Budget vacation for family of 5... (not WDW)

[WDWjen]

We were thinking of skipping WDW and venturing out somewhere else... (sorry!) we LOVE it at WDW but this year we are looking for something new.

But we are also looking to stay within our usual WDW budget for the week.. last year's Beach club w/air and dining cost us about $3500. (we got the buy4/get3 deal!)

I'm looking online and there are so many deals for 2 parents w/ 2 kids.... most all inclusives only allow 4 in a room.. and cruise lines are the same (unless we pay top$ for a suite)

Any budget ideas/deals out there for a family of 5 ??

We have passports so leaving the country isnt a problem... and we plan to go in March b/c the kids have conference days at school.

 

[figment3258]

It really depends on where you want to go. Do you like skiing? Nh has some great places to stay. In north Conway they have a hotel called adventure suits it's a lot of fun.

 

[shoney]

Have you looked at vacationkids.com ? They list many resorts that have room for large families.


Add: For our upcoming trip to Mexico...bookit.com was the cheapest.

 

[AAH84]

It really depends on where you want to go. Do you like skiing? Nh has some great places to stay. In north Conway they have a hotel called adventure suits it's a lot of fun.
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The Balsams Grand Resort is nice too and only 20 min from me

 

[HeatherC]

How about a cruise? We did a 9 nighter over Thanksgiving on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas which leaves out of NJ. So no airfare!

We are also a family of five. It was wonderful and we got a great deal on it.

If you wanted to fly to the Caribbean, you could also rent a villa. Tons to be found on homeaway.com.

 

[HeatherC]

Forgot to mention that you could also book two connecting inside cabins on a cruise. Doesn't cost you any more money...third person is discounted. And you get the extra bathroom.

We love cruising and have found the all inclusives to just not work for families of five.

 

[Princess Nancy]

I have been shocked at how cheap Mexico is right now.

I wouldn't tour alone, but you can get some smokin deals in the all inclusives.

My friends just returned and said they felt perfectly safe at the resort and with the transportation.

 

[Anne34]

We were thinking of skipping WDW and venturing out somewhere else... (sorry!) we LOVE it at WDW but this year we are looking for something new.

But we are also looking to stay within our usual WDW budget for the week.. last year's Beach club w/air and dining cost us about $3500. (we got the buy4/get3 deal!)

I'm looking online and there are so many deals for 2 parents w/ 2 kids.... most all inclusives only allow 4 in a room.. and cruise lines are the same (unless we pay top$ for a suite)

Any budget ideas/deals out there for a family of 5 ??

We have passports so leaving the country isnt a problem... and we plan to go in March b/c the kids have conference days at school.

Carnival allows 5 in a cabin on most of their older ships. We did it when the kids were younger. It was tight, but doable with young kids. I would do connecting with teens.

We have also done Mexico (a couple in cancun allow 5 per room & we've done 5 in a rom inPuerto Vallarta) and we have done connecting rooms in Riviera Maya. Go on Funjet's website and enter 5 people & their ages, etc -- it will show you what is available. Also there is small writing under where you put in the departure city, etc that says Multiple rooms. Click that & enter your information on the next screen. It will show you all the options available.

 

[Vijoge]

Any budget ideas/deals out there for a family of 5 ??

and we plan to go in March b/c the kids have conference days at school.

How old are your kids and which week in March are you planning to go?

 

[WDWjen]

to answer the previous post, my kids are 5,7,9 and we were thinking around St Pats day (3/17) because the kids have conference days at school.

We did want to go somewhere WARM -not many cruises out of NY for that time period. (I found the Norwegan Gem...anyone sail on that one??)

I know Carnival has a few rooms for 5 but I've been on a cruise before and I can't imagine how we would all fit?? It must be tight!

Thanks again - keep the ideas coming!!

 

[Ericandjenng]

Even though we seldom go, what about the Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg area of Tennessee? Google Great Smoky Mountains or any of these towns and you should be able to get tons of info.

We generally have warm weather springs here in East Tennessee and there's all kinds of things to do including a resort with an indoor water par--Wilderness Lodge of the Smokies. I am not sure when baseball starts but we also have a minor league team--The Tennessee Smokies that play near these towns.

 

[Vijoge]

We did want to go somewhere WARM -not many cruises out of NY for that time period. (I found the Norwegan Gem...anyone sail on that one??)

