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My last real vacation was two weeks in the Rocky Mountain west in '07. Since then, the wife and I have taken day long road trips, but nothing overnight. Since I work some weekends, I have burned some vacation time over the year just taking weekends off during my favorite time of the year, which is in the early fall when the temps start to cool.
Part of the reason was wife's employment. To many small, small companies, and the economy ended up causing her to lose two jobs over the years. She finally has been with a very, very large company and their time off is awesome. So now we have two week long vacations planned this year: Going to a wedding down south in Alabama then over to Florida, then another week later on in NYC. Actually we aren't even taking a full week, just enough time to see everything we care to see and coming back home. I may end up returning to work to save my vacation (as of now, my vacation isn't use or lose).
Future vacations we hope to take as she builds her time off bank:
-Two weeks in the SW (Vegas, S. Utah, Grand Canyon)
-Niagara Falls
-Shenandoah Nat'l Park driving Skyline Drive then hitting the southern portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway and spend some time in Galinburg.
I think for the next few years we will just take two fully weeks of vacation. That will allow her to save some time off. I would like for her to eventually build up her maximum that she can roll over year after year, that way if she ever has an illness, she is covered with a decent amount of weeks (their vacation and sick time is one bank of time).
If time permits, I would like to try to factor in two long weekend getaways to local areas no more than six or so hours away. Hopefully her job lasts here for many years to come, the vacation benefits only get better with time.
You'll be bored trying to spend a full week there. It's good for a day, maybe two if you want to do a bunch of tacky tourist stuff. Add Toronto or better yet Ottawa to that trip and you've got a winner.
And not sure if you know, but don't forget your passports. You can't drive over the border into Canada without them any longer.
But then I'm unemployed so it's kind of hard lol. I DO feel like I need a vacation from the stress of job-hunting though.
I know this is going to sound cheap to a lot of people here (some of you sound very rich lol) but what I'll do when I want a "vacation" and can't afford one is our family will have what's called a camp-out. We put mattresses on the living room floor, get together a bunch of movie munchies and chill together at night. It sounds lame, but it's really fun.
Plus I'm lucky to live not too far from our gorgeous coast, so we try to get there when we can.
Gotta admit though, I am definitely salivating at some of your vay-cay descriptions lol
I get three weeks of vacation a year. I usually use one to stay home, one to go somewhere, and one to visit family. My second week of vacation comes up in August; I'm not sure what where I will be going. The first four years of my career, though, I didn't take any vacation time at all. I had been laid off twice, and I for some twisted reason, I felt guilty about taking vacations.
Bandon, that doesn't sound lame at all. When I was younger, we used to put the tent up in our yard & camp out all the time. We also went camping to places all over when I was little too, my parents started me camping when I was a year old & I'm so grateful that they did that. I love camping. It's one of the cheapest vacations you can take.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Get on a few airline discount mailing lists (come out every Weds.). I have seen Tokyo for $300 on occasion (international allows one week travel, Domestic = Thursday > Monday)
I do lots of 'fly-drive' travel. Rent car on priceline ($10 / day) and stay in private Guest homes ($10/night). I might do this 10 or more times / yr, sometimes, 10x / month
I went to Thailand for my internship, but I would consider that as my vacation gift also. Paid $1,100 (almost 1,200 but exclude tax and the original price is $800 something). My next one, I hope, will be to San Diego.
Last vacation~a week on Sanibel Island in November `10. Next one~drive 600 miles to see family and friends and househunt (possible retirement move). Husband has 2 ski trips planned for next winter, I have a couple of 3 or 4 night trips planned for Fall. Two more weeks this Fall in Sanibel.
We usually take three, week long vacations together each year and then he gets his 2 ski vacations where I stay home with the dogs, and take my pay backs in 3 or 4 night trips with girlfriends.
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Paid $1,100 (almost 1,200 but exclude tax and the original price is $800 something). My next one, I hope, will be to San Diego.
