[Llarry]

My wife spends several thousand each year on short visits to the Oregon coast, etc., with her daughters while I stay home and watch the house, feed the animals, etc. But in 2021 we did a big bucks trip to Maui together: Flew first class, really nice resort with perfect view from the room, etc., etc. Sort of cost no object. Great vacation! Maybe 8-10K all told for just 5 days.

This photo is while we were waiting for our room to be ready. Big disconnect on timing: Arrive at noon but check-in time is 3 or 4 PM, so we're still in our travel clothes and not yet in our comfortable Hawaii-friendly attire.

[TammySue]

We'll spend about $11K this year for 2 people which includes two trips to Europe (hubs is English), a week each in London and Paris, and one-week beach vacay in the US that we drive to. We're skilled travelers and know how to travel cheap but well. Usually it's 3 trips to Europe, one 2.5 week and two 1 week stays, which costs about $14-$15K.

[OtoPA]

2 yrs ago, Oahu, Hawaii, 1 wk at beachfront on Bellows AFS (retired mil) for 4K, Last year Vegas 3 days for 3K..but came back with cash. (both trips include airfare from flyover state. No kids (grown))

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by hubbahubba

It's just better if I don't add it up... but we have fun, and it's worth it to us.

I'm a bean-counter with my cars, and this is the advice everyone tries to give me, but it doesn't work. I even calculate my hours when I do DIY jobs lol.

[Our03z4]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

The math for me, these days, just is not worth it. We went to NY for 5 days, if I take out the two travel days it was $2500 a day. This trip to BC will be $1600+ per day.

Per fucking day. Honestly nowhere is worth that to me, wife will disagree but it just isn't. Booking a local cottage, split with another family, for $2K a week (each), is way, way more relaxing and enjoyable, i legit mean that. Why am i spending $13K when i can spend $2k?

Makes zero fucking sense.

Your wife is high maintenance it seems lol. Stay outside of NY and take the train in and out saves a TON of money. Thank God my wife likes hiking, dirt cheap trips. Spent maybe $5k for an entire month of travel from going coast to coast, fuel included. Still stay in Hilton branded hotels for quite a few days as well. We stay away from high-end restaurants and look for where the locals go, food and service is usually better and you get the real feel for the location. December we'll be doing another month or so of travel.

[hubbahubba]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

I'm a bean-counter with my cars, and this is the advice everyone tries to give me, but it doesn't work. I even calculate my hours when I do DIY jobs lol.

HA! YOLO baby.

[XutvJet]

Does club travel sports count? LOL

[flybigjet]

My wife does the finances, and she tells me what we can and can't afford. Of course, she loves to travel, so maybe there's a conflict of interest?

I find that I simply don't want to know the cost-- I sleep better at night.

[RickFLM4]

Well, we haven't taken traditional vacations since 2018. We bought a condo in NC where we go to get away. It's cash cost is about $25K / year (plus cost of furniture we bought). But we have been getting more than that back on paper from price appreciation.

Prior to the condo, we spent maybe 1/2 that amount. The cost of everything travel-related seems to have increased substantially. Just booked air, car and hotel to go see my dad in RI for a 5 days in Sept - Oct and it was pricey. I looked into booking AirBnB's in our condo building for family to visit us there and it was insane ($495 / night plus fees on fees on fees).

[Murf the Surf]

Travel has gotten to be really expensive. Before Covid my wife and I would take 2 trips a year. Usually Vegas with her sister and some other friends and then someplace in the Caribbean. We are both retired now. Last year we rented a house in Orlando, this year it's St. Petes for 3 months. Managed to get a place for $10K, 5 minutes to the beach, lots of restaurants in walking distance. We'd like to go back to Europe (Monaco for the F1) maybe in 2026 for our 65th birthdays.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by Murf the Surf

Travel has gotten to be really expensive. Before Covid my wife and I would take 2 trips a year. Usually Vegas with her sister and some other friends and then someplace in the Caribbean. We are both retired now. Last year we rented a house in Orlando, this year it's St. Petes for 3 months. Managed to get a place for $10K, 5 minutes to the beach, lots of restaurants in walking distance. We'd like to go back to Europe (Monaco for the F1) maybe in 2026 for our 65th birthdays.

$10K for 3 mos.? In season (winter)?

Looking at apartments in Miami for my in-laws right now and it is difficult to find decent 2 BR places for under $3K / mo. with a 12-mo. lease. So a house rental near the water at $10K for 3 mos. seems like a great deal these days, especially if in season.

[Clark_Kent]

Originally Posted by Murf the Surf

Travel has gotten to be really expensive. Before Covid my wife and I would take 2 trips a year. Usually Vegas with her sister and some other friends and then someplace in the Caribbean. We are both retired now. Last year we rented a house in Orlando, this year it's St. Petes for 3 months. Managed to get a place for $10K, 5 minutes to the beach, lots of restaurants in walking distance. We'd like to go back to Europe (Monaco for the F1) maybe in 2026 for our 65th birthdays.

