How long of a drive (or vacation) is TOO long?

[bellebud]

I doubt incomes are that different between Canada and the USA. I know lots of people who go on vacation for 2 weeks at a time whether it be camping or WDW.

Maybe it's priorities then? Americans would rather spend their money on other things besides travel? I'd rather spend it on travel personally, but I really don't know many people like me who would rather do that. All of my and dh's family don't 'value' travel the way I do. Maybe because the US is so large and we don't feel like we've really gone anywhere that different from home, whereas in Europe traveling to a different country is so easy and close. Canada though, I don't know, they're huge too, so I guess just cultural differences? I also don't know many Americans who really want to travel outside our country. I really do (and have a little, but not enough). I feel like going to the UK or Germany, etc, would be totally magical. Most people I know don't feel that way. And I don't know why.

 

[pryncess527]

Some pre-lim ideas for a week long stay.... you'll notice I'm making suggestions for weekdays for a lot of things when roads and attractions are quieter.

• Jul 28, Friday » check-in one night early to secure that fav balcony spot! Hopefully they won't give it away for the big fireworks day.... especially if the balcony has great fireworks sight lines
• Jul 29, Saturday » 10pm show with Japan
• Jul 31, Monday » Squamish and possible overnight in Whistler
• Aug 1, Tuesday » Whistler
• Aug 2, Wednesday » Hop On shuttles to Granville Island, Gastown and Stanley Park, 10pm show with UK
• Aug 3, Thursday » Day trip to Victoria and possible overnight in Vancouver Island?
• Aug 4, Friday » Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge
• Aug 5, Saturday » 10pm show with Canada
• Aug 6, Sunday » check for road closures around your hotel. You may need to check out at 8am to get away from the road closures and all afternoon congestion with Pride Festivities!

If you like Soarin' you should do Flying over Canada! It's the same kind of ride but with a Canadian landscape film. We've done it twice and really enjoyed it. It's located right down in the waterfront area at Canada Place.

thank you for the tips!!

We are still on the fence about driving vs flying -- we will discuss it more this weekend and make the final call. I'm not worried about being away from home that long, but I am a bit worried about the three of us in close quarters for that long. We live together, so to some extent we are used to it, but a road trip can be a different beast.

 

[brockash]

We are planning a trip to Vancouver this summer. While pricing flights today, I started to have the crazy idea that we should drive instead -- but it's a 30 hour drive.

But, I started pricing it out and I think we can take our time driving for about the same price as 3 plane tickets are going to cost. And instead of just seeing Vancouver, we'd see some random stuff along the way, stuff we'd probably never see otherwise, like Mt Rushmore and Salt Lake City.

But the loose itinerary I put together turns a 9 day trip into a 20 day trip. That's a big difference in time away from home, time away from our dogs, time in close quarters together.

I have the vacation time. The gas/hotel costs are about the same as the airfare, we we'd just have "extra" spending on dining out and any touristy stuff we do.

So, would you turn a 9 day vacation into a 20 day cross country drive?

And if so, any must-see, non-obvious things to visit in Nebraska, South Dakota, Idaho, Utah or Kansas?

I wouldn't, but I'm not a fan of road trips. For me, anything over 7-8 hours is def. more than I want to do and when I really consider flying. The only way I'd ever consider anything more than 12 hours or so is if it was coming down to us not being able to go due to the expense of flights and even then, I'd really have to want to go.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Maybe it's priorities then? Americans would rather spend their money on other things besides travel? I'd rather spend it on travel personally, but I really don't know many people like me who would rather do that. All of my and dh's family don't 'value' travel the way I do. Maybe because the US is so large and we don't feel like we've really gone anywhere that different from home, whereas in Europe traveling to a different country is so easy and close. Canada though, I don't know, they're huge too, so I guess just cultural differences? I also don't know many Americans who really want to travel outside our country. I really do (and have a little, but not enough). I feel like going to the UK or Germany, etc, would be totally magical. Most people I know don't feel that way. And I don't know why.

Which is why I was surprised by the "too long" comments. Being that this is a travel forum I found it interesting how many people didn't want to travel for longer than a week.

