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How many vacations do you take, how far from home do you typically go and how much do you spend?
Is there any such thing as a *frugal* vacation?
On another note, what percentage of the american population do you think can even afford to take a vacation out of the country (i.e. an international vacation)?
In recent years I've taken one rather expensive vacation (due to # of kids) each year and then maybe 2 weekenders.
This year, a week in FL will be 5500 or so. The weekenders are pretty cheap.
We try to get away even for an extended weekend every 2-3 mos. We go to Key West about 2 times a year, airfare and cottage $1,500, up North for Christmas for a week and stay at a cheap hotel ie. Day's Inn $32.00 a night for a week. A couple of weekend trips to the beach, we can get a very nice hotel room for $79.00 nt. on weekends.
I put money away every month to go toward vacations, we eat at home almost all the time and save the money we would have spent going out to restaurants.
I don't especially like to travel that much either. I take time off work twice a year, but don't usually go anywhere. I think my last destination vacation was about 6 years ago, we went to Disneyworld. Total cost was about $3000ish if I remember correctly.
Other than that, I leave town for weddings and funerals. Did go to a wedding in wine country, California about a year ago that was sort of a mini-vacation.
Location: Chapel Hill, NC, formerly NoVA and Phila
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I, too, am frugal throughout the year so we can include vacations in our budget. We take two big vacations per year.
1. We spend one week per summer in Cape May, NJ. We go the last week of June right before the summer rates go into effect. We are a family of 5, and we get an efficiency motel room. We buy groceries at the local supermarket and eat breakfast and lunch in the room or use the barbeque around the pool. Dinner we eat out - usually pizza, burgers, and other casual dinners. For fun we swim, ride our bikes, go to the beach, take walks, visit the nature center and lighthouse, etc. We buy ice cream cones for the kids a couple of nights, a night of miniature golf, $10 each to spend at the arcade all week, etc. Overall, we can usually get away with spending about $1200 including gas to get there (4 hours away). We stay 6 nights.
2. We visit our folks in Florida over Christmas. Admittedly, this is cheap for us because we have somewhere free to stay. Cost is essentially gas to get down there and back. For entertainment, we visit a lot of nature centers and national parks which usually cost $5 or $10 for the carload. We go to the children's museums which are usually about $20 for the day for our family and lots of playgrounds and spray parks which are free and a treat in December! We spend a couple days at the beach and most afternoons around the pool. We shop at the grocery stores and eat most of our meals in the condo. We treat everyone to dinner one night, and usually my parents treat us one night as well. I think we probably only spend about $600, most of which is gas to get down there.
3. We do frequent weekend trips to visit family in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. We usually go camping once or twice a year and may spend a weekend or two away.
In total, we budget $2400 per year for travel for a family of 5, which I think is pretty frugal.
How many vacations do you take, how far from home do you typically go and how much do you spend?
Is there any such thing as a *frugal* vacation?
On another note, what percentage of the american population do you think can even afford to take a vacation out of the country (i.e. an international vacation)?
Prior to having kids (10 years ago!) we took one "destination" vacation per year of five days. These were usually 500 or more miles away, and we flew. Destinations included Albuquerque NM, Tucson AZ and Victoria BC. We would spend $1500-$2k per trip.
Since having young kids we've stayed more local or visited family for vacation. Most vacations have been under $1k. We live in a rural location, and have tended to drive to one of the nearby cities for a vacation. These vacations have definitely been frugal, coming in under $1k (sometimes significantly so) As the kids age we are changing this, with a planned Disney trip this fall. We plan to take other big trips with them in future years, as we want them to experience as much as possible. We have also bought a camper, and plan to use it for long weekends this year.
Most importantly, I live in a place I rarely feel the need to vacate from. If you enjoy where you live, why leave often?
Most importantly, I live in a place I rarely feel the need to vacate from. If you enjoy where you live, why leave often?
Agreed . I live in a place where many come to vacation, so of I need a break I go to the beach for a few hours and I'm usually good.
As for vacations, we only get 5 days of vacation a year at work, so it can be tough to take extended breaks. I do take weekend trips pretty often, usually up to San Francisco or down to LA, and once every other month or so me and a few friends take a long weekend to Vegas. $80 for round trip airfare
Vacations are worth the money for me and they are one of the reasons I live frugally. I want to be able to afford a vacation! I save for vacations.
Travel isn't cheap but there are ways to make it more reasonable. The scenery and attractions are the same if you are in a 5 star hotel or a local B&B. You just spend a lot less to sleep at night and take a shower. I shop for cheap flights or charters with extra space available. I try to be flexible on destinations and go to places that are 'on sale'. I watch currency and try to travel when the dollar is doing well against the local currency.
For example, Tahiti is a high buck destination I love. I have been there three times. I usually stay on Moorea, a smaller island only 8 miles away by ferry from Papeete. I will stay in a B&B, rent a condo, or small hotel. I usually book space with a charter, Nouvelle Frontieres. Restaurant food is very expensive so I shop in the local stores and do a lot of meals in my room. Is this frugal? Probably not but my vacation is much less than most people spend for 2 weeks in paradise.
If I wanted to cruise French Polynesia, I would probably book the Aremiti freighter service from island to island.
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. I live in a place where many come to vacation, so of I need a break I go to the beach for a few hours and I'm usually good.
