Long weekend getaway

[worm761]

If you were going to do a 3-4 day long weekend getaway, how far would you be willing to drive? And how much would you be willing to spend?

We are a family of four. DH, myself, teen DS, and preschool DD. Just wondering what the norm is. Was sort of thinking of going to Orlando for a long weekend. Orlando is only 8 hours away.

 

[Miniefan]

although I love Disney and wold love to be 8 hrs from it, I think that being the good part of a day away from anywhere would make it hard to be a weekend trip. You are going to spend one day driving there and one day driving back more than likely. I think 5 hrs is probably the most I would comfortably do, but you know your family best. Personally I would jump at the chance to go to Disney anytime and Im probably 15 hrs away, lol.

As far as the cost is concerned, I guess this depends on where you're going. If to Disney, the cost could be over $1,000 easily just for a weekend trip.

I just realized you said Orlando and not Disney specificly. There are lots of other things to do that you could easily do cheaper but by the time you factor in gas, hotel, meals I think you would still be close to $800.

 

[worm761]

I was thinking more like a nice resort with a great pool for DH and the kids and doing some offsite things rather than Disney. Disney for the dates I am thinking is close to $2000 for four days. That seems high for a long weekend.

Our last long weekend was to Disney but only because we are Florida residents, had seasonal passes and got a great rate on the room. I don't have tickets this time around so I am thinking Disney is out.

 

[Miniefan]

I was thinking more like a nice resort with a great pool for DH and the kids and doing some offsite things rather than Disney. Disney for the dates I am thinking is close to $2000 for four days. That seems high for a long weekend.

Our last long weekend was to Disney but only because we are Florida residents, had seasonal passes and got a great rate on the room. I don't have tickets this time around so I am thinking Disney is out.

If you don't mind me asking, where do you live? If you just wanted to stay at a nice resort and hang out at the pool, I'm not so sure that driving 8hrs is gonna feel so relaxing Surely if you just wanted some RnR there's bound to be something cool to do that's closer?

 

[lovemygoofy]

I wouldn't do a long weekend 8 hours away but that is just my personal preference unless there were no other options. You are going to spend 2 days driving and that would leave 1 maybe 2 days of relaxation.

I like maximum relaxation time when it comes to weekends away. I think depending on when and where you are going, I wouldn't want to spend more than $1000-1300 for the entire time. I guess that depends on what you want to do as well.

 

[mommasita]

I would do it

Normally I wouldn't stray more than 2-3 hours for a long weekend, but why not..

We did the 8 hour trek to Wildwood for a long weekend a few years back, and the kids STILL talk about how much fun it was..

With everything going on in the world, these are wonderful FUN memories.

We didn't spend all that much IMHO.. 500$ max with gas.

 

[Aliceacc]

I'm taking my mom away for a Mother's Day gift.

We're driving 2 hours or so to Lancaster PA. We'll do some combination of Amish Country and the outlets.

 

[FLCyndi]

We are about 5 hours from Orlando so that is usually what we do for a quick weekend trip.

 

[kirstenb1]

I'd drive 4-5 hrs. However, you live in Florida!!! So easy!! I'd pick a beach hotel and dig my toes in the sand for 3 days!! Oh and I'm cheap, so I wouldn't choose WDW or Orlando for that matter for a quick getaway.

 

[Art 1]

If you were going to do a 3-4 day long weekend getaway, how far would you be willing to drive? And how much would you be willing to spend?

We are a family of four. DH, myself, teen DS, and preschool DD. Just wondering what the norm is. Was sort of thinking of going to Orlando for a long weekend. Orlando is only 8 hours away.

For me 8 hrs is too far to drive for a long weekend, but that is just me. I would fly though.

 

[ohiomom28]

We have driven to NC for a long weekend but its too much, 10 hrs. My max is 6, which gets us to Gatlinburg

Sent from my Galaxy S3 using DISBoards

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Did New Orleans on a regular weekend once - 12 hours each way

Used to go fishing every year (sometimes twice) in TN on a 4-day weekend. Was about 7 hours each way. Gas was a lot cheaper in those days though.

