What vacation $$ amount makes you squirm?

[4HppyCamprs]

Apparently 5k is my squirm point and I really prefer to break that down into all the different components so I don't actually have to see that number as a lump sum. It is a mental thing I suppose.

I guess this cruise cost more but I didn't have to see the lump sum...

 

[disneymagicgirl]

We like to stay in the $5-6K range for our family of 5. Sometimes we spend more (DCL) sometimes we spend less. This coming Sept we have BC for $3500 for 10 nights and 8 day hoppers. Of course, that doesn't include food yet, and flights will be on points, but great deal none the less.

 

[lauradis]

Every time we spend more then our mortgage payment
which is less then 1k

my brain goes why you could have done x and x with that money. whine whine.. the fun voices in my head say shut up....

yep I need help

 

[TravelMommy]

I try to justify that we go every other year so "just" $2500/year, it sounds better, right??? Lol!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

For me, a lot of it has to do with all the years there were little to no vacation expenses. When DW and I got married, gas was less than a buck a gallon, so driving anywhere was cheap. And then before the kids came, I spent a lot of years traveling for work to the point I racked up not only free flights, but also free hotel stays - I no longer get either. And back then there were just the 2 of us to feed. Our first was born in 2000 and other than one long weekend w/o her, we just didn't travel again until 2004. Second DD arrived in 2005 and shut down our travel again. First family trip with all 4 was 2009, and it was the first time we REALLY struggled with the budget. 2010 we took a big family vacation paid for by my parents, 2011 a relatively cheap 4-day vacation with all of us only 8 hours from home. The $3,100 we spent on Disney in 2012 wasn't just the most we'd ever spent on a trip, it was more than double any prior trip. This past year, we dropped about $2,500 on a road trip/waterpark visit. Way more than we had wanted to spend, but having previously spent the $3,100 at Disney, it softened the blow somewhat As time has gone on, what we're willing to spend has crept upward. But, all those years we got off cheap have made this a definite "adjustment" to say the least

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

For me it's anything over 5K for our family of four. Once we start getting above 6K, I begin to think thoughts like "we could buy a CAR for that amount of money!" (not a great car, but at least something that would run!!). Luckily, we've been able to stay under that thus far, but we do want to do an Alaskan cruise here in a couple of years, and I know that's going to cost us. Even if we can afford it-- over 5K seems like a huge chunk of change to drop in a week or two. Anyone else have a vacation $$ amount that makes them squirm?

When we did our DCL/ Universal trip , 2 years ago, we came in just under $10,000. Thats for 2 adults, 2 kids.

I was looking at going to Beaches T&C this summer. For the 4 of us for a week we were looking again at close to $10,000.
That makes me cringe.

DH said we can do a kids vacation and an adults only vacation for about the same price or less. Thats what we're doing.

Our yearly vacation budget is $10,000-12,000 so I hate to spend it all on one trip and sit here the rest of the year.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I try to justify that we go every other year so "just" $2500/year, it sounds better, right??? Lol!

Do you go anywhere else in the off years? We are now trying to do something every year, but are trying to do "cheaper" stuff for a year or two before reverting back to "pricey" stuff every 2nd or 3rd year (be it Disney or whatever).

 

[powellrj]

With a weekend trip, anything over $1,000 makes me think twice. For a week long trip my number is $5,000. BUT, that is just for DH and I. For a family trip, I just close my eyes and hope for the best!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I hate to spend it all on one trip and sit here the rest of the year.

That's a kicker for us, too. Our last "vacation" was in July, but since then DW and I have taken a couple weekend getaways (close to home) and took the kids on a 3-day weekend a few hours away. We also had a short beach trip planned over New Years that we ultimately cancelled due to 40 degree weather at the beach None of those were terribly expensive on their own, but they do add up. And if we blow the whole wad on a single week in June, it'll be a LONG wait for the following June

 

[Handbag Lady]

I would say the $8-10K would make me cringe.


We use discounts wisely and really do need to get on the "miles" bandwagon for flights, but we haven't yet.

I prefer to stay in the $5k range as that is what we budget for each year. Then, we each have our own spending money and surprises that generally take us to $6-7k and I'm very comfortable with that one.

