How is everyone affording all of this international travel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone mentioning points always neglect that there's always taxes and fees you still have to pay, especially for flights. 12,000 points plus $400 in tax and fees is typical for a cheap points ticket on economy to London using British Airways and Virgin as examples. Using one cent to the point, it's marginally cheaper than booking with cash. So the 50,000 points plus $200 in taxes and fees if flying to Paris or Amsterdam on KLM also isn't as great of a deal either (all assuming you use cash back as the alternative use for points).

But points can get you good deals on hotels.

OP, I have always traveled even when a broke grad student. I make a good income now but I still travel frugally. It's easy to travel cheaply in Europe while still having a good trip. The cost of living is so high in the US that a two week in Europe is partially offset by savings on consumption in the US during those two weeks. Most people traveling internationally are paying for it out of income, not family money or whatever. It’s a blend of salary and budgets. To be in the top 10% of wage earners in the US you need a salary of around $165k, and anyone making $100k+ can make an international trip happen, so assume at least 20% of Americans can afford to travel overseas. That is a lot of people.

Last but not least, flights have never been as cheap as they are now. I can buy round trip tickets to Europe slightly off season for $550 if booking far enough in advance. That is what we were paying for tickets to London 30 years ago!

I just booked round trip business from the US to New Zealand/Australia and the taxes were $75 per per person per leg, so $300 total. Cash value was ~$6500 a ticket. No one is using CPP on economy tickets.

And how many points was it? You conveniently left that off. And then compare the points + fees with the cost of an economy ticket, as that is the starting point for most people.

I'm glancing at the points calculators, business tickets to Europe typically have tax/fees starting at 500 each way. On top of 150k points. One airline seems to buck the trend and that is United, with much lower fees both economy and business, but much higher points required too. So it's a wash. Because if you're being honest, what you're probably doing is paying the cost of an economy ticket to fly business.

You can get better deals if booking much further out, 12 months, instead of six or so, but it does mean significant commitment long in advance.

It was 166k each round trip. No one is paying $400 in taxes and fees to flying to Europe unless you’re flying business with Flying Blue. Book a flight through a partner that doesn’t pass along fuel charges. I’ve never paid more than ~$70 per person per leg to fly business Europe.

I am looking at reward calculators. Virgin round trip to London from DC in March is 12k points plus $440. For economy. Upper class is well over a thousand. FlyBlue is over $600 for Amsterdam or Paris in business plus 300k+ points.

United is 305k points round trip plus $384 in business. For economy it is 71k points plus $214.

Virgin and Flying Blue pass along fuel surcharges. Here are a bunch of random upcoming business class flights I just found. DCA-JFK-LHR on AA for 70k+$5.60. IAD to DUB on Aer Lingus Via Alaska for 45k+$19. IAD to MUC On Lufthansa via Air Canada for 70k+$56. Maybe if you spent less time being smug and more time learning the hobby you'd understand how wrong you are.

You are quite hostile and rude. I looked at the reward booking options across multiple airlines and still can't find these amazing flight deals. You mentioned AA, and random midweek dates in March is still showing me 115k points plus $1,889 for business class. Next July is 410k points though taxes and fees is only $427. You didn't tell us the dates you're using so I'm guessing those are a year out?

I have spent hours plotting and strategizing these possible flights and am just not seeing these fabulous deals.

NP and I find AA miles really hard to use, especially for international travel and with multiple people. I inadvertently let my last 40k AAdvantage miles expire from inactivity and don't have the energy to call to try to find some way to earn them back, it just doesn't seem worth it. IIRC you can sometimes have better success calling them to book because not all of the eligible partner airlines are available for online booking, unless that's changed.

In general international business travel is a hard way to use points IME. It’s the goal for most people but I guess that’s why it’s so hard - demand has gotten a lot higher and most flights only have 6-8 business seats that release at the “saver” points price.

I do love AA for domestic points though. We can fly to AZ or CA for 7500-10k points each way. We’ve flown to see family in VT for 5500 points each way. I keep trying to use AA points for the Caribbean but unless you want crazy bad layovers the points prices are very high.

I agree, but so many posters are claiming on here that that is how they are able to travel so much internationally, by using points.

