Spin off of value of vacations--best vacation for the value or ...

[2littleprincesses]

What is the best vacation you have taken for the price? What did you do to save?

We are thinking of going to California (San Diego to San Francisco) next summer and here is what I am thinking:
-Apply for Southwest credit cards for dh and I--get 3 round trip flights--maybe more for free
-Use disney rewards to pay for at least one day at DLR
-Use other credit card rewards for rental car or hotels

What is your best vacation for the value?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Went to Yellowstone with a friend in 1991. We tent camped for free most nights and spent $50 each for gas (3,500 miles). Just over a week and I spent $2-300

 

[eliza61]

By far VEGAS!!

We got a absolutely gorgeous suite at the Bellegio one summer (yep, summer in the desert!!) for 179 bucks a night.
Then we were able to eat fantastic meals for on average 33 bucks for dinner. which included 2 alcoholic beverages, apps, entree and generally 1 dessert.

Vegas is great for me because they comp you so much stuff and I don't gamble so rarely do the make moeny off of me at that venue. Entertainment can be very cheap also. sure cirque du soliel is expensive but almost every casino has some type of really high quality lounge acts.

love that town, Vegas has spoiled me. Thanks why I will never pay oop to stay at disney. to charge folks 300-400 bucks a night and have the nerve to say those are deluxe resorts.

 

[blondietink]

I could be wrong, but I think if you read the fine print on the Southwest credit card offer, it says one per household/address.

Best vacation(s) ever/value: cruise
2nd best vacation ever/value: all-inclusive in Dominican Republic
3rd best vacation(s) ever/value: Vegas! Didn't gamble once, but went to the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, tons of Nevada State Parks, Las Vegas Speedway. So much to do within a short drive. Hotels are a bargain.

 

[runwad]

Our best $ vacation was our 2009 7 day Disney Cruise. I booked it right after the economy tanked in October of 2008, there was something about certain dates in June that would show up really low on the DCL site. I stalked that site for over 2 weeks and finally nailed one of the dates. For my family of 5 in 2 inside rooms the total was $3200. But then we also got offers in the mail from the Disney visa for a $200 disney gift card signing bonus. At that time you were able to have 3 disney visa's in your name. I had 3 and my DH signed up for 3, we got $1200 in bonus gc that I put towards the cruise. We canceled the cards after our cruise except for 1. Oh and then I had on board credits for transferring my reservation to a travel agency, I forget how much money but it paid the tips. So we paid 2k for that cruise for all 5 of us in two rooms, that was GREAT!!

 

[Sagginit]

countdown...

3) my 3 day weekend in lancaster PA a few years ago was a great deal. we went in fall, it was beautiful but got good savings on everything. i think i spent like $200-$300 for 2 nights in motels, food, gas, and attractions.

2) montreal when i was in college was also a cheaper road trip. four of us went so we split gas, tolls, and hotel. got a good deal at a nice hotel with AAA so it was $89 for 4 days/ 3 nights for each person! at the time the exchange rate was in our favor so everything there was cheaper. we also used our six flags season passes to get into a theme park there for free.

1) my stay in France in college. i got a scholarship so i only paid like $500 to the university for my three weeks there. out of pocket i spent about $500-$800 in shopping and extras.

i also have to say my two WDW trips were cheaper than vegas/AZ for me. i got cheap airfare and free dining both trips which was a huge help.