Average Vacations In A Year and Average Cost?

[Jennasis]

We take an actual vacation ONCE EVERY OTHER YEAR. Cost for us is about $1500.

 

[elaine amj]

A few years ago, I stayed home with my kids. We could only afford so much. So lots of daytripping and nearby overnights. Every other year, we would spend about $3-5k to fly across the world to visit my family for 2-3 weeks.

Then I started working and we discovered the freedom of being a 2 income family. Every year I keep expanding the vacation budget because I cannot resist. We are very frugal and like to save a lot...but getting rather indulgent and spoiled with so much great travel.

I get 3 weeks a year and DH gets 4 weeks. I desperately want at least 1 more week off.

Last year we spent about $6k on big trips and prob about 1k on numerous weekend trips. Dh and I also did cheap weekend trips to Quebec City and Vegas through various points and rewards. Our friends joke that its a shock when we are home on a weekend.

March - 5 day Royal Caribbean cruise plus a couple of days in Fort Lauderdale, 2500

July - long weekend in Algonquin camping, 400

August - 12 days WDW, 3300

December - 2.5 weeks Malaysia, fully subsidized by my father (crazy expensive because it was a last min trip)

This year I am expecting to spend about $8500 (OUCH!!!!!)

March - 3 day Disney Dream plus a few nights in Orlando, 3000

April - weekend trip to Vegas for DH and I, 300

July - 4 night weekend to Washington? 300

July - 3 night camping in Tobermory, 300

August - 4 night weekend to the Smokies? 300

August - 3 night weekend to Holiday World, 500

October - 4 night weekend to Vegas for DH and I, 300

December - 9 nights in Dominican Republic for nephew's wedding, 3300

We like travelling way too much. We're at the point where we're stretching our budget a bit to do it...which my frugal soul gets nervous about. Just can't cut anything though!!!

We are credit card churners, earning tons of points and miles, which helps fund these trips. Otherwise, we'd probably spend double this for a family of 4. We rarely pay for flights and only pay for hotels in Disney.

 

[mommasita]

DH and I both work for the airlines, different ones.
This helps A LOT!

We owned our own business for 13 years, and never went anywhere. Now we take full advantage.

We cruise once a year (interline rates)
We do short vacations, like Cancun for 3 days, or something like it. Possibly 4x per year.

This year is a little different. My son is graduating from HS, and he has just returned from 19 days in Europe.. That was a lot, as we are not used to paying full flights or hotels..

We are hoping to do a Med cruise this summer..

If I had to total it up, it wouldn't be easy.. Perhaps 5k or less. We are cheapsters.. The interline rates on hotels and/or cruises really help out..

LIberty Belle, have you thought or looked at any airlines/airports?

 

[ohiomom28]

One a year usually at a cost of $2000-2500 including hotel or beach house. We just got back from Myrtle Beach last month and spent right at $2K.
We will also take one or two night trips every so often too. We are going to a ballgame next weekend and will stay close to the park just to get away. We are also within 6 hrs of Gatlinburg, so long weekends can be taken as well.

Sent from my Galaxy S3 using DISBoards

 

[Colleen27]

We travel a fair bit. We just got back from 8 days in Bali (it was an anniversary trip so we did it in luxury and spent a fair bit), we have a diving trip to the Great Barrier Reef planned in July, a week in New Zealand in October, DH has a conference in Portugal in August and will tack on some extra travel days and I hope to spend a month in India in the new year volunteering. All told we probably spend around 15k in travel per year. (Now, to afford that we live pretty modestly, probably more so than most people would be comfortable with.)

That's how we do it too, though our destinations aren't nearly as exotic (so jealous - airfare alone to AUS from here would be a year's travel budget!). It is definitely a trade-off that many people wouldn't want to make but we're happy with living simply at home in order to be able to travel more than most families in our income bracket.

 

[lurkernj]

We normally do one bigger vacation with the kids, and one long weekend in las vegas adults only. We put away $500/month in a vacation fund, so $6000 total per year to cover one big and one or two smaller trips.

Last year we only went to Disney as a family, and used airmiles and disney points, so it was about $2500, plus the las vegas trip, also with airmiles, so about $1500. The extra stayed there and is being used for Costa Rica this year. DH and I will also be going to key west for our 20th, and probably las vegas with some other couples, so this is going to be an expensive year. I always look for a deal, and we have lots of airmiles so we hardly ever pay for airfare. Next year will probably be Hawaii again, but also with airmiles, so we can do 12 days in condos for under $4000.

 

[eeyoresmom]

A few years ago, I stayed home with my kids. We could only afford so much. So lots of daytripping and nearby overnights. Every other year, we would spend about $3-5k to fly across the world to visit my family for 2-3 weeks.

Then I started working and we discovered the freedom of being a 2 income family. Every year I keep expanding the vacation budget because I cannot resist. We are very frugal and like to save a lot...but getting rather indulgent and spoiled with so much great travel.

I get 3 weeks a year and DH gets 4 weeks. I desperately want at least 1 more week off.