I have used points to travel internationally in J/F at least once a year every single year since 2014. It might be difficult for some people but it isn’t for everyone.

During peak school break periods with 4 or more seats? I highly doubt it. If it’s true, then either share how you do it, or keep it to yourself if you aren’t willing to share.

Plan in advance or close in, be flexible, and set alerts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone mentioning points always neglect that there's always taxes and fees you still have to pay, especially for flights. 12,000 points plus $400 in tax and fees is typical for a cheap points ticket on economy to London using British Airways and Virgin as examples. Using one cent to the point, it's marginally cheaper than booking with cash. So the 50,000 points plus $200 in taxes and fees if flying to Paris or Amsterdam on KLM also isn't as great of a deal either (all assuming you use cash back as the alternative use for points).

But points can get you good deals on hotels.

OP, I have always traveled even when a broke grad student. I make a good income now but I still travel frugally. It's easy to travel cheaply in Europe while still having a good trip. The cost of living is so high in the US that a two week in Europe is partially offset by savings on consumption in the US during those two weeks. Most people traveling internationally are paying for it out of income, not family money or whatever. It’s a blend of salary and budgets. To be in the top 10% of wage earners in the US you need a salary of around $165k, and anyone making $100k+ can make an international trip happen, so assume at least 20% of Americans can afford to travel overseas. That is a lot of people.

Last but not least, flights have never been as cheap as they are now. I can buy round trip tickets to Europe slightly off season for $550 if booking far enough in advance. That is what we were paying for tickets to London 30 years ago!

I just booked round trip business from the US to New Zealand/Australia and the taxes were $75 per per person per leg, so $300 total. Cash value was ~$6500 a ticket. No one is using CPP on economy tickets.

And how many points was it? You conveniently left that off. And then compare the points + fees with the cost of an economy ticket, as that is the starting point for most people.

I'm glancing at the points calculators, business tickets to Europe typically have tax/fees starting at 500 each way. On top of 150k points. One airline seems to buck the trend and that is United, with much lower fees both economy and business, but much higher points required too. So it's a wash. Because if you're being honest, what you're probably doing is paying the cost of an economy ticket to fly business.

You can get better deals if booking much further out, 12 months, instead of six or so, but it does mean significant commitment long in advance.

It was 166k each round trip. No one is paying $400 in taxes and fees to flying to Europe unless you’re flying business with Flying Blue. Book a flight through a partner that doesn’t pass along fuel charges. I’ve never paid more than ~$70 per person per leg to fly business Europe.

I am looking at reward calculators. Virgin round trip to London from DC in March is 12k points plus $440. For economy. Upper class is well over a thousand. FlyBlue is over $600 for Amsterdam or Paris in business plus 300k+ points.

United is 305k points round trip plus $384 in business. For economy it is 71k points plus $214.

Virgin and Flying Blue pass along fuel surcharges. Here are a bunch of random upcoming business class flights I just found. DCA-JFK-LHR on AA for 70k+$5.60. IAD to DUB on Aer Lingus Via Alaska for 45k+$19. IAD to MUC On Lufthansa via Air Canada for 70k+$56. Maybe if you spent less time being smug and more time learning the hobby you'd understand how wrong you are.

You are quite hostile and rude. I looked at the reward booking options across multiple airlines and still can't find these amazing flight deals. You mentioned AA, and random midweek dates in March is still showing me 115k points plus $1,889 for business class. Next July is 410k points though taxes and fees is only $427. You didn't tell us the dates you're using so I'm guessing those are a year out?

I have spent hours plotting and strategizing these possible flights and am just not seeing these fabulous deals.

NP and I find AA miles really hard to use, especially for international travel and with multiple people. I inadvertently let my last 40k AAdvantage miles expire from inactivity and don't have the energy to call to try to find some way to earn them back, it just doesn't seem worth it. IIRC you can sometimes have better success calling them to book because not all of the eligible partner airlines are available for online booking, unless that's changed.

In general international business travel is a hard way to use points IME. It’s the goal for most people but I guess that’s why it’s so hard - demand has gotten a lot higher and most flights only have 6-8 business seats that release at the “saver” points price.