 

[North of Mouse]

RV's are work. Set up & pack up every day. Take on water, empty the toilet, and they're no joy to drive. Unless you're really into camping, I would pass. Rent a minivan & stay in hotels/motels every night instead

Really? Actually, they are very little work - the work is before you leave home - packing, etc. We have been RV'ers all our married lives, with our 3 children, etc. It's 'the' way to go for us.

My dh loves to drive our mh - no setting up and packing every day - what's that? 5 min. we're done - putting out the slides, hooking the water and electric - then, we're 'home'!!! Our own clean bed, bathroom, kitchen - what's not to love?? I only cook when I want to - mostly enjoy eating out, but love our coffee, snacks, on board.

Yes, I do get that it's not for everyone, but we really hate hotels, and love our 'timeshare' that can be 'anywhere'!!


We would definitely take the road trip! The journey is as enjoyable to us as the destination. Hate trying to get from point A to point B as 'fast' as we can. We are into relaxing!

And no animals for consideration - we love our lifestyle too much.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Which is why I was surprised by the "too long" comments. Being that this is a travel forum I found it interesting how many people didn't want to travel for longer than a week.

A week cuts it really short for me unless it's a really close destination. But, 2 weeks+ starts to get into serious $$ and unless it involves multiple stops, it gets to be a bit much. On our 10-12 day trips, there's no laundry to do, we don't tire of the food options that are convenient, don't get "homesick" for the dog, etc. Those all become issues the longer one stays away.

Now, if I were say driving from the Midwest to the West coast, I'd have to be gone longer obviously. But, that's not something I've done in the past 40 years.

 

[tvguy]

It's more a United States work custom to take only one week. But considering levels of personal stress, burnout, depression, obesity, etc., a two week vacay is much more mentally and physically refreshing. Makes for more productivity. You don't have to pay for a 2 week Disney vacay to have that. But any 2-3 weeks of enjoying your family, leisure activities, rest, relaxation, fun, is better for you. First world issues, I know, as some work dawn to dusk just to feed their kids. But as for this thread, good for you! I would support a coworker who took the vacation time allotted however she so chose to take it. It's yours. Have fun!

We get 4 weeks vacation. Twice in the 35 years we have been married have we taken more than a week off.
And your reasons for taking 2 weeks off.......the need for mental and physical refreshment.... are exactly why we don't take 2 weeks.
My wife needs a vacation every 3 months, or as she puts it, "I'll kill someone at work". If we took 2 two week vacations, we could only take 2 vacations a year instead of 4.

 

[tvguy]

Really? Actually, they are very little work - the work is before you leave home - packing, etc. We have been RV'ers all our married lives, with our 3 children, etc. It's 'the' way to go for us.

My dh loves to drive our mh - no setting up and packing every day - what's that? 5 min. we're done - putting out the slides, hooking the water and electric - then, we're 'home'!!! Our own clean bed, bathroom, kitchen - what's not to love?? I only cook when I want to - mostly enjoy eating out, but love our coffee, snacks, on board.

Yes, I do get that it's not for everyone, but we really hate hotels, and love our 'timeshare' that can be 'anywhere'!!


We would definitely take the road trip! The journey is as enjoyable to us as the destination. Hate trying to get from point A to point B as 'fast' as we can. We are into relaxing!

And no animals for consideration - we love our lifestyle too much.

It certainly is a lifestyle. However, the going RVing isn't the hassle, it's all the upkeep in between. Draining and cleaning water, gray water and sewage tanks between uses, cleaning and refilling water before a trip, starting the motor if it is a motor home, covering the tires up so they don't rot all take more than 5 minutes. There is a reason you can get such a good price on a one or two year old RV, people find out how much work they are and get rid of them.

 

[CdnCarrie]

We get 4 weeks vacation. Twice in the 35 years we have been married have we taken more than a week off.
And your reasons for taking 2 weeks off.......the need for mental and physical refreshment.... are exactly why we don't take 2 weeks.
My wife needs a vacation every 3 months, or as she puts it, "I'll kill someone at work". If we took 2 two week vacations, we could only take 2 vacations a year instead of 4.

I take them around the school calendar so usually take 2-3 weeks in the summer and one in the winter.

 

[North of Mouse]

It certainly is a lifestyle. However, the going RVing isn't the hassle, it's all the upkeep in between. Draining and cleaning water, gray water and sewage tanks between uses, cleaning and refilling water before a trip, starting the motor if it is a motor home, covering the tires up so they don't rot all take more than 5 minutes. There is a reason you can get such a good price on a one or two year old RV, people find out how much work they are and get rid of them.

