Vacation-Frequency & Budget Questions

[Anonymous]

HHI of $110k or so, so not hurting, but definitely not raking it in. We typically spend about $10k/year on vacations (family of 6).

This year, I'm trying to curb my spending habits because I sometimes make unwise financial sacrifices to make vacations happen. So, my questions are:

-How often do you vacation within a year?
-What is your vacation budget?

I'd planned a spring break trip that I'm now cancelling because it's just not a good financial move (and huge step for me). Planning two wee-long trips in the summer (combined cost of approx $4k). I'd also like to do a cruise in December (approx $6k cost). In addition, next year (summer?), I want to take the kids on a California trip (approx $10k cost and that doesn't even include doing any other trips in 2014).

Just trying to get a handle on how often I should plan "big" trips (costs exceeding $5k). Wondering if I should strike the cruise and save that money for the California trip and just do something more low-key (weekend in New York).

Yeah...not really sure what I'm asking here. Just wanted to see what other folks were doing, vacation-wise.

[Anonymous]

What does the rest of your budget look like? Can you afford it? That is the real question. Although it does seem like you are trying for too high end on your budget.

We prioritize vacations, taking at least a 2-week international trip, 3 1-week trips, and at least one long weekend a month. We probably spend a total of about $20k per year, if you actually add in all the little weekend skiing trips and such. But, we make twice as much as you. We try to balance more expensive with less. This year we will probably be spending $6k for a two week trip to Thailand/Vietnam, $1k for a long skiing weekend, $3k for a week at Disney, $2k for a week of horseback riding camp for the whole family, $1k for a trip to the keys, another $1k in a couple beach trips, and a bunch of camping or more rustic trips that are just a couple hundred dollars.

Why would a California trip cost $10k. That sounds a bit exravagent for your income. I remember doing a 10-day Napa trip that I made pretty high end a few years back when I made about 4 times your salary, and it couldn't have been more than $5K, and that was with super-awesome wine and meals.

[Anonymous]

We make about $25k more than you and have a $4k yearly vacation budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does the rest of your budget look like? Can you afford it? That is the real question. Although it does seem like you are trying for too high end on your budget.

We prioritize vacations, taking at least a 2-week international trip, 3 1-week trips, and at least one long weekend a month. We probably spend a total of about $20k per year, if you actually add in all the little weekend skiing trips and such. But, we make twice as much as you. We try to balance more expensive with less. This year we will probably be spending $6k for a two week trip to Thailand/Vietnam, $1k for a long skiing weekend, $3k for a week at Disney, $2k for a week of horseback riding camp for the whole family, $1k for a trip to the keys, another $1k in a couple beach trips, and a bunch of camping or more rustic trips that are just a couple hundred dollars.

Why would a California trip cost $10k. That sounds a bit exravagent for your income. I remember doing a 10-day Napa trip that I made pretty high end a few years back when I made about 4 times your salary, and it couldn't have been more than $5K, and that was with super-awesome wine and meals.

OP here. Thanks for your feedback. In essence, we can afford it. But all things considered (low savings, retirement contributions, etc), it's probably not the wisest choice to spend so much on vacations. I'm fully aware I get this vacation addiction from my Dad and that's why I'm trying to get a better handle on things this year.

The thing is that I have a large family, so most vacations will cost us. And none of my children like doing low-cost stuff (camping, parks, museums, etc), so trips are usually the Disney World variety.

re: California. Planning 2 weeks to go from San Francisco to San Diego. This is a one time thing, so would like to do it all and then they can choose to go back as adults if they wish. Airfare alone will be roughly $3k and once you add in hotels, rental car, and attractions, $10k will just about be where we're at.

[Anonymous]

Our HHI is approx. $120,000/year...so close to yours. We have 4 kids in elementary and middle school.

We vacation a couple times a year.

Most involve camping, with occasional inexpensive hotels (along the lines of a Springhill suites--many have rooms with 2 queen beds plus a pull out sofa so we all fit in one room, plus free breakfast!)

When our whole family goes, we drive. We can't afford airfare for 6. Of course, that limits our vacations to the continental US and Canada (I grew up less than 50 miles from the border, and I will not drive into Mexico. No way!)
We have taken smaller trips with just one or two members of the family (just dh and I, or just a parent and one child) on more special trips where we fly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does the rest of your budget look like? Can you afford it? That is the real question. Although it does seem like you are trying for too high end on your budget.

