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

[clori]

Have you done the Harrisburg area? We stayed there in a hotel with a kitchen. Our big splurge was 1 day at Hershey Park but most of what we did wasn't too expensive. We used the recipricality from our local museum of science membership which got us into several museums. We also did day trips to Lancaster and Gettysburg. I loved Philadelphia but saw most touristy attractions using the Philadelpha pass in 2 days. Honestly if I had free airfare I would probably look at where I could go that I normally couldn't afford. I only did two days in San Juan before a cruise and it was beautiful.

 

[blanq]

Well, I think that $1500 is super tight for a week and a family of four. I really love Colorado, and it is just a beautiful place to be in the summer. If I were in your shoes, I might consider flying into Denver, renting a car, and heading over to the Keystone/Vail area for the week. Vail is pricey for condos, but you can find a very nice 2 bedroom condo in Keystone for $99-$130/night, via VRBO, which will put you at about $910 in lodging costs. An intermediate size rental car will set you back about another $260, bringing you to just under $1200. The resorts at Keystone all have nice outdoor pools and lots to do for kids. You would have a bit of play money left for a few activities. You can explore Vail and Dillon (both cute towns), hike and bike for pretty much nothing (you can rent bikes at Keystone Village). Many condos have a good supply of DVDs and games, but you could bring some from home to occupy your evenings. Vail has a really nice outdoor amphitheater and they have free concerts every Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm. I would just take your weekly food budget and put it toward food in the condo for the week, as well as your weekly gas budget to help fill your rental car, and would figure those costs in addition to the $1500.

That free airfare is enticing, but the problem is that you almost always will have to incur the cost of renting a car if you fly somewhere which cuts into your limited budget. I live in MN too, and I think if I were in your shoes, I might just drive over to Door County for the week and save your air travel for another time, as I think your money will get you further. BTW, I love the North Shore too, but I totally get your wanting to try something new.

 

[Minnesota!]

Thank you, all, for the suggestions! I am looking at all of them That $1500 might be higher here, soon. We are buying a house and I had anticipated a lot more for closing costs....but we are instead only having to pay $300. So, should that figure hold true, our budget will have more breathing room. FWIW, I am totally ok with a condo-type place and cooking. Disney is the only place I refuse to cook, and we aren't doing Disney, that's for sure

 

[Mizzoufan]

Vegas
Pigeon Forge
Branson

 

[kathy884]

Well, I think that $1500 is super tight for a week and a family of four. I really love Colorado, and it is just a beautiful place to be in the summer. If I were in your shoes, I might consider flying into Denver, renting a car, and heading over to the Keystone/Vail area for the week. Vail is pricey for condos, but you can find a very nice 2 bedroom condo in Keystone for $99-$130/night, via VRBO, which will put you at about $910 in lodging costs. An intermediate size rental car will set you back about another $260, bringing you to just under $1200. The resorts at Keystone all have nice outdoor pools and lots to do for kids. You would have a bit of play money left for a few activities. You can explore Vail and Dillon (both cute towns), hike and bike for pretty much nothing (you can rent bikes at Keystone Village). Many condos have a good supply of DVDs and games, but you could bring some from home to occupy your evenings. Vail has a really nice outdoor amphitheater and they have free concerts every Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm. I would just take your weekly food budget and put it toward food in the condo for the week, as well as your weekly gas budget to help fill your rental car, and would figure those costs in addition to the $1500.

That free airfare is enticing, but the problem is that you almost always will have to incur the cost of renting a car if you fly somewhere which cuts into your limited budget. I live in MN too, and I think if I were in your shoes, I might just drive over to Door County for the week and save your air travel for another time, as I think your money will get you further. BTW, I love the North Shore too, but I totally get your wanting to try something new.

I agree with blanq. $1500 is more of a budget for a weekend trip than it is for a week long trip for us. Crunch the numbers, but $1500 does not go very far. Maybe use the air some other time and do a nearby camping trip. Or fly to grandma's house, do an overnight hotel as a splurge one night and spend the week at grandmas. Of course, I don't even know if you would enjoy a week with relatives and / or if they have a nice house to accommodate you all. // On a budget spring break trip, though, that's what I'm doing -- staying in a nice historic Chicago hotel one night that my son will love, doing a Chicago attraction or two, and then going to my parents house and spending three nights there (free room and board).

 

[leebee]

Not to be discouraging about coming to New England, but many cities/towns here don't go back to school until after Labor Day. That week in August will still be pretty expensive in the Portland area, hotel-wise. Prices will stay high until at least Columbus Day or longer, as that is prime leaf-peeping season. You might have luck finding a home near the beach/shore in southern Maine through airbnb or vrbo, but I was looking last week and most prices are at LEAST $200 a night right through the end of August- IF there are any left. Every year in January I want to rent a house on the beach for a week, but DH and DD can't commit until they know what their summer schedules are- and by the time they know for sure, it's too late to get an affordable place to stay.

 

[McKelly]

I third Williamsburg. Lots to do in the area for kids. We rented a condo off of Ebay for $400.00 for a week when we went. Get the combo tickets (700.00 if you want Busch Gardens and waterpark, 300.00 if you just want historic sites) and you have a whole week of activities. Cook in the condo for most meals to save money.

Or, I would try to get as close as I could to a national park via airfare, rent a car, hike and do ranger activities.

 

[Minnesota!]

I am ok spending about $200/night, and then cooking our meals. That is currently what we have booked for the North Shore, but, meh. We can find plenty of cheap/free attractions anywhere we go. I will be rolling our usual grocery money into that, too, so food doesn't even need to be taken into account in that $1500. Same with gas being rolled to car rental/gas. So, $1500 just needs to cover accommodations and things to do. I know DC has a ton to do, for free, and has public transportation that might end up being cheaper than renting a car at all.