Last year we spent about $6k on big trips and prob about 1k on numerous weekend trips. Dh and I also did cheap weekend trips to Quebec City and Vegas through various points and rewards. Our friends joke that its a shock when we are home on a weekend.

March - 5 day Royal Caribbean cruise plus a couple of days in Fort Lauderdale, 2500

July - long weekend in Algonquin camping, 400

August - 12 days WDW, 3300

December - 2.5 weeks Malaysia, fully subsidized by my father (crazy expensive because it was a last min trip)

This year I am expecting to spend about $8500 (OUCH!!!!!)

March - 3 day Disney Dream plus a few nights in Orlando, 3000

April - weekend trip to Vegas for DH and I, 300

July - 4 night weekend to Washington? 300

July - 3 night camping in Tobermory, 300

August - 4 night weekend to the Smokies? 300

August - 3 night weekend to Holiday World, 500

October - 4 night weekend to Vegas for DH and I, 300

December - 9 nights in Dominican Republic for nephew's wedding, 3300

We like travelling way too much. We're at the point where we're stretching our budget a bit to do it...which my frugal soul gets nervous about. Just can't cut anything though!!!

We are credit card churners, earning tons of points and miles, which helps fund these trips. Otherwise, we'd probably spend double this for a family of 4. We rarely pay for flights and only pay for hotels in Disney.

Wow, I am impressed how inexpensively you do your weekends away!

 

[gracie1]

I typically go to Disney every other year. That runs me close to $5,000 for a week.

In between, we just don't do anything. While my DH and I both have great jobs, I also have one child in college and one on the way in. I don't believe in student loans and things like that when I can skip a vacation and actually pay for college, so that's why we don't spend a lot on vacation. I'm sure I'll be on my deathbed regretting it, but I just can't reconciling putting out at least $5K a year and then saying I can't afford other things because that's how it would be for me.

I had to tell you, when I read your post I read 'One child in college and one on the way!' I was going to congratulate you on your pregnancy!!

 

[gracie1]

A few years ago, I stayed home with my kids. We could only afford so much. So lots of daytripping and nearby overnights. Every other year, we would spend about $3-5k to fly across the world to visit my family for 2-3 weeks.

Then I started working and we discovered the freedom of being a 2 income family. Every year I keep expanding the vacation budget because I cannot resist. We are very frugal and like to save a lot...but getting rather indulgent and spoiled with so much great travel.

I get 3 weeks a year and DH gets 4 weeks. I desperately want at least 1 more week off.

Last year we spent about $6k on big trips and prob about 1k on numerous weekend trips. Dh and I also did cheap weekend trips to Quebec City and Vegas through various points and rewards. Our friends joke that its a shock when we are home on a weekend.

March - 5 day Royal Caribbean cruise plus a couple of days in Fort Lauderdale, 2500

July - long weekend in Algonquin camping, 400

August - 12 days WDW, 3300

December - 2.5 weeks Malaysia, fully subsidized by my father (crazy expensive because it was a last min trip)

This year I am expecting to spend about $8500 (OUCH!!!!!)

March - 3 day Disney Dream plus a few nights in Orlando, 3000

April - weekend trip to Vegas for DH and I, 300

July - 4 night weekend to Washington? 300

July - 3 night camping in Tobermory, 300

August - 4 night weekend to the Smokies? 300

August - 3 night weekend to Holiday World, 500

October - 4 night weekend to Vegas for DH and I, 300

December - 9 nights in Dominican Republic for nephew's wedding, 3300

We like travelling way too much. We're at the point where we're stretching our budget a bit to do it...which my frugal soul gets nervous about. Just can't cut anything though!!!

We are credit card churners, earning tons of points and miles, which helps fund these trips. Otherwise, we'd probably spend double this for a family of 4. We rarely pay for flights and only pay for hotels in Disney.

Do you camp?? How do you stay for 4 nights in DC for $300??

 

[HeatherC]

Could possibly do DC..or any city really with hotel points or even Priceline.

If you stay in a hotel where you get free breakfast, that saves money and then bring some snacks and eat at inexpensive restaurants or use restaurant gift cards earned via credit card.

DC is awesome because most of the stuff is free.

 

[Granny square]

Could possibly do DC..or any city really with hotel points or even Priceline.

If you stay in a hotel where you get free breakfast, that saves money and then bring some snacks and eat at inexpensive restaurants or use restaurant gift cards earned via credit card.

DC is awesome because most of the stuff is free.

We stayed at the embassy suites by the airport for $60 a night where they had good breakfasts. Parking was about $20 a day, and we only ate one fancy meal. Other meals were in the museums, or our front, and small diner types.

Wonderful trip! Not quite $300 but inexpensive

 

[marcyinPA]

We do one big vacation every 2-3 years. (big meaning $3,000 give or take). We usually do 2-4 days at the beach, staying at my friend's parents place about 10 miles away- for $35 a night. Other than that- we do a day trip here and there- for the cost of gas and food.

I would love to travel more, but we just don't have the income to support that.

