Justifying cost to visit place that just costs more?

[Anonymous]

We’ve had lots of fun road trips that were low cost. I have a hard time spending money but last summer we flew somewhere far away and spent double our usual budget. We had a blast. I’m keeping that in mind planning this year’s trip.

[Anonymous]

Travel is our only splurge. We don't wear expensive brand clothing or shoes, my purses are from Kohls, my leggings are from Costco. We buy Hondas and drive them 10+ years.

[Anonymous]

Here’s how I decide for us - how much am I prepared to spend (budget). How much does it cost for me to go and not have to do miserable things like drive myself, stay in a crappy place and do my own cooking, etc? Is the cost of that less than my budget? Then yay, we have a trip. If money is not a driving factor here, just take the darn vacation.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the place. Is it unique and one of a kind with something you can really only see and do THERE? I can justify it. Is it just a more expensive Caribbean island when there are cheaper ones? No, go cheaper. I will never justify spending 4x the money to go to one beach/island over another since they all do the same thing really. But if it’s like, a national park you’ve always wanted to see and it’s just going to cost more because it’s in Alaska and you need a seaplane and blah blah- that’s different.

[Anonymous]

I justify it by reminding myself that my kids are teens now and will only be living with us a few more short years. This is the only time we have left to take them places we want while they are still under our roof and it is not optional for them. I am trying to show them some of the wonders of the world, hoping they may look back one day and appreciate all that they were able to experience, even though they are moody and would rather stay home and not go anywhere.

We are probably spending at least $20k per year on trips (which is 10% of our HHI) and I do feel a twinge that I could be saving it for their college or for retirement, but I have decided I'm already saving enough for those other things and I need to balance taking advantage of the opportunity to travel with my kids while we can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don't think it's worth it, then don't go.

Personally, I love traveling, but I am otherwise frugal with things like my car, clothing, jewelry, makeup. So, I don't buy those expensive things, but I don't mind spending money on a place I want to travel to, like Iceland. It's very pricey there; we were there for 4 days, but I loved it.

Our situation is exactly this! The thought of going is so exciting, but for some reason, I’m really struggling with the thought that, the added cost of airfare is insane for “only” five days. But of course we have to pay to get there! I don’t understand why I’m doing this to myself.

If you're referring to Europe, we found the same thing. We decided to do trips in the US for the next year or so, until things settle down price-wise.

First-class tickets to visit California were half the price of premium economy tickets to visit France, and hotels will be cheaper too.

Yeah but the lodging is a lot cheaper in many European countries than in California.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like part of your issue is the per day cost of the airfare. I think I would ask myself — could we go to this exciting location at an identifiable later point and spend more than 5 days? If not, then I would just chalk that up to the cost of whatever it is that’s preventing that (having the job that pays the bills, or having kids with activities, or having an elderly parent I can’t leave or whatever)——but if I could go to that more exciting place later in the year and spend a whole week. I would do that instead.