I am so indecisive Good problem to have....

 

[lovesmurfs]

DC? There are a bajillion museums, etc. You might be able to find a lower priced hotel in VA and then take the train in.

If your family hasn't been to Philadelphia, I'd encourage you to try to make the trip once, if you have history buffs. I grew up in NJ and took Philly for granted until I realized my son was 18 and had never seen the Liberty Bell. We combined it with a trip home to my parents in NJ and used it as a base for day trips to NY, Philadelphia, and took a day down the shore.

ETA -- just saw you're considering DC...

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

DC? There are a bajillion museums, etc. You might be able to find a lower priced hotel in VA and then take the train in.

If your family hasn't been to Philadelphia, I'd encourage you to try to make the trip once, if you have history buffs. I grew up in NJ and took Philly for granted until I realized my son was 18 and had never seen the Liberty Bell. We combined it with a trip home to my parents in NJ and used it as a base for day trips to NY, Philadelphia, and took a day down the shore.

ETA -- just saw you're considering DC...

I could have written this myself.
Besides the Libety Bell there's the Franlkin Institute, Academy of Natural Science, Longwood Gardens, & a short drive to Jersey & DE beaches. (We luv Cape May!). For little kids <6 there's Garden State Discovery Museum in Cherry Hill, NJ & Please Touch Museum in Philly.
From S. Jersey it's about 1.5 hr drive to Liberty State Park where you can board the ferry to Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, without having to cross the bridge into NYC and deal with that traffic.

Also about 1-1.5 hrs west of Philly there's Hersheypark for all kids, Sesame Place for little kids.
So much to do...

 

[ilovefh]

How about flying into Manchester NH? From there it's a 1.5-2 hour drive north into the mountains, with lots of hiking, swimming, etc. There's also places like Clark's Trading Post, Santa's Village, Story Land, etc. It's also only an hour or so into Boston, with lots of things to do around there.

That week is when most of the kids here head back to school, so not as crowded as it might be earlier in the summer, or as it will be later on when the leaf peepers get here

I love challenges like this! While I would cruise, because you can get some decent cruise rates, I looked into NH because we live there too! Here is what I found....

Assuming your kids are under 10...traveling August 30-September 4

Hotel with good reviews $387
Car Rental $259
Storyland (amusement park) $116
Santa's Village (amusement park with water park) $120
Whales Tale Water park $140
Tube down the Saco River $64

Total $1086 which leaves $414 for food and gas and such which would be tight but I know you said you'd also add your grocery money for the week and maybe some more. I would eat breakfast in the hotel room because it has a microwave and refrigerator.

 

[jagmom]

I would probably go to Louisville, Ky. I think its a fun place and most things are relatively inexpensive. although the weather could be a factor since it can be hot and sticky. If there are races at Churchill Downs the general admission is cheap and its fun to watch. In between races you can walk around and check out the horses getting ready for the next race. The Louisville Slugger factory and museum is interesting, even for a non baseball fan like me. When I went there you even got a souvenir included in the price of admission. They have really great restaurants there as well.

 

[a742246]

Depending how old your kids are you may like the Washington DC area.

For cheap last minute timeshare rentals go to www.tugbbs.com then go to the last minute rental section, you can request a location or see what people have open already. They have 1 and 2 bedroom timeshares available.

 

[Cadiewampus]

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...

Sanibel Island Florida that should still be their off season. Its so nice and relaxed there and not a whole lot of stuff you would need to spend money on like in the typical touristy places

 

[lovin'fl]

cruise! You can get some great deals that week!

I agree. Fly down to FL and do a cruise. All 4 in a cabin for $1500 should be possible. Can do a short cruise. FL ports and Charleston do short Carnival cruises.

 

[mondragon]

I agree. Fly down to FL and do a cruise. All 4 in a cabin for $1500 should be possible. Can do a short cruise. FL ports and Charleston do short Carnival cruises.

How are 4 people going to cruise for a week. That's less $400 person not including gratuity and spending $$.

 

[lovin'fl]

How are 4 people going to cruise for a week. That's less $400 person not including gratuity and spending $$.

The Carnival 4 and 5 day cruises to Bahamas/Caribbean (out of Florida and Charleston) are $259 to $399 per person and that's the first 2 in the cabin and usually the 3rd and 4th guests are cheaper. Galveston and New Orleans has some too. Carnival site has pack-and-go specials that the end of August would now likely be included in on. They should currently be up right now (they go up like Tuesday to friday or something like that).

 

[mondragon]

The Carnival 4 and 5 day cruises to Bahamas/Caribbean (out of Florida and Charleston) are $259 to $399 per person and that's the first 2 in the cabin and usually the 3rd and 4th guests are cheaper. Galveston and New Orleans has some too. Carnival site has pack-and-go specials that the end of August would now likely be included in on. They should currently be up right now (they go up like Tuesday to friday or something like that).

Ohhhh carnival. That's why. Not a fan of carnival.

 

[lovin'fl]

Ohhhh carnival. That's why. Not a fan of carnival.

Have my 8th Carnival cruise booked for Aug 2016...love them!

 

[LovesTimone]

St Augustine Fl. stay on the beach lots to do. Also you can drive into Jax's ( Jacksonville).

Destin, Ft Walton, Pensacola Beach, you should be able to get some great rental as the rates really drop around labor day. Some friends rent a condo, 2 bedrooms with pull out in living room on the beach in Pensacola for right at 700.00. Check out the NAS great museum, and Imax, there is also the light house. You can drive down to Destin for the day with out the high cost of staying there.

Hilton Head... anywhere on the outerbanks.

Clearwater beach or Johns pass area, close enough to Tampa, to check out the museums, Busch Gardens, MOSI, etc.