I do love AA for domestic points though. We can fly to AZ or CA for 7500-10k points each way. We’ve flown to see family in VT for 5500 points each way. I keep trying to use AA points for the Caribbean but unless you want crazy bad layovers the points prices are very high.

I agree, but so many posters are claiming on here that that is how they are able to travel so much internationally, by using points.

I have used points to travel internationally in J/F at least once a year every single year since 2014. It might be difficult for some people but it isn’t for everyone.

During peak school break periods with 4 or more seats? I highly doubt it. If it’s true, then either share how you do it, or keep it to yourself if you aren’t willing to share.

Not that PP, but we have flown business 4 times to Europe using miles in summer in the last 10 years, with a family of 4. Use credit card bonuses. We have gone business outbound on the overnight, and economy on the daytime returns.

1. First one was on American, it was 110k/person originally, and then 4 days before departure, savers for 58k/person opened up on the same flights, had to pay around $300 to change, but saved 200k miles.

2. Second one was on American, in November of the year before they opened up a massive amount of business saver inventory for the upcoming summer for about 2 days. Booked an okay itinerary, and then a few months later got an itinerary change and moved to a better itinerary- later departure to maximize sleep.

3. Third one was in summer 2022, booked 9 months before, when travel was still pretty iffy, young kids hadn't had shots yet, you still needed to test negative to board a flight back to the US. Flew Virgin to London, booked through Air France (lower fees) for 60k+$200/person, there was a transfer bonus from Amex so it was only 50k Amex points per person. This was a matter of good timing, got lucky that demand was still pretty low in late 2021, so there was good availability. By June 2022 they removed the testing requirement so that made things a lot easier for the trip.

4. Last one was booked at schedule open, a full 11.5 months in advance, Air France but cost 90k/person+ $200. Usually best you can get on AF is 60k one way for business, but that's really hard to find, and I knew 90k was good and probably wasn't gonna get any better. I kept checking later and it never went below 130k/person.

Those are all one way mileage costs, we got econ awards back for usually around 30k/person.

It's getting harder every year, and definitely takes work and knowing how it all works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone mentioning points always neglect that there's always taxes and fees you still have to pay, especially for flights. 12,000 points plus $400 in tax and fees is typical for a cheap points ticket on economy to London using British Airways and Virgin as examples. Using one cent to the point, it's marginally cheaper than booking with cash. So the 50,000 points plus $200 in taxes and fees if flying to Paris or Amsterdam on KLM also isn't as great of a deal either (all assuming you use cash back as the alternative use for points).

But points can get you good deals on hotels.

OP, I have always traveled even when a broke grad student. I make a good income now but I still travel frugally. It's easy to travel cheaply in Europe while still having a good trip. The cost of living is so high in the US that a two week in Europe is partially offset by savings on consumption in the US during those two weeks. Most people traveling internationally are paying for it out of income, not family money or whatever. It’s a blend of salary and budgets. To be in the top 10% of wage earners in the US you need a salary of around $165k, and anyone making $100k+ can make an international trip happen, so assume at least 20% of Americans can afford to travel overseas. That is a lot of people.

Last but not least, flights have never been as cheap as they are now. I can buy round trip tickets to Europe slightly off season for $550 if booking far enough in advance. That is what we were paying for tickets to London 30 years ago!

I just booked round trip business from the US to New Zealand/Australia and the taxes were $75 per per person per leg, so $300 total. Cash value was ~$6500 a ticket. No one is using CPP on economy tickets.

And how many points was it? You conveniently left that off. And then compare the points + fees with the cost of an economy ticket, as that is the starting point for most people.

I'm glancing at the points calculators, business tickets to Europe typically have tax/fees starting at 500 each way. On top of 150k points. One airline seems to buck the trend and that is United, with much lower fees both economy and business, but much higher points required too. So it's a wash. Because if you're being honest, what you're probably doing is paying the cost of an economy ticket to fly business.

You can get better deals if booking much further out, 12 months, instead of six or so, but it does mean significant commitment long in advance.

