Other Budget Trips

[kilee]

I am aching to go away again!! DS has off school for a week in Feb. We are a family of 3 (DH, DS 10, and me). I''m thinking I'll have about $1000.00. Trying to come up with a trip idea on a budget. DH will not go if we are counted down to the penny. Or doing things like bringing lunch to the parks. Usually when we do WDW it's w/ $2000-2200 for 7-10 nigths. We don't mind staying in more budget type hotels. I'm really thinking WDW is out. NO matter how I crunch the numbers I can't do even a 4 day trip for that price. Not with airfare anyhow. So, my question is where else has everyone gone that is reasonable priced? We are in the Buffalo area of NY.

 

[topcat011]

We are going the second week in February. (8th -14th) using orbitz i found the days inn in lake buena vista for 324.pp for air fare/hotel and car rental. (doing a look at vacation package) That did not include our park hoppers.
The first two weeks are off season so its a good value.
We are leaving from PHila.

 

[Lisa P.]

Try browsing the website for 11th Hour Vacations.com. Just make sure you read the fine print - whether you are buying at a "per person" rate or "per room" and what taxes and/or fees may be added.

I'm not sure whether you can do a trip to Orlando including airfare & park tix for under $1,000. There are great special rates out there for the room, especially if you'll complete travel prior to February 11th. However, I'm guessing that your school break is over President's week, when prices increase significantly.

Are you interested in a drive-to vacation? How about a nice resort in the Poconos with some skiing, maybe skating, indoor pool and other family activities. Some of the resorts have condos w/ a fireplace. Some have been refurbished and upgraded in recent years. This could be a very economical stay, with a weekly rental.

Another fun possibility, though it could be quite cold, is Washington, D.C. There are so many free and low cost things to do, that it offsets the cost of the room. Consider all the Smithsonians, the Library of Congress, Arlington Cemetery, Mount Vernon. The Spy Museum is awesome! Don't miss seeing the monuments lit up at night. Get a room or suite where there's an indoor pool for relaxing.

Boston is another fun city, so long as you don't get a blizzard. There are plenty of great sights & museums, shopping & restaurants, comedy & theater.

Williamsburg can be cold too but there is still a lot of history to see. Package deals abound and it's still within a day's drive for you.

Consider looking for a really great package deal that provides air/hotel/car for under $500 to someplace you've never been. If you can find that, the rest could cover 4 days of food & exploring. You may be surprised at what you'd enjoy in Atlanta, Miami or Las Vegas (thinking of hub cities, where airfare deals may be had).

If you do settle on Orlando or nothing, how about thinking of it as a sunshine vacation. Just spend one day at the parks and relax for the other days... visit FW's petting zoo and playgrounds, wander other resorts to look around, spend a half day at DTD, swim at the hotel pool. Also, you may want to try Universal... the discounts are much better. HTH!

 

[FonFon]

I would also suggest a Washington D.C. vacation...because the monuments, museums, etc. don't cost a thing!! Get a good hotel near the mall, with a good pool, and you can spend a whole week there, and still not see all that there is to see.

DH and I went there for a weekend trip this past fall, and have vowed to go back when we have at least 4 days to work on it, because there is so much to see!

 

[jlp651]

Try Niagra Falls....might be a little cold though...
Hershey Park PA...
Boston...
Check with AAA or a TA maybe Disney is do-able...my parents did WDW for 7 days on about 800.00-with airfare...

 

[kilee]

THank you everyone for all the thoughts. DC is great and it is at the top of my list. My only concern is it might be really, really cold. We have been a couple times already but, like everyone says-- we still haven't seen close to it all. I'm thinking if not DC, then NYC. We can drive here and stay in NJ which will cut costs. Acutally I found RT airfare to NYC for under a $100 pp-- so that might be our best bet.

 

[disneysteve]

Washington, DC is great since most stuff is free. I wouldn't worry about the cold. If you ride the Metro everywhere, you really don't have to do all that much walking outside.