We prioritize vacations, taking at least a 2-week international trip, 3 1-week trips, and at least one long weekend a month. We probably spend a total of about $20k per year, if you actually add in all the little weekend skiing trips and such. But, we make twice as much as you. We try to balance more expensive with less. This year we will probably be spending $6k for a two week trip to Thailand/Vietnam, $1k for a long skiing weekend, $3k for a week at Disney, $2k for a week of horseback riding camp for the whole family, $1k for a trip to the keys, another $1k in a couple beach trips, and a bunch of camping or more rustic trips that are just a couple hundred dollars.

Why would a California trip cost $10k. That sounds a bit exravagent for your income. I remember doing a 10-day Napa trip that I made pretty high end a few years back when I made about 4 times your salary, and it couldn't have been more than $5K, and that was with super-awesome wine and meals.

OP here. Thanks for your feedback. In essence, we can afford it. But all things considered (low savings, retirement contributions, etc), it's probably not the wisest choice to spend so much on vacations. I'm fully aware I get this vacation addiction from my Dad and that's why I'm trying to get a better handle on things this year.

The thing is that I have a large family, so most vacations will cost us. And none of my children like doing low-cost stuff (camping, parks, museums, etc), so trips are usually the Disney World variety.

re: California. Planning 2 weeks to go from San Francisco to San Diego. This is a one time thing, so would like to do it all and then they can choose to go back as adults if they wish. Airfare alone will be roughly $3k and once you add in hotels, rental car, and attractions, $10k will just about be where we're at.

10:51 here.

Sorry, but that line I hi-lighted makes your kids sound like brats, and you are willing to accept that?

[Anonymous]

HHI of close to $180. Family of 4. So we make more than you and a smaller family. We take vacations once a year. We do smallish ones (driving to SC beaches) about every other year. Larger one (WDW, San Diego) about every 2-3 years.

We max out our 401(k)s and IRAs. We contribute to 529 plans.

This year's vacation is bigger than average (10 days on West Coast). I haven't priced it yet, but want to keep it to less than $10K.

In my opinion, putting 10% of your HHI into vacation budget is silly, esp. if you know that your retirement savings is being sacrificied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does the rest of your budget look like? Can you afford it? That is the real question. Although it does seem like you are trying for too high end on your budget.

We prioritize vacations, taking at least a 2-week international trip, 3 1-week trips, and at least one long weekend a month. We probably spend a total of about $20k per year, if you actually add in all the little weekend skiing trips and such. But, we make twice as much as you. We try to balance more expensive with less. This year we will probably be spending $6k for a two week trip to Thailand/Vietnam, $1k for a long skiing weekend, $3k for a week at Disney, $2k for a week of horseback riding camp for the whole family, $1k for a trip to the keys, another $1k in a couple beach trips, and a bunch of camping or more rustic trips that are just a couple hundred dollars.

Why would a California trip cost $10k. That sounds a bit exravagent for your income. I remember doing a 10-day Napa trip that I made pretty high end a few years back when I made about 4 times your salary, and it couldn't have been more than $5K, and that was with super-awesome wine and meals.

OP here. Thanks for your feedback. In essence, we can afford it. But all things considered (low savings, retirement contributions, etc), it's probably not the wisest choice to spend so much on vacations. I'm fully aware I get this vacation addiction from my Dad and that's why I'm trying to get a better handle on things this year.

The thing is that I have a large family, so most vacations will cost us. And none of my children like doing low-cost stuff (camping, parks, museums, etc), so trips are usually the Disney World variety.

re: California. Planning 2 weeks to go from San Francisco to San Diego. This is a one time thing, so would like to do it all and then they can choose to go back as adults if they wish. Airfare alone will be roughly $3k and once you add in hotels, rental car, and attractions, $10k will just about be where we're at.

10:51 here.

Sorry, but that line I hi-lighted makes your kids sound like brats, and you are willing to accept that?

Can we get through this without insults please?

We go camping in the summer with my church. The kids like it because they are with their peers, but otherwise we don't enjoy camping as a family. I never did it growing up, I get freaked out in the woods and boredom would sit in really quick. Same with parks. On trips to Williamsburg, we do some of the historical stuff in addition to Busch Gardens, but it's usually not a fun experience for anyone. Museums they'll try if it's something quirky, cool about it, but otherwise, they are bored. This is mainly my older children. The younger ones will find fun wherever, but teens are a bit harder to please. And I'd rather do something we all enjoy rather than spending money on a trip that will leave us all miserable and bored.

Finding vacation destinations that will please everyone in my group usually need to involve an amusement park or great city sights (a la New York) to keep everyone engaged. I envy families who travel with children close in age because it's a lot easier to find similar interests!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does the rest of your budget look like? Can you afford it? That is the real question. Although it does seem like you are trying for too high end on your budget.