We've been looking at Bali or Bora Bora but we just can't swing that price tag yet. I don't wish to do a budget trip there, as it really would be our one time going. There are just so many places to see and so few years left in which to do them! I just can't imagine NOT getting an over-the-ocean room as compared to a garden room at the same resort, for example. I WANT to wake up looking at fish in that bright blue ocean, jumping off the side of the cottage in my PJs straight into the water.

 

[wallawallakids]

For me it is $10. Most of our trips to Disney for our family of 6 run us about $7-10/week. We usually only do one trip a year and then a few weeks camping in the summer. For a family of our size, going anywhere just costs us more money than I wish it did. Airfare alone normally runs us around $2000 for the 6 of us. Being limited by the "school" schedule doesn't help us. Airfare always goes up around here every time the kids are out of school. (And as tempted as I am at times to pull them out of school when I see how much less it would be to fly, I never have. I always feel too guilty about them missing school time. So travel at peak times, we do!)

We really want to take the kids to Europe in two years. (Would also love to go back to Hawaii with them and Alaska too at some point). Those are going to be way over my squirm point.

My husband on the other hand could spend over $20K and still be fine with it. He is much more of a "no price can be put on the experience" guy. Luckily, he has me and I whittle away every single thing until it is as low as I can get it. (He says I take the fun out of it! ) Might be slightly true, but I can't see money flying out the window like that and not react. I try to point out to him, it's why we have savings! Don't get me wrong, he is very good at saving money out of his paycheck and putting it into his retirement and buying stocks but actual cash, when he has it, he will spend, spend, spend. So he really should thank me.

 

[mommabo]

For me it's anything over 5K for our family of four. Once we start getting above 6K, I begin to think thoughts like "we could buy a CAR for that amount of money!" (not a great car, but at least something that would run!!). Luckily, we've been able to stay under that thus far, but we do want to do an Alaskan cruise here in a couple of years, and I know that's going to cost us. Even if we can afford it-- over 5K seems like a huge chunk of change to drop in a week or two. Anyone else have a vacation $$ amount that makes them squirm?

When our youngest was about 5, we upped our family vacation budget and length of stay. Prior to that it was always, someplace we could drive, or with Grandparents renting a condo, no more than 6-7 days, the cost was never over 1K. But for the past 8-9 years, for our family of 5, total cost for a yearly vacation for 7-10 days is usually 2-3K. Our 1 WDW 10 day stay and 2 Disney cruises were 3.5-5K. Twice we did break 10K on our 14+ day vacations to Hawaii and Alaska. Keep in mind, we rarely pay for air costs as my DH travels for work and racks up the SW points, so most of my planning centers around where SW goes. Needless to say, our Hawaii and Alaska costs were higher because we had to add in airfare.

While we love disney, my goal is to show my kids as much of the country and as much variety as we can. So far in addition to Disney, we've covered San Francisco, Seattle, Alaska, Hawaii, Cape Cod, Washington DC, Santa Fe, Grand Canyon, and this year New Orleans.

Oldest in college now, with two soon to follow, but so far they still want to travel with us. So a few more US cities (I'm looking at you NYC and maybe Yellowstone or Bad Lands) then I think we will tackle Europe and the rest of the world. Wonder if the kids will have outgrown traveling with the parents by then? Hope so, that could get too costly for us. Of course I could do what my parents did and rent a condo/house somewhere and tell them, they are free to join us, but they have to get themselves there.

 

[lcj19]

My squirm point is different for each vacation. I take into consideration what we will be seeing and doing, the amount of time we will be gone for, and then the amount.
For DLP 4 days I cringe at $2000.
WDW $7000 (2 weeks)
Mediterranean Cruise 7nights with excursions and flights (I live in Europe) $7000
10 night UK Cruise $7000
Weekend in Paris $500

I doubt I will be willing to spend this much on trips once we are back living in the states, but for now we really want to take advantage of our time here cause it gets expensive for overseas flights.

