How much for a weeklong vacation for a family of 4?

[Anonymous]

We've been to Europe quite a few times with 3 kids. We count on it costing $1K/day (with airfare averaged in).

It almost always comes to $10K for 10 days. We eat out 1-2 meals per day and eat in (groceries) for third (and second some days). Generally rent an Airbnb (3 bedrooms) in a nice area. Mostly take public transport and walk but some Ubers. We don't scrimp on experiences.

[Anonymous]

There’s been a mix of advice on here. I am someone who loves to travel but isn’t wealthy (but still super privileged). I’ve found that most destinations are possible at 7k or less for 1-2 weeks IF you plan carefully enough.

The trick is booking your Airbnb or booking.com apartment or hotel as far in advance as possible, be flexible with flights and book them also really far in advance. At least 6-8 months in advance for the holidays. Get comfortable with the possibility of alternative sleeping arrangements: maybe there’s a family hostel (with a private room) or you can camp. There’s lots of creative ways to make it happen. You’ll have to put in the work of planning it all.

I think it’s worth it but I enjoy the planning part.

[Anonymous]

We've gone to Acadia National Park, in Maine, for $4-5k for a week (depending on how early we book the VRBO or AirBnB, the earlier you book, the less expensive it is, if you wait, only expensive places will be left).

We 1- drive there, 2- rent a house with a kitchen, 3-grocery shop and cook most meals. Breakfast is ALWAYS at the house, lunches mostly packed from the house. We bring a small, soft sided color and ice packs from home, and pack lunch each morning before heading out. We hike, bike, swim, explore Bar Harbor and buy ice cream or fudge. Most nights we return to the house for dinner. Super easy meals (pasta woth meat sauce and veggoes, tacos, sloppy Joe's, baked chicken, quesadillas, etc.). We will definitely eat dinner out occasionally, and even lunch at least once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've gone to Acadia National Park, in Maine, for $4-5k for a week (depending on how early we book the VRBO or AirBnB, the earlier you book, the less expensive it is, if you wait, only expensive places will be left).

We 1- drive there, 2- rent a house with a kitchen, 3-grocery shop and cook most meals. Breakfast is ALWAYS at the house, lunches mostly packed from the house. We bring a small, soft sided color and ice packs from home, and pack lunch each morning before heading out. We hike, bike, swim, explore Bar Harbor and buy ice cream or fudge. Most nights we return to the house for dinner. Super easy meals (pasta woth meat sauce and veggoes, tacos, sloppy Joe's, baked chicken, quesadillas, etc.). We will definitely eat dinner out occasionally, and even lunch at least once.

I’ve gone to Acadia a few times and depending on where you stay, you can go for as cheap as $1,200-1,800 which includes fresh lobster pots daily and eating out like once or twice. I had to change lodging last minute in 2021 and I think we ended up spending close to $3,000 for 10 days including portland. Check out the camping cabins - bass harbor campground has cute ones (super simple!) or search vrbo or Acadia magic -lots of links for rentals. Tons of options

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Oof. Guess it's mostly staycations next year then.

We did a test night in a borrowed tent and I'm shopping for a big one now. I don't see doing a full week of camping, but definitely a mix of camping and hotels/cabins to cut costs. Not in Rome or Miami though, I'll give you that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Oof. Guess it's mostly staycations next year then.

We have done a week in a very basic cabin in a driveable location for $3000 all in and enjoyed it.

This. Deep creek lake has a wonderful beach for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP if you really truly need to travel on a very strict budget it can be done. Over the last 6 years our HHI was 100k and our family has done:

-10 days in ireland
-14 days in Spain
-12 days in North Carolina
-7 days in Florida
-We are in the process of booking 16 days in Belgium/France/Netherlands over the holidays

Yes, I go to great lengths to travel hack and save, but at the end of the day we have great trips and it's absolutely worth it to me.

Teach me your ways!!! We are just starting to think about travel now that I'm done using up all my PTO for "maternity leaves," but I haven't budgeted anything more ambitious than camping or hotels in nearby cities. I would love to take my family to Ireland, among other places.

[Anonymous]

We’ve driven to Florida and stayed in a Residence Inn for $200/night (a few years ago though). It was probably $3k for a week including food and activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Oof. Guess it's mostly staycations next year then.

Use credit card points for travel. Thats what we do.

I love how people always suggest this to budget travelers as if "just spend ludicrous amounts of money every year on your credit card!" is a viable option.

A round trip ticket on AA without ridiculous restrictions that make them basically unusable is 40,000 points, or 160,000 for a family of four, so that's $160,000 on your AA credit card.

Hilton Honors charges 45,000 points a night for anywhere you'd want to stay, so 2 rooms for 5 nights is 450,000 points or $150,000 spent on your credit card.

