Dh & I are wanting ideas on inexpensive vacation spots

[Darcy03231]

Since you want to stay in the US I would say:

1. Branson, MO
2. Las Vegas
3. San Diego (I found SD to be a bit more expensive than Branson or LV)
4. Savannah, GA (we stayed in the historic district - Savannah DeSoto Hilton and were able to walk all over)
5. Key West

 

[Purseval]

Every couple of months on the first weekend of the month I get on Priceline and book a hotel for around $30 in the Atlanta area. The we use our Visa cards to go to free museum weekend attractions, eat out somewhere and spend the night at the hotel. Many of the ones we look for have indoor swimming pools so even at this time of year it's a nice break. We actually live close enough to drive in and out of the city with no problem but it's like a mini vacation.

 

[VAfamily1998]

The we use our Visa cards to go to free museum weekend attractions.

Can you tell me more about this?

 

[Purseval]

Can you tell me more about this?

You need anything with a Bank of America logo on it: check book, credit card, debit card, etc. First full weekend of every month in cities across the country you get free admission to museums, zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums and whatever else they can dig up. Attractions vary by city and they change so you have to keep checking. Recently, for instance, Atlanta dropped the Museum of Natural History, the Zoo and the Botanical Garden but we still get the High Museum of Art so we saw the DaVinci exhibit, the Dali exhibit and this time we will see Titian and the Golden Age of Venetian Painting and Dali's most famous painting, Persistence of Memory, which was added after we saw the main exhibition. That's the one with the melting clocks.

http://museums.bankofamerica.com/

 

[TnTWalter]

Anna Maria Island, FL. Beautiful, laid back, cool beach town. Family and/or romance. We took kids and went after a week at Disney. We drove and made it an adventure.

here's my blog about it....
http://waltersvisitami.blogspot.com/

 

[ccgirl]

You need anything with a Bank of America logo on it: check book, credit card, debit card, etc. First full weekend of every month in cities across the country you get free admission to museums, zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums and whatever else they can dig up. Attractions vary by city and they change so you have to keep checking. Recently, for instance, Atlanta dropped the Museum of Natural History, the Zoo and the Botanical Garden but we still get the High Museum of Art so we saw the DaVinci exhibit, the Dali exhibit and this time we will see Titian and the Golden Age of Venetian Painting and Dali's most famous painting, Persistence of Memory, which was added after we saw the main exhibition. That's the one with the melting clocks.

http://museums.bankofamerica.com/

Fabulous tip! Thank you so much for sharing!!!

 

[ccgirl]

Anna Maria Island, FL. Beautiful, laid back, cool beach town. Family and/or romance. We took kids and went after a week at Disney. We drove and made it an adventure.

here's my blog about it....
http://waltersvisitami.blogspot.com/

That area really is beautiful, as is Sarasota, Long Boat Key etc. Great suggestion. Off to read your blog.

 

[VAfamily1998]

You need anything with a Bank of America logo on it: check book, credit card, debit card, etc. First full weekend of every month in cities across the country you get free admission to museums, zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums and whatever else they can dig up. Attractions vary by city and they change so you have to keep checking. Recently, for instance, Atlanta dropped the Museum of Natural History, the Zoo and the Botanical Garden but we still get the High Museum of Art so we saw the DaVinci exhibit, the Dali exhibit and this time we will see Titian and the Golden Age of Venetian Painting and Dali's most famous painting, Persistence of Memory, which was added after we saw the main exhibition. That's the one with the melting clocks.

http://museums.bankofamerica.com/

Wow! We have an American Express account from Bank of America that we never use---I'm going to have to dig out our cards from their hiding spot!

Thank you so much for the tip!

 

[DawnM]

Just be aware with the BofA museum thing that EACH person getting a free ticket needs to have a BofA Visa card with his/her own name on it.

For us, that means DH and I can get in free but we have to pay for the kids.

Dawn

 

[DawnM]

Here is the way I do vacations:

I set a budget first, then.....

I pick where I am interested in going/seeing and then see what deals I can get to get myself there. If I absolutely cannot get a deal, I move on to Plan B with a 2nd option and see if I can get it for budget there......

Last year we had a great trip to Washington, D.C and Williamsburg. In fact, I didn't plan enough DC days and the kids are asking to go back! DC is great because most of the museums and events are free, you just need to pay for lodging, food, and transportation.

The year before that we had a trip to Montreal and stopped at Niagara Falls on the way up and Hershey, PA on the way back. The Montreal portion was covered in DH's work as he had a conference though. It was a fabulous trip.