 

[Marionnette]

For me it is $10. Most of our trips to Disney for our family of 6 run us about $7-10/week. We usually only do one trip a year and then a few weeks camping in the summer. For a family of our size, going anywhere just costs us more money than I wish it did. Airfare alone normally runs us around $2000 for the 6 of us. Being limited by the "school" schedule doesn't help us. Airfare always goes up around here every time the kids are out of school. (And as tempted as I am at times to pull them out of school when I see how much less it would be to fly, I never have. I always feel too guilty about them missing school time. So travel at peak times, we do!)

We really want to take the kids to Europe in two years. (Would also love to go back to Hawaii with them and Alaska too at some point). Those are going to be way over my squirm point.

My husband on the other hand could spend over $20K and still be fine with it. He is much more of a "no price can be put on the experience" guy. Luckily, he has me and I whittle away every single thing until it is as low as I can get it. (He says I take the fun out of it! ) Might be slightly true, but I can't see money flying out the window like that and not react. I try to point out to him, it's why we have savings! Don't get me wrong, he is very good at saving money out of his paycheck and putting it into his retirement and buying stocks but actual cash, when he has it, he will spend, spend, spend. So he really should thank me.

How do you manage Disney on $7-$10 per week? I'm guessing that there are a few zeros missing but if there aren't, I want to know your secret!

We also have tipping points for vacation costs but that point moves based on the number of us who are going, where we are going and for how long. I have no qualms going into 5 figures to pay for a cruise in Europe but would cringe at that amount for a Disney trip. However, Europe is a once every 4-5 years trip right now. Disney is almost an annual thing.

 

[Judique]

10-12K per year.

I do think that I get a lot of mileage out of that amount.

Travel party ranges from one to five. When there are five others are kicking in some cash, paying for a meal here and there,etc.

I think the biggest expenses are the weekend trips - 1K to go to the beach for 2 nights in summer, $1500 for 2 nights in NYC.

My Disney trips are pretty good deals using DVC points(bought 14 years ago) and annual pass.

 

[wallawallakids]

How do you manage Disney on $7-$10 per week? I'm guessing that there are a few zeros missing but if there aren't, I want to know your secret!

We also have tipping points for vacation costs but that point moves based on the number of us who are going, where we are going and for how long. I have no qualms going into 5 figures to pay for a cruise in Europe but would cringe at that amount for a Disney trip. However, Europe is a once every 4-5 years trip right now. Disney is almost an annual thing.

Nope. No extra 00s. I hunt every single discount I can get. Right now our trip to DL this February for 1 week is going to cost me $8196.36. (I am annoying and count every cent.) Here is how I have it broken down, if you are interested.

Food at the Airport: $80
Food at DL: $1450 ( this includes tips. Breakfast in room/ 1 CS and 1 TS a day)
Hotel: $2583.36 (2 standard rooms at the DLH)
tickets:$1968 (this is 5 day PH and a 1 day single park of all of us)
spending $: $400 (Not sure I will use all this, we actually do not buy much in the parks.)
stroller: $100 (My son is visually impaired and we need this to walk him through crowds)
Driver to/from airport: $170
Photopass +: $69
Airfare: $1000 (had some miles)
Tips for housecleaning: $36
Fantasmic Desert seating: $340

Total: $8196.36

I go though all the menus in advance and look at what my kids might order and come up with a food budget for each day. Hotels are usually our biggest expense next to ticket prices. February is off season for DLR, so we got a really great room price. I could save about $700 staying off site but we like being on property if we can. I could also save by cutting out a few TS meals, but I really enjoy one a day, so I try to keep that in. The $$ we spent for the desert seating was kinda stupid but it is my DD's 12th birthday and she loves fantasmic, so I splurged for her. I think it will be a nice surprise. The other area I could have gotten lower were the tickets. Disneyland only goes up to 5 day passes. I added an extra 1 day ticket on which was around $600 more for the 6 of us. Kinda stupid, but we don't go out there much and I can't see flying all that way and not doing anything on one whole day, so we splurged again and did it. I can usually get WDW price less than DL just because there are so many more options and a lot more discounts. My advice is always to book, and then keep hunting. I changed our hotel reservations 3 times. Sure it is annoying but each time I saved a little bit more. I also changed hotels. My first booking was with the spring savings at DLH, then a discount came out for the grand that was less than DLH, so I switched, then the DD rate came out for DLH that was less again, so I switched again. I keep checking up until we leave for a trip. Lastly, a package plan has never saved me money so I rarely do it. I can usually get a much better price playing everything separately. Even if there is free dinning. Lots of people swear by free dining but when I add up the costs it never is a deal for our family.

