How often do you go on a vacation?

[3boymthr]

Partly inspired by the How soon is too soon to plan a Disney trip? thread and by a conversation I had with my hairdresser last night - who was telling me about the trip she's taking to Playa Del Carmen this summer and their spring break cruise - and about the fact that her best friend never vacations because it's too much work .

I got to wonder how often do most people actually go on vacation? Not just Disney but any vacation - a week in Mexico or a cruise or a week at the beach, or where-ever.

We go on vacation at least two weeks every year - sometimes something amazing sometimes just a week of camping at the beach. We have to use our vacation time and DH doesn't feel like staying home is a good break.

 

[usnuzuloose]

We had our first trip in 09. Our last vacation was in 06, we were going to take one this year but due to income it is impossible. Maybe next year. Jo

 

[Mad4Mickey]

Before my Grandchild ( whom I hope will the only one since we bought her DVC LOL )was born back in 08 we traveled every 6 weeks . We would go for a week to Scuba dive or Disney or sometimes we cruised every 6-8 weeks . SInce she is here I cant seem to bring myself to go more then every 3 months . This year it will be more because we took her to WDW with us in Jan and she will be back with us in Oct. So we will have 4 vacations without her and 2 with her . We do 7-10 days at a time , he is trying to get me to vacation for shorter periods and do it 1 time a month for 3-4 days LONG time to be away from that child though !

 

[candielips]

Before we had kids, 3 yrs ago, we would go on approx 2 vacations a year for at least a week each.
Now that we have spent the last 3 1/2 yrs being pregnant, breastfeeding, and having 2 children, our schedules have been VERY different.
We plan on taking a family trip every year for 1-2 wks, at WDW, and also one trip a year just for us as a couple. Although that trip might just be a long wknd sometimes. Also this year we plan on taking 2 camping wknd trips.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

OK, I clicked other. We have gone to Disney 2 times so far for 10 days -2 weeks. Ideally (to me anywaY) we would do Disney/orlando every 2-3 years or so. We do try to do 1-2 long weekend trips every year.

As the kids get older I see us doing less disney & more other type vacations. I would like to go on a family cruise. We want to go to the Grand Canyon. Would love to go to California at some point. And eventually we (hubby & I, probably when the kids are older & gone) want to go to European & Asian destinations as well.

 

[mrsstats]

We go for 1 week, twice a year, about 6 months apart and then twice a year we take a a few days in Atlantic City for our birthdays and anniversary. We do 1 week in Orlando every other year and 1 in Vegas. The other week we try to do something new. This Sept. it will be Colorado.

 

[DisMomme]

We go to Disney once a year. Go to Canada one week a summer and also go camping AT LEAST once a summer. DH & I get away for a long weekend each year. I take summers off and with DHs schedule a weeks vacation is actually 12 days off so we try to get away in the summer as long as we can afford it.

Most of our trips are affordable, Disney is our splurge. Next year Disney will be our (DH & I) get away without kids. In Canada we stay with relatives and when camping we cook at the site every day and don't go out to eat so it's usually cheaper then staying home

 

[Stargazer]

Well, I voted for "other" because although we do always go on at least a week vacation every year, we also go on 4-5 long weekend vacations in a year as well.

Like, this year, we're doing 4-day to Branson over spring break; 3-day vacation to St. Louis in May and July for Cardinals games; 8-day vacation to Gatlinburg; 3-day to Kansas City in August for Yankee game; and another 4-day to Branson in December.

 

[NMW]

We do a week in Disney every year (usually May) and a week at the beach (North or South Carolina) every summer. So 2 weeks total. Although this November DH and I are doing a 4 night trip to Disney for the Food and Wine Festival without the kids. Our first time ever staying without them. I'm booking out Yacht Club stay next week~we can't wait.

 

[mannasn]

I should know better than to click on threads like this because they just make me discouraged! lol I should figure that the regulars of the Dis are probably economically more advantaged than the general public LOL.

I can't imagine taking two week-long vacations a year - sounds like a dream! A week long vacation once a year is about the best we can do - although a week every other year is probably more realistic - we've only been vacationing since I graduated college in 2006 (2006 was a Disney trip, 2008 was a cheapo trip where I won accomodations in a contest/beach trip, 2009 was a smoky mountain cabin rental trip and looks like we're shaping up for no vacation in 2010).

 

[3boymthr]

I should know better than to click on threads like this because they just make me discouraged! lol I should figure that the regulars of the Dis are probably economically more advantaged than the general public LOL.

I can't imagine taking two week-long vacations a year - sounds like a dream! A week long vacation once a year is about the best we can do - although a week every other year is probably more realistic - we've only been vacationing since I graduated college in 2006 (2006 was a Disney trip, 2008 was a cheapo trip where I won accomodations in a contest/beach trip, 2009 was a smoky mountain cabin rental trip and looks like we're shaping up for no vacation in 2010).