I personally can't stand Vegas and find it depressing. We used to go once per year when we lived in CA (to see relatives) and we did enjoy walking around the strip, but we aren't gamblers or drinkers and watching people at 10am in smoke filled, dark gambling halls with a drink in their hands just depressed me. DH and the boys went golfing and we all went swimming, but that was about the extent of our enjoyment with Vegas.

Dawn

 

[Planogirl]

Great suggestions here. San Diego is amazing but you might find it a bit pricey.

You could go on a long ski weekend in the Rockies. Maybe rent a nice cabin.

We also enjoyed Philadelphia and found out that there is a lot to do in the whole area. Good food, history, themeparks, nature...they seem to have it all.

 

[shortbun]

I, like DawnM, do not like Vegas. It's the epitome of excess and I find all the people sitting around losing money incredibly sad.

My husband and I head for the forest and an inn somewhere. Out latest favorite is just a little over an hour from Columbus, Ohio but there are inns everywhere. We love to slow the pace of our lives by getting away from our responsibilities for a few days and sitting by a roaring fire, reading and talking. For you Ohioans, The Inn At Honey Run is marvelous and has a great chef.

 

[crostorfer]

Here is my suggestion, come to Seattle!!! If you come in the off season, (January-early May), it is ridiculously cheap to fly here and the hotel rates are deeply discounted. If you are outdoorsy in any way there is no better place in the continental US, the temperatures are really moderate, and it's the most beautiful city in the country, (IMHO). You could go up to the island and go whale watching year round, visit any of the museums or the aquarium, have a cup of coffee at the original Starbucks on Pine, or go watch them throw the fish on Pike. There are a ton of dbed and breakfasts, lots of wineries with outstanding wine and amazing restaraunts.

*I should tell you, I am in no way endorsed by the Seattle board of tourism, LOL, I just love my city.

 

[Vivianne]

If you like the Sedona, Az idea, I found this inexpensive lodging with great
views.

http://www.skyranchlodge.com/

The one place we visit once a year is the Cape Cod National Seashore.
I found this lodging in Truro which is pretty reasonable and has great sunsets
over Cape Cod Bay.

http://www.caperesort.com/

 

[crostorfer]

P.S. It does NOT rain as much as people think it does. It's cloudy a lot, but really, it has an undeserved reputation for constant rain. Springtime is lovely, especially late April and May. In April all of the tulips in the valley bloom and it is AMAZING. Miles and miles and miles of flowers.

 

[racechick8293]

I love St. Augustine!

Hotels are reasonably priced, beautiful beaches, historic buildings/landmarks, wonderful historic shopping area, outlet shopping as well, great restaurants.

 

[ccgirl]

If you like the Sedona, Az idea, I found this inexpensive lodging with great
views.

http://www.skyranchlodge.com/

The one place we visit once a year is the Cape Cod National Seashore.
I found this lodging in Truro which is pretty reasonable and has great sunsets
over Cape Cod Bay.

http://www.caperesort.com/

IF it's during the summer...stay away from the Cape. JK....I love my beautiful beaches in the summer. Some of them are just breath taking (and very underrated). Can be pricey if you want it to be but can also be very reasonable. If you are into camping; you can camp right on the National Seashore for around $30 a night. That's "wicked" cheap. SOrry, couldn't resist.

 

[DawnM]

I love your city too! I lived in Seattle for 4 years through college and would have stayed had I found a grad school that had what I needed in Seattle.

I just went back this past summer for a visit.



Dawn

P.S. It does NOT rain as much as people think it does. It's cloudy a lot, but really, it has an undeserved reputation for constant rain. Springtime is lovely, especially late April and May. In April all of the tulips in the valley bloom and it is AMAZING. Miles and miles and miles of flowers.

 

[Vivianne]

IF it's during the summer...stay away from the Cape. JK....I love my beautiful beaches in the summer. Some of them are just breath taking (and very underrated). Can be pricey if you want it to be but can also be very reasonable. If you are into camping; you can camp right on the National Seashore for around $30 a night. That's "wicked" cheap. SOrry, couldn't resist.

Yes, that's a given alot of places are super crowded during that time of year.

We usually go April/Oct.

Camping sounds wicked super cheap. DH did the camping when he was
younger but now he'd nix the idea. Me, I'm a city girl, maybe I'm missing
something good...

 

[jodim]

Thanks for all the ideas.

Dh wont cruise... although I would love it.

I wont go to Arizona, been there before, loved it, but refuse to give the state a dime of my money at this time.

I am going to Seattle with my daughter this summer (May) to visit her best friend who moved and we are going to her Communion . If I totally love it, we might go back, but I think I would prefer somewhere else.

Branson sounds promising. I would like the shows in Vegas, but could easily spend wayyyyyyy to much money there.