NYC is always a fun place to spend some time, though not much to do that won't cost you. Still, some great museums and attractions.

Nobody has mentioned Philadelphia. Another great city with tons to do for all ages. Lots of free attractions - Independence Hall, the new Liberty Bell center, the new National Constitution Center, the US Mint, etc. Also plenty of stuff in the surrounding area for side day trips - Valley Forge, Lancaster PA, Atlantic City, Longwood Gardens, etc. And great paid attractions like the Franklin Institute, Art Museum, Academy of Natural Sciences, etc.

I would vote Washington first if you haven't seen much of it, and Philly second.

Steve

 

[tinaluis]

This topic has piqued my interest as we have never been to Washington DC. I've done a little research on hotels on www.biddingfortravel.com and I have a few questions: if we take the Amtrak train there will we be able to get around to all the monuments using the Metro? Is the Metro a visitor friendly system? Is it recommended for two adults and three kids (7,5 and 2)? Any info. would be most appreciated. Also, if you guys have any DC tourist websites to direct me to that would be appreciated too!
TIA
Tina

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Have you ever been up to Montreal? That's pretty high up on my "to visit" list......although February IS a cold month....

 

[Lisa P.]

Tinaluis, the Metro is very visitor friendly! Look over the metro maps before you leave for your trip so you'll know which color line is closest to your hotel and which stop nearest your planned destinations.

Contact your U.S. Representative's office and tell him/her of your planned visit, touring dates and where you want to go. They can set you up with appointments for free guided tours to some of them.

Don't miss the Spy Museum!!! It's really fun and interesting!!! We found the Holocaust Museum to be somber but worthwhile. Our kids were 14, 12 & 12 at the time and we spend a half day there. There's also a grade school area that's far less graphic.

Here are 2 websites that may help you:
Official Tourism Washington, D.C.
U.S. House of Rep. Washington, D.C. Tourist Info

The U.S. Rep site has links to transportation suggestions, including the Metro website. Guided bus tours can be a great way to see the key highlight sights as well. HTH!

 

[sln88]

We usually go to the Smokies for Easter vacation. The national park, Dollywood(definitely not WDW, but it is nice enough).

Hotel prices are pretty reasonable. I just don't know how cold it would be there in Feb, or what would be open that time of year?

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by tinaluis
if we take the Amtrak train there will we be able to get around to all the monuments using the Metro? Is the Metro a visitor friendly system? Is it recommended for two adults and three kids (7,5 and 2)?
Tina

Tina,
Washington is an extremely visitor friendly city. The Metro is a wonderful system that can easily take you everywhere. It is safe, clean, well lit and reasonably priced. Check it out at:
http://www.wmata.com/

For tourism info:
http://www.washington.org/

Another great way to see DC is with the Tourmobile.
http://www.tourmobile.com/

What we did on our last trip was went on our own to the sights where we would spend a lot of time, like the Smithsonian museums. Then one day, we took the Tourmobile to see the quicker sites like Arlington Cemetery, Lincoln and Vietnam memorials, Washington monument, US Botanic Gardens, etc.

As for lodging, we never stay in Washington. We find better deals by staying in Virginia in either Arlington or Alexandria areas. There are numerous hotels located right near Metro stations so getting to and from Washington is a snap.

Its a great trip and, like WDW, you can't possibly see everything in a week.

Steve

 

[tinaluis]

Thanks everyone for all of the DC info.! Looks like we may be headed in that direction next month if I can pull it all together.

 

[crisi]

I don't know about New York, but here in the Midwest a favorite cheap mid-winter getaway is Las Vegas. A little warmer. Generally, you can get RT airfare and hotel for really cheap (they are intending you gamble) and rent a car for really cheap (subsidized by the slot machines). Then (and here is where you make it cheap) don't gamble. Drive out to Hoover Dam. Drive into the desert. We even drove up to the Grand Canyon, spent a few hours there, a stayed in a cheap motel driving back - and we drove back through Phoenix.