It was 166k each round trip. No one is paying $400 in taxes and fees to flying to Europe unless you’re flying business with Flying Blue. Book a flight through a partner that doesn’t pass along fuel charges. I’ve never paid more than ~$70 per person per leg to fly business Europe.

I am looking at reward calculators. Virgin round trip to London from DC in March is 12k points plus $440. For economy. Upper class is well over a thousand. FlyBlue is over $600 for Amsterdam or Paris in business plus 300k+ points.

United is 305k points round trip plus $384 in business. For economy it is 71k points plus $214.

Virgin and Flying Blue pass along fuel surcharges. Here are a bunch of random upcoming business class flights I just found. DCA-JFK-LHR on AA for 70k+$5.60. IAD to DUB on Aer Lingus Via Alaska for 45k+$19. IAD to MUC On Lufthansa via Air Canada for 70k+$56. Maybe if you spent less time being smug and more time learning the hobby you'd understand how wrong you are.

You are quite hostile and rude. I looked at the reward booking options across multiple airlines and still can't find these amazing flight deals. You mentioned AA, and random midweek dates in March is still showing me 115k points plus $1,889 for business class. Next July is 410k points though taxes and fees is only $427. You didn't tell us the dates you're using so I'm guessing those are a year out?

I have spent hours plotting and strategizing these possible flights and am just not seeing these fabulous deals.

NP and I find AA miles really hard to use, especially for international travel and with multiple people. I inadvertently let my last 40k AAdvantage miles expire from inactivity and don't have the energy to call to try to find some way to earn them back, it just doesn't seem worth it. IIRC you can sometimes have better success calling them to book because not all of the eligible partner airlines are available for online booking, unless that's changed.

In general international business travel is a hard way to use points IME. It’s the goal for most people but I guess that’s why it’s so hard - demand has gotten a lot higher and most flights only have 6-8 business seats that release at the “saver” points price.

I do love AA for domestic points though. We can fly to AZ or CA for 7500-10k points each way. We’ve flown to see family in VT for 5500 points each way. I keep trying to use AA points for the Caribbean but unless you want crazy bad layovers the points prices are very high.

I agree, but so many posters are claiming on here that that is how they are able to travel so much internationally, by using points.

I have used points to travel internationally in J/F at least once a year every single year since 2014. It might be difficult for some people but it isn’t for everyone.

During peak school break periods with 4 or more seats? I highly doubt it. If it’s true, then either share how you do it, or keep it to yourself if you aren’t willing to share.

Not that PP, but we have flown business 4 times to Europe using miles in summer in the last 10 years, with a family of 4. Use credit card bonuses. We have gone business outbound on the overnight, and economy on the daytime returns.

1. First one was on American, it was 110k/person originally, and then 4 days before departure, savers for 58k/person opened up on the same flights, had to pay around $300 to change, but saved 200k miles.

2. Second one was on American, in November of the year before they opened up a massive amount of business saver inventory for the upcoming summer for about 2 days. Booked an okay itinerary, and then a few months later got an itinerary change and moved to a better itinerary- later departure to maximize sleep.

3. Third one was in summer 2022, booked 9 months before, when travel was still pretty iffy, young kids hadn't had shots yet, you still needed to test negative to board a flight back to the US. Flew Virgin to London, booked through Air France (lower fees) for 60k+$200/person, there was a transfer bonus from Amex so it was only 50k Amex points per person. This was a matter of good timing, got lucky that demand was still pretty low in late 2021, so there was good availability. By June 2022 they removed the testing requirement so that made things a lot easier for the trip.

4. Last one was booked at schedule open, a full 11.5 months in advance, Air France but cost 90k/person+ $200. Usually best you can get on AF is 60k one way for business, but that's really hard to find, and I knew 90k was good and probably wasn't gonna get any better. I kept checking later and it never went below 130k/person.

Those are all one way mileage costs, we got econ awards back for usually around 30k/person.

It's getting harder every year, and definitely takes work and knowing how it all works.

Actually one of those returns was in premium economy on United because it was only 15k/person more than economy booking 11 months in advance. That was the one for summer 2022, so definitely still taking advantage of lower demand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do at least 3 trips a year and we...

