if you HHI is around 200k what is your travel budget?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're at about $200k but debt free and with considerable savings and retirement so we feel more comfortable spending. We spend probably $20-$25k on travel annually all-in, but also play the "points game" by seeking out credit cards that will get us free flights, hotel stays, etc.

This has all gotten harder as our kids are now school aged so our timing is more constrained. But we've also saved money with covid so may be able to increase our budget (though perhaps not commensurate with flight prices!).

Travel annually often includes a 2 week trip to Europe, and maybe two other weeks at the beach or visiting family, and then a smattering of more local long weekend trips.

Same. We usually spend two weeks somewhere abroad and then 4-5 other domestic trips. We only pay for food/activities so maybe a few thousand total. Depends on the trip and price of activities though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Empty nester here, but I would say our income was in the $200 - 230 K range when the kids were at home. On average, we probably spent $20K on travel, some years more, some years less.

I don't think any of these are "must-do" trips before college, but we enjoyed the national parks in Western Canada, MA, NH, NYC, OBX, HHI, Kiawah Island, WDW, California coast/Yosemite, other national parks like Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Acadia. And in Europe: London/Southern England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Scandinavia, Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland. Some of these were multiple trips, like Switzerland and Italy. One we wished we had done with kids: Australia, but the school schedule here would have meant visiting in winter there, and you need more than a spring break week.

P.S. While it does get more complicated, we do still travel (some) with our adult children, so don't feel like you have only a few years left to hit some bucket list places.

You spent a fifth to a sixth of your take-home income on vacation? Either you had a sweet tax accountant or you aren't remembering correctly...

[Anonymous]

We spend 10k. It’s 2 of us.

[Anonymous]

I feel like the prices post here are outdated. You can’t get a two week vacation anywhere for family of 4 for only 7-8k. That alone is 20k

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don't have one. We don't budget as we aren't very spendy and have plenty of savings.

In the last year, for a family of four: Winter break was 16 days for about $7k. Spring break in Portugal was about $5k. A few short driving weekends at around $1k, including lodging and gas. Wedding in California was about $2500. Late-summer trip to visit family was about $3k.

Vacations are really the only time my family is good at spending quality time together. So we prioritize it.

Wow I don’t know how you travel so much and have so much savings on 200k, but god bless, I’m envious ! lol!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like the prices post here are outdated. You can’t get a two week vacation anywhere for family of 4 for only 7-8k. That alone is 20k

OP here. Maybe we just aren't very savvy about deals but this is what I was thinking. Everything post Covid seems extra expensive travel wise. I know we cannot afford most the vacations mentioned on this forum but we would like to do a couple of bigger things (maybe Europe, Hawaii) before they head to college but it seems unattainable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like the prices post here are outdated. You can’t get a two week vacation anywhere for family of 4 for only 7-8k. That alone is 20k

Depends on where you go and how you do it. We (family of 4) had an almost 3 week trip this summer for almost exactly $10k. Flights covered by miles other than about $800 in fees. Sstayed in 2 and 3BR Airbnb apartments/houses that averaged $270/night all-in. Food around $130/day- ate out most dinners, a few lunches, sometimes did cheap takeout or had leftovers, breakfast was basics from the grocery store plus pastries (vacation!). About $1500 for rental cars and trains, plus gas/tolls. Had some other miscellaneous costs plus activities, all added up to just over $10k in 19 days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like the prices post here are outdated. You can’t get a two week vacation anywhere for family of 4 for only 7-8k. That alone is 20k

What are you talking about? Such a typical DCUM response.

We went Maui for 11 days for 11k and that includes a lot of excursions. Not everyone who travel feels the need to stay in luxury accommodations.

I don’t even really barging hunt or use point just don’t go for the high end places.

[Anonymous]

Wr just did 16 days in Europe for under 5K this summer. We got the flight on miles, so add in flight prices to that.

[Anonymous]

We also did Europe under 5k for our family of 4 for 2 weeks. We are doing 10 days at Christmas and anticipate spending 5-6k, which is our splurge. We will go cheaper for the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like the prices post here are outdated. You can’t get a two week vacation anywhere for family of 4 for only 7-8k. That alone is 20k

OP here. Maybe we just aren't very savvy about deals but this is what I was thinking. Everything post Covid seems extra expensive travel wise. I know we cannot afford most the vacations mentioned on this forum but we would like to do a couple of bigger things (maybe Europe, Hawaii) before they head to college but it seems unattainable.

So many people use points to help bring their costs down, so take that into consideration. For us, my DH travels fairly regularly for work and has accrued lots of airline points, which usually covers at least one round trip vacation for our 4 family members. We’ve gone to Mexico, Hawaii and to different points across the country. He also accrues free car rentals (enough for 7 days of vacation), plus 3-4 free nights of hotel stay (Marriott Bonvoy). All of it helps to make vacation a little more affordable!

[Anonymous]

We did 2 weeks in Europe with 4 people for about $8k this summer, and that was with expensive flights and a car rental. We eat one meal at the Airbnb and get breakfast at a bakery every morning.

[Anonymous]

We would do about two overseas trips a year, maybe about $6-$8k all in. Realizing we never actually budget it out and don’t save up for it either. This was for child fre trips, haven’t traveled with our toddler yet besides traveling to New England to stay with family.

[Anonymous]

These responses are amazing and making me wonder where all our money is going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right around $200k here.

We typically do $3,000 for a week at the beach, and $2,000 for 1-2 long weekend trips - road trips.

Every 2-3 years we will an additional trip closer to $6,000 - a flight somewhere.

Maybe we will do that more often if our income increases.

+1 This is about what we do.