Haven't sailed the Gem, but we've cruised with NCL, on both the Star and the Dawn. Sailed the Dawn in Dec out of NYC to the Bahamas when she was brand new. .the first couple of days down the coast were cold and a bit rocky but we had a nice cruise at a GREAT rate.

I know Carnival has a few rooms for 5 but I've been on a cruise before and I can't imagine how we would all fit?? It must be tight!

I'm pretty sure the Carnival ships that have rooms for 5 are their older ships. . .we've sailed on a couple of these ships and while we've enjoyed all of our cruises our Carnival cruises were our least favorite.

 

[Vijoge]

hmmmmm.. .the link didn't work

try this:
http://bookit.com/mexico/cancun/hot...p1=3&ar1m1=3&ar1m2=5&ar1m3=7&tripType=package

 

[mjkacmom]

We took a 7 night NCL cruise out of NYC for under $5000 for NINE of us! And no airfare! The kids loved it, and are asking when we can go again. Just get 2 cabins - you will appreciate the extra bathroom, and usually much cheaper than a suite.

 

[Vijoge]

We took a 7 night NCL cruise out of NYC for under $5000 for NINE of us! And no airfare! The kids loved it, and are asking when we can go again. Just get 2 cabins - you will appreciate the extra bathroom, and usually much cheaper than a suite.

Agree totally with the great NCL pricing out of NYC! But I think it's probably too late for the OP to get connecting cabins for a cruise in March as these usually sell out early.

 

[ccgirl]

Even though we seldom go, what about the Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg area of Tennessee? Google Great Smoky Mountains or any of these towns and you should be able to get tons of info.

We generally have warm weather springs here in East Tennessee and there's all kinds of things to do including a resort with an indoor water par--Wilderness Lodge of the Smokies. I am not sure when baseball starts but we also have a minor league team--The Tennessee Smokies that play near these towns.

This is what I was going to suggest. We went to WDW in December and my DD8 asked when we were going back. We actually drive from MA. It is a beautiful drive. There is so much to do it is incredible. A lot of it is free and most of it is very little money. They have Dollywood if you want the amusement parks. The people there are super nice! You can rent an entire cabin and have food/activities for the week for easily way under that! Let me know if you want more info.

 

[HeatherC]

Did you check the Explorer of The Seas out of New Jersey...along with Celebrity cruises? They share the port at Cape Liberty in Bayonne.

 

[Shleedogg]

What about Ireland? Aer Lingus has some great vacation packages if you can fly out of NYC (JFK). Your profile says NY, but not where in NY. I'm in Rochester, so I would have to add on another $150/pp to get me to NYC, making this not a great deal.

http://ew.aerlingusvacationstore.com/aer/ewaer?service=page/BrochureSearchPage - not sure if that's going to work with cookies and all that. $3,090 for air, car rental and 6 nights in Dublin for 5 people.

Here's the main page for booking this deal, you can enter in your own dates and go from there.

We took our honeymoon in Scotland and drove around the countryside, visited castles, it was amazing. While I realize Scotland and Ireland are two different countries, I think the experiences are similar. I love Disney, but that trip is by far the best I've ever been on!

 

[WDWjen]

What about Ireland? Aer Lingus has some great vacation packages if you can fly out of NYC (JFK). Your profile says NY, but not where in NY. I'm in Rochester, so I would have to add on another $150/pp to get me to NYC, making this not a great deal.

http://ew.aerlingusvacationstore.com/aer/ewaer?service=page/BrochureSearchPage - not sure if that's going to work with cookies and all that. $3,090 for air, car rental and 6 nights in Dublin for 5 people.

Here's the main page for booking this deal, you can enter in your own dates and go from there.

We took our honeymoon in Scotland and drove around the countryside, visited castles, it was amazing. While I realize Scotland and Ireland are two different countries, I think the experiences are similar. I love Disney, but that trip is by far the best I've ever been on!

Funny you mention - my 9yr old son suggested Europe.. I just assumed it would be way too expensive! I will have to check into that.. Both my DH and I have been to Ireland (loved it, and Scotland too!) so we might choose a location we have not been to yet. Thanks!

 

[WDWjen]

Did you check the Explorer of The Seas out of New Jersey...along with Celebrity cruises? They share the port at Cape Liberty in Bayonne.

Yes, because I've heard great things about it, but they only have 9 and 11 night cruises in March - I just think thats too long to be on a ship w/my kids! LOL