Would you rather...

[Ava]

Great trip! That's the age to do the backpacking through Europe trip - before you get too picky about accommodations.

Very true. In a few places we ended up in an apartment with a kitchen, which was great for the budget, so we experienced grocery shopping in a foreign country.

I wish I had traveled overseas when I was still single, but apparently I was too broke! I finally made it to Europe with my husband and kids in 2000, and returned in 2002, 2005, 2009, and 2010. Those weren't exactly cheap trips, but they were made possible because I got a lot of bang out of my travel bucks.

I want to take my kid(s) to Europe when they get old enough - and we have the money! Before our DD was born my partner & I belonged to a travel club that does really affordable trips. I love them because they are local to NY so all of their overseas trips include flights from JFK or LGA in the quoted price; other tour companies I've looked at don't include the flight which is usually the biggest chunk of your trip cost.

 

[ceecee]

I would rather do several budgets than one expensive trip! Disney for 9 days at the CS and then we do another 4-5 day trip closer to home where we can drive.

 

[DawnM]

I have to say I have always traveled somewhat cheap. When I was single I traveled a LOT.....and I would fly to Africa or Asia as a courier for the airlines. The entire ticket would be around $800 to Africa and around $400 to Asia.....and I got air miles which gave me a free ticket when I returned! Once I got stuck in Mauritious (Island off the coast of Madagascar) on my way from Singapore to Nairobi and the next flight out wasn't for an entire week. The airline put me up and paid for a very nice hotel on the beach and all meals included!

I always stayed with friends overseas and rarely did hotels, although I could find that inexpensively too if I needed to. BTW: I grew up overseas so traveling in places I am unfamiliar with are really second nature to me.

Now that I am married and have kids, it sure makes it harder to travel. I have gone to Asia since marrying, but I haven't been overseas other than that since buying a house and having babies.

I love my family but I miss those carefree days.

Dawn

 

[rockundergirl]

i would rather do a budget vacation then no vacation at all , how ever i would rather do a non budget vacation every second year instead of a budget one yearly. I always budget, to me vacation means a break from that.

 

[worker33]

Definitely budget vacation over no vacation! Some of my best vacations have been on a shoe-string. We're fortunate to enjoy BCV now....but ~15 years ago my wife and I came to Orlando when visiting my parents in Tampa........stayed at a $15 dollar/nt Comfort Inn on the Irlo Bronson...caught a shuttle to Disney (from the hotel next door)...had a blast at the park...(did some really unofficial disney pool hopping) ...stuffed ourselves at a Shoney's buffet...and collapsed in bed...


Real fun doesn't have to be expensive.

 

[Tiger926]

I would take more budget vacations for sure, but since I'm a teacher, I'm restricted with travel in the first place.

That being said, the first few years of owning DVC, we ate Deluxe Dining Plan and splurged on all kinds of things, that we didn't need. We never cooked in our villa either. Now, we are at a more simplistic phase in our lives, and we have started to cook more in our villa, and love it! With what we are saving on food, we have added more things to our budget: museum annual pass and a trip to Hilton Head Island for March. We also added a few days at Vero Beach at the end of our stay last month, and it was relatively inexpensive too.

Tiger

 

[Vijoge]

I think budget doesn't necessarily mean cheap/shabby/etc and luxury doesn't necessarily mean expensive. The key is to shop around and find those deals that make a luxurious vacation as inexpensive as possible.

And everyone has different levels of tolerance as to what is acceptable luxury. My former husband was of the mind that a Motel 6 was as luxurious as he intended to get and was, in fact, the height of waste and extravagance. My present DH dreams of an around the world cruise in a veranda cabin. He doesn't require a suite LOL.

But we also camp, and get great hotel deals on Priceline. I always look for bargains. I almost never pay full price for anything.

To me, a budget vacation is planning the best possible vacation I can with the recources I have available at the time. Some of my budget vacations have been quite luxurious.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I'd have to say I'm very picky about my vacations. I'd rather not take a vacation for a few months and save the money up for longer until I can afford what I like. I need nice hotels,eating meals out and room service. Well I don't need-need it, but I like it.

Unfortunately for us, it would mean waiting years to save, not months. As it is, we haven't done a big vacation (wdw is big to us) since 2005. And the kids won't stop getting older, so it's budget for us. I like nice hotels and room service as much as the next girl, but I guess right now, it's just not in the cards for me.

 

[NancyIL]

I think budget doesn't necessarily mean cheap/shabby/etc and luxury doesn't necessarily mean expensive. The key is to shop around and find those deals that make a luxurious vacation as inexpensive as possible.

And everyone has different levels of tolerance as to what is acceptable luxury. My former husband was of the mind that a Motel 6 was as luxurious as he intended to get and was, in fact, the height of waste and extravagance. My present DH dreams of an around the world cruise in a veranda cabin. He doesn't require a suite LOL.

But we also camp, and get great hotel deals on Priceline. I always look for bargains. I almost never pay full price for anything.

To me, a budget vacation is planning the best possible vacation I can with the recources I have available at the time. Some of my budget vacations have been quite luxurious.

Well said!