1) have only one kid
2) live in a much smaller home than a lot of our friends, so our housing costs are so much lower
3) play the credit card points game
4) prioritize travel expenses over other non-essentials

#2 and 3 are the most important to being able to afford travel

This is our formula for 3 annual trips: summer (domestic beach house—cost shared with relatives); winter break (Caribbean/LatAm); and spring break (international). HHI is mid-$500k. No family wealth subsidizing us:

-Only child is in public school.

-We’ve stayed in our modest Bethesda starter home in (w/ a very low interest rate and monthly payment) although our income could easily justify a purchase at least 2x value.

-We enjoy occasional fine dining and I do spend regularly on beauty services and products (hair, nails, skincare, makeup), but no cosmetic derm.

-No high-end designer clothes/bags/shoes (Anthropologie, J. McLaughlin, Everlane, etc. is about the most I’m willing to spend on clothes). DH spends even less. No high end jewelry, etc.

-One nicer, newer car with a reasonable payment; one older, less exciting car nearly paid off.

- Aggressive college and retirement savings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do at least 3 trips a year and we...

1) have only one kid
2) live in a much smaller home than a lot of our friends, so our housing costs are so much lower
3) play the credit card points game
4) prioritize travel expenses over other non-essentials

#2 and 3 are the most important to being able to afford travel

This is our formula for 3 annual trips: summer (domestic beach house—cost shared with relatives); winter break (Caribbean/LatAm); and spring break (international). HHI is mid-$500k. No family wealth subsidizing us:

-Only child is in public school.

-We’ve stayed in our modest Bethesda starter home in (w/ a very low interest rate and monthly payment) although our income could easily justify a purchase at least 2x value.

-We enjoy occasional fine dining and I do spend regularly on beauty services and products (hair, nails, skincare, makeup), but no cosmetic derm.

-No high-end designer clothes/bags/shoes (Anthropologie, J. McLaughlin, Everlane, etc. is about the most I’m willing to spend on clothes). DH spends even less. No high end jewelry, etc.

-One nicer, newer car with a reasonable payment; one older, less exciting car nearly paid off.

- Aggressive college and retirement savings.

I mean, this is your answer right here. You wouldn't have so much disposable income to devote to travel if you earned only $300k, right? So many of you pride yoursleves in being so frugal but plenty of Americans also drive Hondas and live in small houses, etc., you're not really doing anything special. You just have more disposable income to start with so there's mpney leftover once your essentials are met.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Domestic travel just isn't that much cheaper.

True. But when I was growing up on a middle class income even domestic travel was unusual. UMC DC families take 2-3 trips a year that would be “once in a lifetime” trips for median income families.

Agree- I grew up very middle class in the Midwest and even something like Disney (which wasn't nearly as expensive as it is now), the Grand Canyon, or a beach trip to the Carolinas was kind of a big deal and certianly not something you did every year. This area is just wealthier, period. But FWIW maybe it's just our neighborhood/friend circle but I don't know anyone who is taking 2-3 big trips per year, who has the leave for that anyway?? Our families aren't local so we always need to devote some of our time off to seeing them.

[Anonymous]

Travel to most countries can be done on many budgets. A few places you do really have to shell out just to get there (Bhutan, Antarctic).

A spectacular trip on a tight budget may take a bit more research and work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Domestic travel just isn't that much cheaper.

True. But when I was growing up on a middle class income even domestic travel was unusual. UMC DC families take 2-3 trips a year that would be “once in a lifetime” trips for median income families.

Agree- I grew up very middle class in the Midwest and even something like Disney (which wasn't nearly as expensive as it is now), the Grand Canyon, or a beach trip to the Carolinas was kind of a big deal and certianly not something you did every year. This area is just wealthier, period. But FWIW maybe it's just our neighborhood/friend circle but I don't know anyone who is taking 2-3 big trips per year, who has the leave for that anyway?? Our families aren't local so we always need to devote some of our time off to seeing them.

This tracks with my experience as a kid. I grew up in the Midwest. Basically every vacation was visiting relatives. My experience was a little different because some of my relatives were relatively far-flung - visiting an Aunt in Maryland; going to see my father and step-family in Colorado. Our big destination vacation was Hilton Head every couple of years where my grandfather liked to play golf. This made me one of the "well-traveled" kids in my circle. I didn't leave the country until I was 20 - and that was just a day trip on Spring Break from South Padre, TX to Matamoros, Mexico. I was 40 before I made my first trip overseas.