Well, depends on who you talk to - 'and' as I said it's a lifestyle and not for everyone.

But, I still disagree on the work involved. We have an RV barn, and keeping up our RV and cars are an enjoyable, relaxing side for my dh.

The 5min. was 'set up' as quoting another poster! Dh does a tank cleansing while driving the mh a couple times in off season as well as starting the generator, etc. He also does the greasing, oil changes, etc. There are 'no' cleaning grey/black water tanks in between!

It's true not everyone wants even the little upkeep it takes, but we love our relaxing vacations in our rolling home - not trying to convince you or anyone else!!

So you can find 1-2 yr. old nice RV's cheap, eh? Not in our neck of the woods!!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Well, depends on who you talk to - 'and' as I said it's a lifestyle and not for everyone.

But, I still disagree on the work involved. We have an RV barn, and keeping up our RV and cars are an enjoyable, relaxing side for my dh.

The 5min. was 'set up' as quoting another poster! Dh does a tank cleansing while driving the mh a couple times in off season as well as starting the generator, etc. He also does the greasing, oil changes, etc. There are 'no' cleaning grey/black water tanks in between!

It's true not everyone wants even the little upkeep it takes, but we love our relaxing vacations in our rolling home - not trying to convince you or anyone else!!

So you can find 1-2 yr. old nice RV's cheap, eh? Not in our neck of the woods!!

All that "tinkering" your DH loves someone else calls "work". Plus, beyond that, driving the thing isn't all it's cracked up to be. You're piloting a 40-60 foot long, 8.5 foot wide machine on a 10 foot wide lane, and you go 0-60 in 40 seconds. Everything you do on the road requires a lot more thought, attention, and planning. Even something as simple as changing lanes or stopping for gas gets complicated in comparison to driving a car.

Now, that all bothers some more than others. But, it's a consideration. But for me personally, I'm never really relaxed when I'm piloting that much metal on the road.

Edit: but if you're looking for cheap RV's head to "snowbird" destinations. A lot of old folks go South for the Winter only to get sick or die before they make it home. And their kids are struggling to sell off a camper or motorhome that's hundreds of miles from home.

 

[tvguy]

So you can find 1-2 yr. old nice RV's cheap, eh? Not in our neck of the woods!!

I was in Phoenix last week. Lots there. Snowbirds buy an RV for their "retirement", and either make that cross country trip. or get tired of the travel and dump them.
And depreciation is steep on what tends to be a high dollar purchase.
http://www.camperreport.com/rv-depreciation-everything-possibly-want-know/

 

[RedAngie]

The thought of a long road-trip vacation doesn't appeal to me now. Maybe after I retire and have plenty of time.

I'm willing to drive two days to reach a destination, so perhaps 1200 miles or so. No more straight-thru driving; I'd need an overnight stop.

 

[bellebud]

Which is why I was surprised by the "too long" comments. Being that this is a travel forum I found it interesting how many people didn't want to travel for longer than a week.

Right, I get what you're saying. But it's really a Disney forum, not a travel forum. I think a place like Frommers, etc, would have more people liking longer and more frequent trips.

 

[ronandannette]

We get 4 weeks vacation. Twice in the 35 years we have been married have we taken more than a week off.
And your reasons for taking 2 weeks off.......the need for mental and physical refreshment.... are exactly why we don't take 2 weeks.
My wife needs a vacation every 3 months, or as she puts it, "I'll kill someone at work". If we took 2 two week vacations, we could only take 2 vacations a year instead of 4.

Yesyesyesyesyes!!!!! It is great to take a week, or even just a couple of days, when you really need them without having to worry about personal leave, sick time or whatever. Absolutely everybody in my department does it this way and we allow vacation leave on very short notice if necessary. This was very beneficial for those of us with kids and/or elderly parents to care for.

 

[North of Mouse]

Gumbo4x4, and tvguy, not sure how my post looked like we were looking for an RV, but we're totally happy with our mh!!

It's true that when we have looked at used rv's over the years, nearly everything was just that - dumped junk! Either smelly with cigarette smoke or pets, or not taken care of. We bought new and it will be with us for many years - hopefully!