We prioritize vacations, taking at least a 2-week international trip, 3 1-week trips, and at least one long weekend a month. We probably spend a total of about $20k per year, if you actually add in all the little weekend skiing trips and such. But, we make twice as much as you. We try to balance more expensive with less. This year we will probably be spending $6k for a two week trip to Thailand/Vietnam, $1k for a long skiing weekend, $3k for a week at Disney, $2k for a week of horseback riding camp for the whole family, $1k for a trip to the keys, another $1k in a couple beach trips, and a bunch of camping or more rustic trips that are just a couple hundred dollars.

Why would a California trip cost $10k. That sounds a bit exravagent for your income. I remember doing a 10-day Napa trip that I made pretty high end a few years back when I made about 4 times your salary, and it couldn't have been more than $5K, and that was with super-awesome wine and meals.

OP here. Thanks for your feedback. In essence, we can afford it. But all things considered (low savings, retirement contributions, etc), it's probably not the wisest choice to spend so much on vacations. I'm fully aware I get this vacation addiction from my Dad and that's why I'm trying to get a better handle on things this year.

The thing is that I have a large family, so most vacations will cost us. And none of my children like doing low-cost stuff (camping, parks, museums, etc), so trips are usually the Disney World variety.

re: California. Planning 2 weeks to go from San Francisco to San Diego. This is a one time thing, so would like to do it all and then they can choose to go back as adults if they wish. Airfare alone will be roughly $3k and once you add in hotels, rental car, and attractions, $10k will just about be where we're at.

10:51 here.

Sorry, but that line I hi-lighted makes your kids sound like brats, and you are willing to accept that?

Exactly. Camping and parks can be REALLY fun. Do you enjoy them? Might you be influencing your kids to not like them?

[Anonymous]

We make twice what you do and spend much less than you on vacations, maybe $4k or so...honestly, I like Disney, cruises, etc...but I also want my kids to appreciate other kinds of destinations -- travel for travel's sake as opposed to just amusement parks and the like. No camping for us, but we try to make smart choices, e.g., when possible, stay at a hotel like a Hampton Inn that offers free breakfast, look diligently for coupon codes on rental cars, stay off-site at Disney (huge savings) and cook meals in timeshare or condo.

Seems to me like a beach vacation at a fun beach with a lot of diversions (Myrtle maybe - not my taste really, but there's a lot to do) might be a way for you to watch your budget and satisfy your family's interests. You can drive there, rent a condo, cook some meals in, etc...

[Anonymous]

PP again, if you have a lot of kids, just limiting the flying will save you tons of money. Honestly, remember when we were kids hardly anyone traveled all the time. Will your kids get that much more out of CA than, say, Boston/New England where you could drive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Can we get through this without insults please?

We go camping in the summer with my church. The kids like it because they are with their peers, but otherwise we don't enjoy camping as a family. I never did it growing up, I get freaked out in the woods and boredom would sit in really quick. Same with parks. On trips to Williamsburg, we do some of the historical stuff in addition to Busch Gardens, but it's usually not a fun experience for anyone. Museums they'll try if it's something quirky, cool about it, but otherwise, they are bored. This is mainly my older children. The younger ones will find fun wherever, but teens are a bit harder to please. And I'd rather do something we all enjoy rather than spending money on a trip that will leave us all miserable and bored.

Finding vacation destinations that will please everyone in my group usually need to involve an amusement park or great city sights (a la New York) to keep everyone engaged. I envy families who travel with children close in age because it's a lot easier to find similar interests!

I see. All of you sound like brats.

Just go to Disney. Again. Everyone will be much happier.

[Anonymous]

We make about twice what you do but have a lot of extra costs to deal with, so ... one beach week a year, total cost about $2K, and then a couple of long weekends and one trip to grandparents that involves train fare.

If you are rationalizing trips that cost 10% of your gross income and involve bad financial decisions, you have a problem.

What I'm observing is that you ask the question and then don't like the answers -- did you just want someone to validate your choices? Maybe DCUM isn't the best place for that.

[Anonymous]

NP here, I think I need to take more vacations - I didn't realize people spent this much money and time on vacations!!

[Anonymous]

I think that you should max out your 401(k) contributions before spending $$ on vacations.

We have small children so we don't really have a vacation plan yet. We are taking our first annual summer family vacation this year. We will be going to places in Virginia and will hopefully only spend $3k.

I hope that we can take one winter and one summer vacation every year, plus some little long weekend trips during the year. HHI is $300 and I will probably budget $10k-$15k per year.