Should I feel guilty...our trip could cost less?

[sk!mom]

I simply can't let my mother pay for trips.

We've been to Italy twice, WDE once and England once with my mom. I am always the trip planner, I ask her how much she wants to spend on hotel/villa and then I find something in that range.

Sometimes she says "let's spend more to get more" in the way of location or amenities. Sometimes she says "no, really don't want to go over $250 a night" or whatever.

We always insist on paying our park tickets or meals or what have you; she tries to whip out that card faster, and sometimes succeeds, but most times, we try to make it as even as possible.

But when it comes to the hotel/villa --- since I'm the planner, if I want to stay somewhere else, I get the price (for her) down to what she said. If she pays $200 a night and I pay $500 a night, that's how it is. Because she said how much she wanted to pay. Of course, she thinks we split it 50/50. Never. Can't compare a family of 4 and one grandparent and go 50/50. Always 60/30 at minimum.

First off...I agree with your thinking.

60/30 ??? Who pays the remaining 10%?