Even with the intro bonuses for signing up for the credit card (50k for AA, 100k for Hilton, which is obviously a one-time thing) you're still looking at $225,000 required spend.

Exactly how many families struggling to pay for a vacation do you think have the ability to put $225,000 on their credit card every year?

Incorrect, although it’s easy to see why one might assume otherwise. Most you can get multiple times, you just have to know the rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP if you really truly need to travel on a very strict budget it can be done. Over the last 6 years our HHI was 100k and our family has done:

-10 days in ireland
-14 days in Spain
-12 days in North Carolina
-7 days in Florida
-We are in the process of booking 16 days in Belgium/France/Netherlands over the holidays

Yes, I go to great lengths to travel hack and save, but at the end of the day we have great trips and it's absolutely worth it to me.

Teach me your ways!!! We are just starting to think about travel now that I'm done using up all my PTO for "maternity leaves," but I haven't budgeted anything more ambitious than camping or hotels in nearby cities. I would love to take my family to Ireland, among other places.

Ireland is quite cheap outside of Dublin. Looked at some random Airbnbs in small towns near Galwsy, you can get a 3 br house for $180/night. You can fly nonstop on Aer Lingus for $600/person in May. Hertz at DUB is $450 for 10 days. So you could do a 10 day trip for $4750 including rentals and transportation. $200/day in food and activities, and you are at $7k for 10 days. It's not cheap, but it's not $25-30k either.

[Anonymous]

Italy, just my husband and I a whole week(meals

3 meals/snacks, transportation, museums and I must say, we aren’t drinkers) 10K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't traveled much since I had kids, so I'm trying to budget for future trips. How much do typically spend on a weeklong vacation for a family of 4? I understand that will vary a lot, but what is a range?

Also, how much would a week at each of the following destinations cost? Assuming 1 hotel room that's more expensive than a motel but not the Four Seasons.

- Miami, staying near the beach
- Southern California
- Hawaii
- Rome / Florence / Milan

Those last two options will easily cost double the first two, for comparable experiences. So I'd start there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Oof. Guess it's mostly staycations next year then.

Use credit card points for travel. Thats what we do.

I love how people always suggest this to budget travelers as if "just spend ludicrous amounts of money every year on your credit card!" is a viable option.

A round trip ticket on AA without ridiculous restrictions that make them basically unusable is 40,000 points, or 160,000 for a family of four, so that's $160,000 on your AA credit card.

Hilton Honors charges 45,000 points a night for anywhere you'd want to stay, so 2 rooms for 5 nights is 450,000 points or $150,000 spent on your credit card.

Even with the intro bonuses for signing up for the credit card (50k for AA, 100k for Hilton, which is obviously a one-time thing) you're still looking at $225,000 required spend.

Exactly how many families struggling to pay for a vacation do you think have the ability to put $225,000 on their credit card every year?

Incorrect, although it’s easy to see why one might assume otherwise. Most you can get multiple times, you just have to know the rules.

Not PP but how??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Oof. Guess it's mostly staycations next year then.

Use credit card points for travel. Thats what we do.

I love how people always suggest this to budget travelers as if "just spend ludicrous amounts of money every year on your credit card!" is a viable option.

A round trip ticket on AA without ridiculous restrictions that make them basically unusable is 40,000 points, or 160,000 for a family of four, so that's $160,000 on your AA credit card.

Hilton Honors charges 45,000 points a night for anywhere you'd want to stay, so 2 rooms for 5 nights is 450,000 points or $150,000 spent on your credit card.

Even with the intro bonuses for signing up for the credit card (50k for AA, 100k for Hilton, which is obviously a one-time thing) you're still looking at $225,000 required spend.

Exactly how many families struggling to pay for a vacation do you think have the ability to put $225,000 on their credit card every year?

Incorrect, although it’s easy to see why one might assume otherwise. Most you can get multiple times, you just have to know the rules.

Not PP but how??

Not the PP who wrote that, but there are many ways to get multiple sign up bonuses. There are different cards which earn the same points- I think there are 4 different AA cards, for example, that you could hold all of them. Also you have 2 people to apply for cards if you are a couple. And there are waiting periods where you could get another bonus after a certain number of months/years after getting it in the past. But seriously the world of churning credit card bonuses is quite complicated, and something you shouldn't jump into without being willing to make a significant time/effort commitment.

[Anonymous]

We are going to Hilton Head over spring break (April 1-8) and our condo w/in walking distance to beach, 2 bed 2 bath is $200 per night. We will drive. We will cook most meals at home; activities are mostly low cost- tennis, pickleball, bikes, beach, pool. We will probably spend $3000 all in.