 

[Liberty Belle]

We do one big vacation every 2-3 years. (big meaning $3,000 give or take). We usually do 2-4 days at the beach, staying at my friend's parents place about 10 miles away- for $35 a night. Other than that- we do a day trip here and there- for the cost of gas and food.

I would love to travel more, but we just don't have the income to support that.

Sounds like we're in about the same boat (and it's not a cruise ship ). Glad to have a little company in this thread at last.

 

[ReneeA]

We normally spend around $3500 for 10 days in WDW every year. We've always gotten good prices on airfare and go during free dining in August, staying at a moderate resort.

This year we're doing Hilton Head island for a week for $2500, driving, with day trips to Savannah &Charleston.

We also have a girls only trip to WDW planned for DD & I in Feb - 5 days, 4 nights. Our share is $980 for POR...staying with a good friend of mine and her DD's. Hoping for a play &stay kinda deal this year that will include dining. My plan is very little OOP when we get there, my budget is $1600 including airfare.

My DH & DS camp a weekend every months with Scouts. They are budget trips, but after 6 years, it amounts to quite a bit of time & money tied up in it. That's how we got our girl's trip...by guilting my DH. Lol.

Both DH & I have families that don't live near us, so much of our vacation time is sucked up by visiting family.

 

[OhMari]

I get 4 weeks of vacation and most of mine is just taking off from work, just to be away from work. My dh gets 2 weeks and he has 2 weeks from2 years ago, 2 from last years and 2 more. So we are up to six weeks and he probably won't touch them.

I did get him to go to WDW a weekend this past April before his meetings. He was suppose to be off 3 more days and he ended up working. He was one of those annoying people in the lines at WDW that didn't know to move ahead, I apologize to any one that is annoyed at people on their phones at WDW. I did make him turn his phone off while we ate or were on an attraction. There is no changing my dh. He truly loves working, at least he is willing to go to WDW with me. I always tell him I am putting this quote on his grave stone, "Damn, I wish there were more hours in a day to work."

 

[emma'smom]

We usually do:

1 week at Christmas (cruise or something)
1 week at Spring Break (Disney)
1 week in June (cruise/driving tour, etc)
1 week in August (DVC resort- HHI or Vero or a beach/pool somewhere)

I usually take the kids to the mountains/lake for 3-4 weeks in the summer--but that's family owned, so we just pitch in for groceries and that's about it.

We usually squeeze in a few week-end things here or there---and then conferences where we take the spouse-- a getaway--but still work.

 

[LongLiveDisney]

We're not very good at saving money for vacations, and when we do go on them, we splurge. And I mean SPLURGE. When we went to Jordan in 2008, the vacation ended up costing us a solid $25,000. Not kidding. This time around we're trying to save up more to not go into debt just to take a trip and also trying to limit how much darn money we spend while there.

 

[elaine amj]

Wow, I am impressed how inexpensively you do your weekends away!

We work very hard to accumulate hotel and airfare points and miles. So usually we only pay for entertainment and food. Sometimes we are frugal and sometimes we splurge.

Eg our last trip to Vegas last weekend. Free flights on Southwest. Then free hotel,2 cirque shows,2 extravagant meals through playing MyVegas, a FB game. Extra food and transportation from hotel to airport was only supposed to be $130(for 3 days). We ended up renting a car instead of cabbing it and travelling to hike. Then we shelled out for an extra show. So ended up costing us $300 including everything.

For a Washington trip, we would do at least 3 nights. Free hotel and museums are free. So $70-100 a day for 4 for food and gas. Should be an inexpensive trip.

 

[themilesfamily]

A typical year:

5-days Disney = $2000
2 trips to visit my family = $800 (drive + stay in hotel)
2 trips to visit DH's family = $800 (fly + stay with family)
1 Mother/Daughter weekend at a local hotel = $200

We used to take an additional summer trip to Wisconsin Dells where we would stay in a nice cabin, but we just can't seem to find the money for it any more.

 

[kkmcan]

It depends on the year but I would guesstimate we spend $3000-$5000 per year.

Last year was:

Jan: 3 day weekend to Disneyland less than $500
March: 3 day spring break to Disneyland plus a 2 night Oceanside beach stay in inlaws timeshare $500
June: 2 night stay in Phoenix over summer $200 just cuz we had no summer vaca planned.
Oct: 3 nights at DL and 3 nights San Diego beach stay $1600
Total for 2012= $2800

This year:
May- 7 nights Orlando (2 day WDW, 3 day DC/Sea World) $2350
Oct- Beach San Diego $1225
if we do DL added on then another $1000

Total for 2013= $3575-($4575 if we do DL in Oct)

Those $500 trips to DL were when we had our AP's so no ticket cost and stayed in inlaws timeshare for free. Drove our car so only paid for gas and food.

This coming May Orlando trip we paid most of our airfare with saved up capital one rewards (total for 4 was $300), staying in inlaws timeshare for free. Just paying for Discovery cove tickets and 2 day WDW base tickets plus rental car.

We like to get many trips out of our vaca money, even if they are only short weekends. I need to have 1 DL trip and 1 beach trip every year. Just doesn't feel right if I don't.