I have free airfare, a week off, and $1500....where would YOU go?

[Minnesota!]

We have the week before Labor Day off. We have enough points to go most anywhere SW flies for free, from MSP, and I have only $1500 to spend (2 adults, 2 kids), due to remodeling a bathroom with what we had initially saved for the getaway.

Any fun, budget ideas/answers?

Currently our plan is to just hit the north shore, which, while beautiful, is not new and exciting to me.

We love hot weather, so nothing scares me off...

 

[robinb]

We have the week before Labor Day off. We have enough points to go most anywhere SW flies for free, from MSP, and I have only $1500 to spend (2 adults, 2 kids), due to remodeling a bathroom with what we had initially saved for the getaway.

Any fun, budget ideas/answers?

Currently our plan is to just hit the north shore, which, while beautiful, is not new and exciting to me.

We love hot weather, so nothing scares me off...

If it were me, I would go someplace far away. Your $1500 budget is tight, but websites like AirBnB, Home Away and VRBO will help you find a nice place big enough for your family for less than $100 per night. Plus, they often have cooking facilities which will save you money on food.

* Go west to Seattle and then drive across the boarder to Victoria, CA.
* Go to San Juan, PR or Cancun, MX
* Go to Portland, ME and explore new england
* Go to Ft Meyers/Naples and enjoy the Gulf beaches.
* Take a cruise. Almost everything is included and late August is a cheap time of year.

ETA, you can get a 4-day cruise from Miami or Tampa on Carnival or NCL for about $1200 and that includes your meals onboard.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

San Diego!

 

[Alexle2007]

Phoenix! It will be nice and hot there. Hotels will be reasonably priced since it is their low season.

 

[HM]

Washington DC or Charleston SC?

 

[tink9702]

go someplace NEW! If you like the outdoors maybe a cabin with hiking and a lake to swim in? New Hampshire's White Mountains or Tennessee's Smokey Mountains?

 

[worm761]

What do you guys enjoy doing? I want to go back to St. Augustine. There was so much to do there and I didn't get to do much at all. There's Gem Mountain/Hiddenite Mountain in NC. Gatlinburg, TN. Nashville, TN.

Gulf Shores, AL

 

[dprincessmom]

You could fly down to Destin/Panama City and hit the beach. Prices will drop after Labor Day and schools here will be in session so low crowds, great beach weather - yes please.

 

[stsomewhere]

cruise! You can get some great deals that week!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Phoenix! It will be nice and hot there. Hotels will be reasonably priced since it is their low season.

I think Phoenix really doesn't have much to offer tourists, especially kids.

 

[bearzabout]

Have you ever been to Williamsburg Virginia? There are a lot of timeshares and two bedroom rentals are often available rather cheap through Ebay or Skyauction. One week unlimited visits to Busch Gardens in $100 each. They also have a waterpark nearby and a weekly pass is only $51 each. One person can get an annual pass that includes parking.

You can walk around Williamsburg for free without buying admission as long as you don't go into the buildings. There is an outlet mall, nice drives all around, Yorktown and Jamestown have great museums plus two national parks to visit. Virginia Beach is within driving distance. It will be hot in August.

You would fly into Norfolk. Look into the great museums there as well.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

My vote is for a cruise!

 

[mrsksmithvt]

Phoenix! It will be nice and hot there. Hotels will be reasonably priced since it is their low season.

I would look at Scottsdale, AZ. I stayed last year at the Westin Kierland Villas. Great lazy river, kids activities, flow rider, etc. and it was hot that week 116 most days. Discount Disney shopping close by, easy to drive around Scottsdale, Phoenix, Mesa, etc.

 

[sheetz]

Las Vegas can be really cheap if you stay off Strip and search for deals. And there should be enough things to entertain you for a week if you've never been before.

 

[rhiansmom]

Another vote for a cruise... carnival has a more=merrier promotion right now I'm sure you can find a cabin for under $1000 leaving you extra for "fun" plus all your food is included

 

[nobellybutton]

I would say cruise as well you can get great 90day fares on just google cruise deals last minute and you'll find amazing offers!

 

[JenKate]

My answer is always New Orleans for someone that hasn't been!

 

[ldo]

Many good suggestions, but I agree with Williamsburg, flying into Norfolk. You should be able to get a condo rental for $700 for that week. With the other $800, you can rent a car for the week. you can go to Wllmbg-tickets are fairly cheap for a pass--or you can walk around and go into a few bldgs that are stores, but you still get the colonial feel-we have done that with younger kids and we all had a fine time. You can also go to VA beach for a day or two--less than an hr from williamsburg. You are also very close to DC, in case you wanted to stay 4 days in Wllmbg and then 3 days outside of DC. Many museums in DC are free and if you stay outside of town, esp. over by Dulles airport, you can stay for fairly cheap. You could also fly back out of IAD/DCA/BWI and drop your car there, if you can get a good one way rate. Otherwise, drive up one day, spend the night and then drive back. Colonial Wllbg does some decent deals with lodging/tickets in the summer. If you have $ leftover, there is a very good Busch Gardens in Wllmbg.
I would also suggest San Diego--we are doing that this summer.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Las Vegas can be really cheap if you stay off Strip and search for deals. And there should be enough things to entertain you for a week if you've never been before.

I would not recommend Las Vegas as a great vacation spot for kids, especially when there are so many alternatives.

 

[HM]

OP, do let us know what you decide to do!