Wife and I went to a NASCAR race 10 hours away over a 4-day weekend when she was 6 months pregnant.

I'd say other than the New Orleans trip, none of the above were any big deal. I'd do it

 

[lovin'fl]

In 2010 we did a 3 day cruise out of Port Canaveral...just DH and I. We drove to port...from Baltimore/Washington area. We drove most of the way and stopped for the night, got up and headed to port (about 2.5 hours more of a drive), got on the cruise, got off the cruise and drove straight home. It was very exhausting but kind of fun. I think we paid about $400-500 for the cruise for the 2 of us and then whatever the cost was to drive and get the hotel for 1 night. We spent about $200-ish on the ship (so it was under $1K for a 4 night mommy and daddy getaway).

In 2011 we did a 4 night cruise from Jacksonville (no kids again)...much better to have an extra night on the cruise and a shorter drive. We'd definitely do that again...for sure!

Those were our last sans kiddos trips (and our only sans kiddos trips really...aside from a few overnights here and there over the years...been married with kids for 16+ years). So, in need of another adults only trip (I'd go for an annual 3-4 nighter, but DH isn't into leaving the kids for some reason) I recently looked into 3 nights at WDW for F&G (thanks to the 'value of remaining AP' thread). I had it all figured out (3 nights at POP and reasonable flights to/from...cost about $875...already have APs...food would add to cost..and if DH said we could go if we drove, I'd do it) and DH shot it down.

So, to answer OP's question...we'd drive to Orlando/Port Canaveral (14-16 hours) for a long weekend. It's more draining to do with the 3 kids in tow (even though they are teens), but we'd do it. We drove them to Jacksonville for a 5 day cruise...we drove to VB this past summer for 4 nights (but added on 2 nights at Universal and then came home from there)...we drove to HH for 4 nights and then drove down to WDW for 3 nights at OKW (to do Seaworld) and then drove home from there. We usually do a stop in a hotel on the way there and then drive straight home after the trip (DH prefers that and I HATE it...he just wants to get home but I think it's painfully long).

 

[Poohforyou]

For only 3-4 days it would have to be someplace we could get to in 3-4 hours max. Especially with kids I couldn't imagine going 8 hours for only a few days.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I think the longest I'd drive for a weekend getaway is four hours. Spending really depends on where we'd go. Hard to say.

 

[Janepod]

Four hours max. Otherwise, we would fly.

 

[ksjayhawks]

Weekend getaway--3 to 4 hours. I want to enjoy my weekend, not be exhausted from driving.

 

[NaLisa]

We try to stick to a 3-4 hour drive each way for a long weekend, but luckily there are a lot of different options in that radius--mountains, beach, family, great cities. Four hours each way equals the equivalent of an 8-hour workday spent in the car. Longer than that and my kids get antsy in the car and we need to make a stop or two, plus DH and I start to get tired and don't get to spend enough time relaxing and enjoying the time off. My kids travel well, but two days vacation crammed in between two full days of driving wouldn't be enjoyable for any of us.

 

[worm761]

Thank you for all of the opinions. Maybe I will look at something closer. We are in Pensacola, FL so a beach is out. I can go there any time and generally choose not to.

 

[Miniefan]

Thank you for all of the opinions. Maybe I will look at something closer. We are in Pensacola, FL so a beach is out. I can go there any time and generally choose not to.

OP, This is my hometown, I lived there all my life until 2010, when you said 8 hrs away I knew it had to be Pcola! If you are willing to drive down to Orlando, why not check out FL res tickets for Sea World or Universal? Both are a good bit cheaper than Disney and if you happen to be Military, I think there is a free ticket offer to Sea World or Busch Gardens. Sea World, Busch Gardens, Universal, and Disney all do the ez-pay monthly options for their tickets, if that would help offset your costs.

I was thinking of doing a small summer trip to Universal for my family of 4 in June and Universal is having a special where you get a hotel night free and third day admission free, for my family 4 nights in hotel, 3 day tickets was around $700.

On another note, why not head down New Orleans? If you want a nice resort with great pools, check Sandestin area, you don't necessarily have to visit the beach.