Don't feel bad, we take two weeks a year, but many many years our trips have been ultra cheapo camping trips - you know the $30/night tent trip, which, if we go to beach, with our beach pass costs us a total of $250. If we go to the mountains it costs us about $200. Not including our food - but since we cook everything ourselves on these trips I don't count that cost since I'd be paying that cost whether I was on vacation or at home. We've sometimes had to scrape to come up with that $200 (Love the change jar ).

 

[mannasn]

You're right. I'm a lazy vacationer - which is part of why we take less trips. I don't feel like it's a vacation if I have to cook, clean up after myself or sleep outdoors (no heat or air conditioning, no thanks LOL). So I'm sure the "style" of vacationing plays into how often people travel as well.

Don't feel bad, we take two weeks a year, but many many years our trips have been ultra cheapo camping trips - you know the $30/night tent trip, which, if we go to beach, with our beach pass costs us a total of $250. If we go to the mountains it costs us about $200. Not including our food - but since we cook everything ourselves on these trips I don't count that cost since I'd be paying that cost whether I was on vacation or at home. We've sometimes had to scrape to come up with that $200 (Love the change jar ).

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

LOL, we can only afford to go every other year or so cause we are poor..well not really poor but with three girls and debt my ex husband left me we have tons of expenses that makes a trip pretty far down on our luxury list. In fact this year is going to be our first vacation since 2007 when I filed for divorce lol. We are going to WDW as a surprise with some of our income tax. We have been paying off debt for the past few years and finishing college so its deff time for a treat lol.

BTW I am SOOO jealous of those that can afford to go on vacation every year..one day we hope to do that lol..right now our "vacations" consist of driving the hour to Daytona Beach where my in laws live and spending the day at the beach lol..

 

[Bellastumbles]

We have a shore house (yes I am from NJ lol) so we will spend most of our summer down there ( my partner & I are both teachers) so that in itself is a vacation. We also get away a few times during the year. This year we will go to Hershey for Easter, Baltimore & Morgantown WV ( Kristen graduated from WVU so we will got to visit friends) in July and possibly a Disney trip in August. Now we plan to start the adoption process in the Fall so I think the way we vacation will change dramatically soon!

 

[Pakey]

We go to WDW once a year. Every other year, we take all of our adult children and their spouses. Every year we also take a 1-2 week Non-Disney vacation and it's a rule that it must be to someplace we've never been. This year it's Egypt.

 

[3boymthr]

We go to WDW once a year. Every other year, we take all of our adult children and their spouses. Every year we also take a 1-2 week Non-Disney vacation and it's a rule that it must be to someplace we've never been. This year it's Egypt.

Oh! Wow! Egypt sounds soooo Cool! Can I go with you??

 

[disykat]

For us it has changed throughout the years.

When the kids were babies, we did two week-long vacations a year to visit family. One during Christmas break and one in the summer. We'd also do an occasional weekend to someplace close by.

As they got older we did one week to visit family over the holidays and made the one week summer vacation another destination. Summer vacation gradually got longer as dh's vacation time and our finances allowed - up to about 3 weeks. We also kept the occasional weekend getaways.

Now that the kids are teens we still have the family visit for the holidays, but find it pretty hard to fit any summer vacation in. We're back to a few weekends or overnights a year.

Flying is something we only do every couple of years. It just doesn't figure into the budget every year.

 

[neatokimmo]

I like going on one trip for 2 weeks. I don't care to fly, and if I am going to drive somewhere, I'd like to spend enough time there to justify the time in the car (or even make the car ride part of the trip by stopping along the way).

We will probably do another week trip in Sept when the rates go down in Myrtle Beach. That is an easy quick trip for us.

We vacation pretty cheaply because my Mom comes along and doesn't want to spend thousands on vacation. Like I hotwired our Orlando trip this year and got a non smoking 3 star for $29 a night. Our Pigeon Forge trip in July (3ish days) has a free room involved from hotwire credits (from the Orlando trip - it's like buy one trip, get another free).

 

[Jareds_mommy]

DH gets 6 weeks off a year,
so we do 2, 2week vacations and a bunch of long weekends

 

[HeatherC]

I was glad to see that a lot of Dis'ers vacation a lot like we do! We take at least 2 week long trips a year with weekend trips as well.

The reason we are able to do it financially is because of the internet. I cannot believe the deals that can be found. We have been so lucky to have taken our kids on many many trips that we would have never been able to afford if I just called up a travel agent and booked a trip.

We are able to take week long vacations at multi-bedroom timeshares for only a couple hundred dollars a week through places like skyauction, govarm, etc..

Best deal ever was a week at Orange Lake Resort for $270! We already had our passes to Disney, so it was extremely inexpensive. I would have spent more money at home that week!

Our next upcoming deal is Williamsburg for a week over spring break for about $450! With 3 kids home all week, I'd probably spend close to that taking them to the movies, bowling, out to eat, etc.. This way we get a week together as a family with no homework, deadlines, etc.. Worth every penny to me!

Happy travels to all!!