What would you do with $5k

[TwistGrl101]

If you had $5,000 set aside for vacation (like I do), would you take one vacation a year (ahem, Disney.) Or would you take several weekend trips instead (like Hershey, Baltimore, NYC, etc.)

 

[McKelly]

I would try for both. Try to cheap out a Disney trip and do several weekend trips too. LOL.

But, if that is not an option I would do one big trip. I always tell my family, it doesn't feel like vacation unless I cross state lines!!

 

[Dorisk3]

I would try to knock down the 5000 for Disney to 4000 and then take a few weekend trips with that money.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I would take five trips - one to WDW, four to Las Vegas. Of course, I'd be traveling solo, and I'd shop around, and I'd use Magical Express and the discount PIN I just got from Disney yesterday... and free/discounted rooms plus Friends & Family discounts plus sponge off (those same ) friends/family in Las Vegas.

 

[VAfamily1998]

Neither.

I'd go on one big trip somewhere else like Europe or Hawaii.

 

[Pakey]

I get an annual vacation bonus and I always use it towards one big trip. Last one was Egypt; upcoming one is Costa Rica. My only rule is that it has to be somewhere I've never been before.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I would reduce the days at Disney (we usually only do 4 or 5) and then take the money saved and use it for a long weekend someplace else.

That way I'd get 2 vacations which is much better than 1.

 

[drcmk]

For the four of us, that is usually the budget for one nice weeklong vacation including airfare, a rental house, food and entertainment. I'd go for one nice week.

 

[DawnM]

How many in your family? If you are alone, there is far more you can do than a family of 5 (like ours!)

I can do Disney for $1,500 for a week, sometimes even less if I plan well. Our last trip (early November) was probably the cheapest I have ever taken. It was $1,500 for two weeks. Now, I do Disney far differently than many.....we stay off-site, we drive, we use mostly our own food, etc....

Just saying, you may be able to do more than you think with that $5K.

Dawn

 

[S. C.]

What do you want to do?

 

[dancin Disney style]

We spend far less than $5K on disney trips.

We are a family of 4...my kids are both over 10. We stay between 11-14 days in a value room. Travel during value season and often get free dining. I use airmiles to get my multiday park tickets and only buy the minimum ticket to get the FD. We fly to MCO and use DME but rent a car for a couple of days to do some power shopping. So with this style of trip I usually spend around $3300 including tips and spending money.

There have been trips that I have spent a lot more money but I've since done my research and make it very affordable.

 

[ssawka]

Personally, I would buy more DVC points, but I know that's not for everybody!

 

[mrsklamc]

Multiple trips/places.

 

[phred52]

save it.

 

[blessedby3]

We are a family of 6 (all Disney adults, except for 1) and we do 9-10 nights at Disney, on property (value) for less than $5K. We go during free dining, no hoppers, value hotel. I would do a week or 10 days at Disney and a weekend trip or two somewhere else

 

[arthur06]

I think you could do both. Plan out a nice Disney trip, but not extravagant. Then use whatever is left over for a few weekend trips.


IF I had the $5,000 for this years trips, it would be spent like this...

Jan - Wisconsin Dells (indoor waterpark) 2br at Glacier Canyon (points rented from a Wyndham owner) 2 nights. Total for room and swimming = $230. About $60 for gas from where we live and $100 for food. Under $400 for our weekend (I already have this booked)

November - All-Inclusive week in Mexico $3,000. (will book this next spring or whenever I can find a great deal).

That would leave me about $1,500 for other weekend trips or a 5/6 day trip to Black Hills. We always get a camping cabin at KOA for those trips.

 

[Fjobe]

I would do Disney or a Disney Cruise! My husband would want to do 2 week long cheaper vacations.

 

[KennesawNemo]

I set $5k aside each year for vacations.

This year we have done:

1. 4 nights Carnival cruise to the Bahamas for our family of three. We drove to the port, spent only about $250 bucks on board, did free activities or walking tours on the ports of calls.

2. 5 nights mother and son trip to disney and sea world. We flied, stayed offsite, limited souvenir to $200.

I think overall we spent about $4500, more or less. The rest I am planning an overnight trip to a nearby location during Christmas time.

I think next year I will do a big trip only. I am planning on Montreal or Alaska cruise. I try not to do Disney World too much. Although my son has no problem just going back every year, I feel we need to take him to different places to broaden his view. This is just my personal preference though.

 

[POOHsie]

I love Disney as much as anyone else. But when raising my DD, we went to all sorts of places around the US. Civil War sites, Washington DC, the desert West and the Rockies, NYC, Williamsburg, Biltmore House in Ashville, NC, Monticello in Charlottesville, VA, Callaway Gardens, Andersonville Prison, Plains and rural Georgia, Niagara Falls, Toronto and Montreal, Canada.

I felt I increased my DD's education and confidence about the world and its people by exposing her to other people, other food, other points of view.

 

[lisaross]

I think it depends when your last "big" vacation was? HOw old are your kids if u have any...

I like to do a BIG vacation every 2 years or so and in between do a couple smaller ones..

If you had $5,000 set aside for vacation (like I do), would you take one vacation a year (ahem, Disney.) Or would you take several weekend trips instead (like Hershey, Baltimore, NYC, etc.)