 

[Marionnette]

Nope. No extra 00s. I hunt every single discount I can get. Right now our trip to DL this February for 1 week is going to cost me $8196.36. (I am annoying and count every cent.) Here is how I have it broken down, if you are interested.

Food at the Airport: $80
Food at DL: $1450 ( this includes tips. Breakfast in room/ 1 CS and 1 TS a day)
Hotel: $2583.36 (2 standard rooms at the DLH)
tickets:$1968 (this is 5 day PH and a 1 day single park of all of us)
spending $: $400 (Not sure I will use all this, we actually do not buy much in the parks.)
stroller: $100 (My son is visually impaired and we need this to walk him through crowds)
Driver to/from airport: $170
Photopass +: $69
Airfare: $1000 (had some miles)
Tips for housecleaning: $36
Fantasmic Desert seating: $340

Total: $8196.36

I go though all the menus in advance and look at what my kids might order and come up with a food budget for each day. Hotels are usually our biggest expense next to ticket prices. February is off season for DLR, so we got a really great room price. I could save about $700 staying off site but we like being on property if we can. I could also save by cutting out a few TS meals, but I really enjoy one a day, so I try to keep that in. The $$ we spent for the desert seating was kinda stupid but it is my DD's 12th birthday and she loves fantasmic, so I splurged for her. I think it will be a nice surprise. The other area I could have gotten lower were the tickets. Disneyland only goes up to 5 day passes. I added an extra 1 day ticket on which was around $600 more for the 6 of us. Kinda stupid, but we don't go out there much and I can't see flying all that way and not doing anything on one whole day, so we splurged again and did it. I can usually get WDW price less than DL just because there are so many more options and a lot more discounts. My advice is always to book, and then keep hunting. I changed our hotel reservations 3 times. Sure it is annoying but each time I saved a little bit more. I also changed hotels. My first booking was with the spring savings at DLH, then a discount came out for the grand that was less than DLH, so I switched, then the DD rate came out for DLH that was less again, so I switched again. I keep checking up until we leave for a trip. Lastly, a package plan has never saved me money so I rarely do it. I can usually get a much better price playing everything separately. Even if there is free dinning. Lots of people swear by free dining but when I add up the costs it never is a deal for our family.

Unless that is a 1000-week vacation, your math is off. It isn't $7-$10 for the week it is closer to $7,000-$10,000 for the week!

 

[wallawallakids]

Unless that is a 1000-week vacation, your math is off. It isn't $7-$10 for the week it is closer to $7,000-$10,000 for the week!

Sorry, thought that was obvious. Meant 7-10k

 

[married2mm]

My scary sum is over $12k,this includes all our costs-4 of us from UK.

Our first trip,there were 5 of us,and cost around $6k,and I recall at the time being horrified over such a huge amount for 2 weeks vacation-how times have changed

Sadly,our income has not risen to such a great extent,so next year $6k maybe our squirmy point once more.

 

[blanq]

I actually was recently just contemplating this very thing as I laid out the four trips we will be taking this year. It is just DH and me. Our 20 year old is now living on his own and does not travel with us anymore. I prefer to keep our vacation costs to about $3500. When we reach $7000, I do begin to squirm. We took a 2 week cruise last March, and a 2 week trip to Hawaii in 2011, and both cost right around $7K, which honestly kind of took my breath away. We do have a 2 week trip to Maui planned for later this year, and I am sure it will be about $8K. We have a trip to WDW yet this month, and that will be about $3500. In March we will be in Palm Springs for 10 days, but we stay in my parents condo, so it's mainly airfare and eating out; it will probably be about $2000 or under. Last we will take a 2 week driving trip to Colorado this summer, and I am hoping to stay around $3500 for that. I don't like adding it all up! But, the trips and costs are spread throughout the year so manageable for us.