Since then, my family has made up for lost time and my kids have way more experience with travel than I did with trips to Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal over the years. That's a combination of having a little more money and fewer kids than my parents did; cheaper and more accessible flights/lodging than 40 years ago; and simply a greater interest in those places

[Anonymous]

I’m listening to two painters chat about their vacation plans—including cost of flights, hotel/arbnb, etc. Both are traveling outside the US, and both booked cheap flights ($400-600pp).

If painters are taking their families abroad, then anyone can.

(Having said that, I recognize people who largely work for cash under the table aren’t paying taxes, so they accumulate more money than other low-wage workers).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do at least 3 trips a year and we...

1) have only one kid
2) live in a much smaller home than a lot of our friends, so our housing costs are so much lower
3) play the credit card points game
4) prioritize travel expenses over other non-essentials

#2 and 3 are the most important to being able to afford travel

This is our formula for 3 annual trips: summer (domestic beach house—cost shared with relatives); winter break (Caribbean/LatAm); and spring break (international). HHI is mid-$500k. No family wealth subsidizing us:

-Only child is in public school.

-We’ve stayed in our modest Bethesda starter home in (w/ a very low interest rate and monthly payment) although our income could easily justify a purchase at least 2x value.

-We enjoy occasional fine dining and I do spend regularly on beauty services and products (hair, nails, skincare, makeup), but no cosmetic derm.

-No high-end designer clothes/bags/shoes (Anthropologie, J. McLaughlin, Everlane, etc. is about the most I’m willing to spend on clothes). DH spends even less. No high end jewelry, etc.

-One nicer, newer car with a reasonable payment; one older, less exciting car nearly paid off.

- Aggressive college and retirement savings.

I mean, this is your answer right here. You wouldn't have so much disposable income to devote to travel if you earned only $300k, right? So many of you pride yoursleves in being so frugal but plenty of Americans also drive Hondas and live in small houses, etc., you're not really doing anything special. You just have more disposable income to start with so there's mpney leftover once your essentials are met.

It's funny how you're trying to sound "of the people" but you said "only $300K."

My family earns 180K (which is still more than double the median US household income of $84K) and we travel internationally a lot. It's actually really not more expensive than domestic travel by airplane. It's all about priorities and keeping monthly expenses low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do at least 3 trips a year and we...

1) have only one kid
2) live in a much smaller home than a lot of our friends, so our housing costs are so much lower
3) play the credit card points game
4) prioritize travel expenses over other non-essentials

#2 and 3 are the most important to being able to afford travel

This is our formula for 3 annual trips: summer (domestic beach house—cost shared with relatives); winter break (Caribbean/LatAm); and spring break (international). HHI is mid-$500k. No family wealth subsidizing us:

-Only child is in public school.

-We’ve stayed in our modest Bethesda starter home in (w/ a very low interest rate and monthly payment) although our income could easily justify a purchase at least 2x value.

-We enjoy occasional fine dining and I do spend regularly on beauty services and products (hair, nails, skincare, makeup), but no cosmetic derm.

-No high-end designer clothes/bags/shoes (Anthropologie, J. McLaughlin, Everlane, etc. is about the most I’m willing to spend on clothes). DH spends even less. No high end jewelry, etc.

-One nicer, newer car with a reasonable payment; one older, less exciting car nearly paid off.

- Aggressive college and retirement savings.

I mean, this is your answer right here. You wouldn't have so much disposable income to devote to travel if you earned only $300k, right? So many of you pride yoursleves in being so frugal but plenty of Americans also drive Hondas and live in small houses, etc., you're not really doing anything special. You just have more disposable income to start with so there's mpney leftover once your essentials are met.

It's funny how you're trying to sound "of the people" but you said "only $300K."

My family earns 180K (which is still more than double the median US household income of $84K) and we travel internationally a lot. It's actually really not more expensive than domestic travel by airplane. It's all about priorities and keeping monthly expenses low.

Are you in the DC area?