The Armed Forces Vacation Club (AFVC) offers space-available vacations to members of the U.S. military in time-shares around the world for a fixed price of just $349 per week. That works out to less than $50 a night. These units are much bigger than hotel rooms and often have a full kitchen.

In addition to the Space-A weekly rate, AFVC offers short stays of one to two nights; high-demand locations come in at a much higher price per week. Membership to AFVC is always free, but there is a premium option available that offers larger discounts, upgrade options and first access to sales.  It is $119 per year or $249 for a three-year membership. Members can also purchase gift certificates to gift family and friends.

So how do you score that perfect vacation week? First, vary your expectations: You are not going to reserve Christmas week in Whistler, B.C., for $349. That said, I have seen a Thanksgiving week at Whistler right in the village. Think off-season locations for school breaks. We had a memorable stay in a five-star resort on the coast of Maine during a Christmas break one year. The nice thing about the off-season is you get to experience the restaurants and shops frequented by the locals. Instead of water activities, my boys learned to ski at the small, local ski mountain. Within driving distance of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, consider Lake Chelan or Washington beaches in the winter. I have seen Christmas break options for Vancouver Island, which has tons of things to do besides Victoria.  Did you know there is some great downhill skiing on the island?

The AFVC has a very user-friendly website (afvclub.com) that makes it easy to search for a destination by location and date. There is also a section that lists every resort with Space-A availability. One location that (as of press time) has spring break openings is Las Vegas. The Cliffs at Peace Canyon is a peaceful luxury resort located 20 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip.  You might not normally consider Las Vegas for a family vacation, but think again -- there is so much to do! The resort has a lovely outdoor pool, and it is surrounded by gorgeous mountain scenery. Red Rock Canyon State Park and Spring Mountain State Park are both close to the resort. Other Nevada highlights are the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, the Valley of Fire and many more. Another popular vacation option is central Florida for Disney World and Universal Studios. There are often AFVC options in Kissimmee, which is a short drive to both parks.

The AFVC also has many international options. Think the Bahamas for a beach break, or tour Italy while staying in a historic building. There are so many options, AFVC is the first place I look when planning a vacation or PCS move.

Armed Forces Vacation Club, call center hours 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday-Friday; 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 800.724.9988, afvclub.com