budget trip ideas

[abmitch01]

DD and I each have $200 in airfare credits because our flight was so delayed. They have to be used within the year. I'd like a relaxing vaca by the ocean or a pool where there are waiters with drinks and snacks. We'd probably go April break. I have no idea how to find a hotel like this. Any suggestions? We live in upstate NY and would probably want to stay on the East coast.

 

[happily single]

Keep an eye on the airline website. They frequently have airfare deals. When you find one near the beach book it. Be warned, airfare for April vacation is usually pretty high

 

[abmitch01]

Feb break is probably high too? we'll probably end up going in summer to save money again

 

[Marionnette]

Feb break is probably high too? we'll probably end up going in summer to save money again

Any break time is going to be pricier, especially if you are looking to travel from a cold climate to a warmer destination.

 

[dpswift]

Yes airfare is high during Presidents week and spring break week. I have found that if you can leave and come back a few days early(DD would have to miss acouple of days of school) that the airfare is cheaper.

I know you said you wanted to stay on the East coast however, I have found great deals on airfare to San Diego.

As far as where to go I do not have any ideas. DH and I spent a weekend in Pensacola beach a few years back and I enjoyed it. It was not during a school break however. I would suggest a cruise however they can be pricey during schoolbreaks. I have gotten great deals, however we drove because the airfare was so high.

 

[ellochka]

Anywhere from Miami to Palm Beach. April is when prices go down, actually, as most spring breakers go in March. Almost any hotel on the beach with a pool will have pool service. Hotel will run $200 a night for Ft. Lauderdale, $250-$300 for Miami Beach.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Feb break is probably high too? we'll probably end up going in summer to save money again

Not as bad as April if I had to guess since Feb breaks are less common. If it's around a long weekend it'll be an issue though.

 

[mrsp1030]

Some great places to check out are marriott Myrtle beach, harbor beach marriott, Tampa area, Hilton head omni or marriott.

 

[MinnieForMe]

What airline do you have credit with? I've found that if you are traveling school vacation week (February or April) from Boston that Southwest is cheapest the week flights are released. This is not true if you are flying a non peak week as their sale prices are better.

 

[stsomewhere]

What about finding a cheap cruise out of Miami or Ft. Lauderdale?

 

[undertheradar]

DD and I each have $200 in airfare credits because our flight was so delayed. They have to be used within the year. I'd like a relaxing vaca by the ocean or a pool where there are waiters with drinks and snacks. We'd probably go April break. I have no idea how to find a hotel like this. Any suggestions? We live in upstate NY and would probably want to stay on the East coast.

Honestly, if you don't have the money for a trip to plan, don't use the credits. You won't be losing anything as the credits didn't cost you any money.

 

[abmitch01]

the credits are with Southwest. How do you know when the tickets are released?

yeah, we might not be able to swing it. I wasn't planning on two trips in a year

a friend suggested Vegas, that you can get great deals on flights and hotels

 

[Bete]

Vegas is a popular destination; so, bargains can be had. With all the resorts there you can certainly find a good deal. You can get cheap eats, too. You can use public transportation on the strip for cheap. There are plenty attractions you can do for free. There is a half price ticket house near MGM to get deals on shows. They won't be the most popular shows, but you can snag a good deal there, as well.

Just make sure you don't get carried away with gambling.

 

[abmitch01]

I never gamble and DD will be with me anyway. I've seen people do that zipline over the strip. I wanna do that. Do you need to rent a car there? I'd imagine so to get to the restaurants

 

[MinnieForMe]

the credits are with Southwest. How do you know when the tickets are released?

yeah, we might not be able to swing it. I wasn't planning on two trips in a year

a friend suggested Vegas, that you can get great deals on flights and hotels

Call them! Check their website or google when they will be releasing dates for a specific month.

They just opened February 2015, the first week of August. I jumped on $525 per person to Aruba because I had credit and three week's later that priced had already soared to $750. If it goes down, I can always get a credit.

 

[Bete]

I never gamble and DD will be with me anyway. I've seen people do that zipline over the strip. I wanna do that. Do you need to rent a car there? I'd imagine so to get to the restaurants

Taxi fares along the strip are really not that bad. Depending where you stay you can walk to quite a few resorts.

I believe the zip line is downtown Vegas and I'm not sure I would go there without a car. Maybe, you could rent one for a day. With a car you could go to Red Canyon.

You can take some tours like to the Hoover Dam. The tour buses will pick up at the resorts.

 

[Egdisney]

We went to Vegas without renting a car. Most of the strip is very walkable. They have buses we never took and I can't think of what it is called right now but they have a train type thing with multiple stops along the strip that was really cheap. We took a cab downtown one night, wasn't too bad. If you have never been to Vegas, just seeing everything is an experience. We didn't do any Shows. All hotels have multiple restaurants so there is no need to have a car to go to a restaurant, just pick things close to where you are.

 

[KBW]

I agree that you might want to look into a cruise. I went to Vegas this year and last on a girls trip (late Feb/early March) and it wasn't cheap. Now, we did stay at an upscale hotel (Encore at Wynn) but I split the room with my cousin (maybe $150/night each). We did nice dinners, but none of the shows. Used taxis when we went to dinner because we knew we'd be having a few drinks. Spent under $50 gambling. Rented a car (split 4 ways) and drove to Valley of Fire State Park to hike one day (only $10 per car to enter park).

When it was all said and done, I probably spent almost as much on my Vegas trip (just me), as the cruise I'm taking my daughter on over Presidents' Day next year- 3-day Royal Caribbean out of Port Canaveral, Balcony cabin. They also have 3 day cruises out of Miami for about the same price. If you were really looking to save money, inside cabins were about half the price.