As a lover of cars you absolutely owe to it yourself to go to Monaco for the Grand Prix. My then fiancée, now wife, went back in 2015 and it was glorious! We consider ourselves decently traveled and this was one of the best places we've visited. What a memorable vacation!

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by OtoPA

2 yrs ago, Oahu, Hawaii, 1 wk at beachfront on Bellows AFS (retired mil) for 4K, Last year Vegas 3 days for 3K..but came back with cash. (both trips include airfare from flyover state. No kids (grown))

I never stayed at Bellows, but that's an awesome idea. The other place that intrigues me is the Army rec area on the big island -- forget the name -- fireplaces in each bungalow.

On the other hand, the Hale Koa on Waikiki has never appealed to me: Waikiki too crowded and if I remember correctly for my retired pay grade, kind of expensive.

[Ryguy29]

usto spend 20 probally, after purchasing my first home we only go away when we have enough points to travel free. the working man is a sucker , im working to live at this point , but i do have an m4 and mini cooper that i love, was told by an older fellow to buy these things before the kids come as it will be nearly impossible after they are here...

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by flybigjet

My wife does the finances, and she tells me what we can and can't afford. Of course, she loves to travel, so maybe there's a conflict of interest?

I find that I simply don't want to know the cost-- I sleep better at night.

That's a fantastic luxury you have.

[Murf the Surf]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

$10K for 3 mos.? In season (winter)?

Looking at apartments in Miami for my in-laws right now and it is difficult to find decent 2 BR places for under $3K / mo. with a 12-mo. lease. So a house rental near the water at $10K for 3 mos. seems like a great deal these days, especially if in season.

My wife spends a lot of time looking, we've rented a house with a fenced back yard. Nothing too flashy. Clean, in a good neighbourhood. The guy were renting from was happy we were taking it for 3 months so gave us a break on the price, January - March.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by Murf the Surf

My wife spends a lot of time looking, we've rented a house with a fenced back yard. Nothing too flashy. Clean, in a good neighbourhood. The guy were renting from was happy we were taking it for 3 months so gave us a break on the price, January - March.

Seems like a great deal. Enjoy!

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by Our03z4

Your wife is high maintenance it seems lol. Stay outside of NY and take the train in and out saves a TON of money. Thank God my wife likes hiking, dirt cheap trips. Spent maybe $5k for an entire month of travel from going coast to coast, fuel included. Still stay in Hilton branded hotels for quite a few days as well. We stay away from high-end restaurants and look for where the locals go, food and service is usually better and you get the real feel for the location. December we'll be doing another month or so of travel.

High maintenance, absolutely, but honestly you don't save much travelling in and out. It was maybe $100 a day and for that we'd lose two full hours and massive hassle with two kids.

Prices are what they are, flights are high, hotels are insane and food is ABSOLUTELY PREPOSTEROUS. A basic lunch, say three burgers (kids split one), 2 pops, glass of wine and a beer is nudging $200.

[///d]

Our vacations are not what most people typically do. We backpack, camp, hike, snowshoe, etc. We also drive vs fly, mostly because it's usually cheaper to drive, especially with all the gear we bring, but also because it's often times the random places you discover on the road that are the best memories (also I dislike busy airports and people).

Our summer trips are usually cheap. Cost of fuel and food because we backpack to remote sites and camp. A couple week trip might cost us $600.

Winter trips are a little more because we stay in a BnB, but we also go with friends so a couple weeks might cost $1,-1.5k. We all pitch in for groceries.

I often get friends asking how we can afford to take so many trips, and I remind them that you don't need to stay in expensive hotels and eat at expensive restaurants. Many of them spend the same amount in half the time by wasting money at home.

[dscabra]

For years, our vacations consisted of hauling the kids to visit grandparents. The kids are now grown and off my payroll. My wife is retired, and I'm less than two years from retirement. Our financial planner is telling us to figure out how to enjoy all those years of saving unless we intend to give all our hard-earned retirement savings to our kids. I intend to enjoy it while I can and then settle into a quiet retirement. That's what's driving our more elaborate vacations in the current and near-term. Next up ... sell the house and downsize in a lower cost of living part of the country. Colorado is getting way too expensive, although I will miss the views:

[Alfisti]

YOu Americans amaze me in your willingness to just walk away and move somewhere away from family.

[OtoPA]

Originally Posted by Llarry

I never stayed at Bellows, but that's an awesome idea. The other place that intrigues me is the Army rec area on the big island -- forget the name -- fireplaces in each bungalow.

On the other hand, the Hale Koa on Waikiki has never appealed to me: Waikiki too crowded and if I remember correctly for my retired pay grade, kind of expensive.

I grew up in Honolulu; JrHS, HS, so didn't need the Waikiki experience. Have stayed at Hale Koa once, for family convenience, but prefer Bellows. Check site, book early. (O3E, Ret)