer, fall break, spring break, and the holidays are often busy, fill up quickly, and cost more.

Look for a long weekend to save money on your reservation. You may also consider booking a trip during the week when rates are exceptionally low.

Book Early

Even if you can’t be flexible on your vacation days, you can still save money by booking your trip early.

Kalahari recommends booking at least 14 days in advance for the best savings. You can save up to 25% off the total cost of your reservation by booking it at least two weeks out.

There are also great special packages to take advantage of the extra amenities at the resort.

These may not save you money on your room but they are a good way to save money on an experience that you want to add. These should also be booked early since many have a limited number available.

Discounts At Kalahari

Kalahari has a few discounts available to specific groups and for specific activities at the resort.

If you book a longer trip, your per-night costs can go down and result in savings. Just keep in mind that your overall costs will increase.

As long as you want to enjoy the longer vacation, you may as well enjoy the extra savings as well!

Kalahari has a lot of great activities for the family and offers packages that cater to your interests. Some of my favorites include:

• Game Package with a card to spend on games at the arcade
• Pizza Package with an included pizza party for the whole family
• Game Night Package with popcorn, snacks, and family games
• Spa Specials with discounts on services at the Kalahari Spa

These special packages won’t cut down on the costs of your hotel stay at the resort but do provide some pretty great savings on popular activities at Kalahari.

By booking a package in advance you can save quite a bit over deciding to add these activities on later.

Military Discount

There are special rates for military members and their families at Kalahari. Admission to the water park is included in your overnight stay.

These discounts may not be available during the peak seasons so make sure to check when you book your trip.

Groupon Deals

You can often find discounted rates and packages for Kalahari on sites like Groupon. They have one-night or two-night stays, including rates for suites.

These deals almost always come with expiration dates, however, so make sure that you have a trip in mind before purchasing.

After purchasing your Groupon, you will need to book your stay with Kalahari. Your preferred dates might not be available.

If you go with Groupon for the additional savings, it’s a good idea to have flexible travel dates that will work for you.

You should also verify with Kalahari that your Groupon will work for your vacation dates before you arrive. You might need to note that you will be using a Groupon when booking.

Final Thoughts

Planning a trip to Kalahari is a fun and exciting time. You can take advantage of our savings tips to make sure that you can make the most out of your vacation budget.

By opting for cheaper travel dates, booking in advance, making your own food, and enjoying discounts and specials, you’re sure to have the ultimate family trip.

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