Traveling internationally is cheaper than domestic travel

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took my children to Spain last summer for 2 weeks and the whole trip cost less than a Bethany rental, flight included.

This is not believable.

Well, I guess if you rent a massive house in Bethany and a tiny place in the middle of nowhere in Spain. And I agree that Spain is cheaper overall, but flights would basically make the costs break even.

There’s no need to exaggerate to prove your point. It just makes you look ridiculous.

That probably isn't far off.

I just looked and the average weekly rental for a 3 bedroom Bethany house is 4300 per week. Flights to Spain next summer are about $750. Food is far cheaper as are accommodations (2 bedroom in central Madrid during the summer is 1500-2500 for 2 weeks). I bet it would be cheaper to go to Spain for 2 weeks.

Where are you seeing $750? I just checked and iAd to mad for 6/25-7/5, the cheapest is $807 but requires an 18 hour flight in exonomy! Reasonable flight times are $1051 for economy. So I think if you are talking about a family of 4, you need at least 2 weeks vacation to make Europe more affordable plus need to be willing to fly economy red eye.

Also, I’m no longer psyched about renting apartments in anticipation in any place since I saw a new thing about the number of people who have secret cameras in those places and are uploading videos to the dark web. Particularly with my teen girls…..I’m really creeped out by the idea that someone could be filming them. We’ve also found that the mattresses in rental apartments are so cheap no one gets a decent nights sleep. I’ll compromise on a lot when traveling but everyone is just so cranky after sleeping on bad mattresses plus my husbands back will actually go out — so that is a priority for me.
Obviously those are preferences for us but I feel like all the people who are saying Europe is so much cheaper are comparing apples and oranges, or ignoring some significant compromises you have to make in order for Europe to be cheaper.

I agree food, activities, train tickets are all way cheaper in Europe. Hotel prices vary widely depending on where you are. Like London is pretty comparable to DC prices, and I think Madrid was maybe more, at least in summer. Small towns tend to be cheaper but that’s true here too. I guess the difference is that small town Spain or Italy is more interesting than a random small town in most of America.

I see under 700 on Air Canada and Lufthansa/United flights. Of course, those leave Monday and come back on a Thursday. So 16 days.

The point isn't whether your particular itinerary with the specifics you want is cheaper,, it is whether in general overseas travel is competitive with domestic travel. And using the example of 2 weeks in Spain (generally) versus 2 weeks in Bethany Beach, I think it is safe to say that it is competitive in price (if not cheaper) to travel overseas. Is that because the US is overpriced or is it because overseas is just cheap?

Who can take 16 days to travel, especially when you have school age kids. They have activities/camps/etc. even during the summer. Are you in the DC area? Most people I know do not take vacations this long unless they are pre-kids / post-kids / DINKS.

DP

The point isn't whether your particular itinerary with the specifics you want is cheaper, it is whether in general overseas travel is competitive with domestic travel. And using the example of 2 weeks in Spain (generally) versus 2 weeks in Bethany Beach, I think it is safe to say that it is competitive in price (if not cheaper) to travel overseas. Is that because the US is overpriced or is it because overseas is just cheap?

I'm pricing my Bethany Beach $4,300ish beach front condo (week of August 1-8) vs. a trip to Fueringola, Spain for two weeks (July 31-August 14) and not seeing how it is cheaper, or even the same price. Looks like flights/transportation to Malaga area are going to be $800ish each for my family of four (everyone is 12 and up). There is a comparable airbnb for $3,200 for the two weeks. We are at $6,400 for two weeks just for flights/transportation/accomodation. I do agree with everyone that looking at it per person, per night, for 2 weeks in Spain is a cheaper vacation, but, the reality is that I am not just paying for myself. I'm paying for the whole family, so I am looking at it from a total cost basis.

You're comparing a 1 week trip to a 2 week trip? Just ensuring I read that right.

[Anonymous]

We aren’t too heavy into the credit card/points game, but spouse and I recently got United Chase cards. With sign-on bonuses, we were able to get roundtrip tickets to Florence, Italy. The travel is for summer 2026 and we booked last month. These flights are priced in dollars at $1200 on TAP, with a stop in Portugal, and at $1700 nonstop on United. The flights for us our 40,000 United points each way for our family of four. We had our own United points, which combined with the sign-on bonuses, gave us free flights. The flights are now 70,000 points, so while it felt insane to book a summer 2026 flight in November, it looks like it saved us- though maybe the price will drop again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We aren’t too heavy into the credit card/points game, but spouse and I recently got United Chase cards. With sign-on bonuses, we were able to get roundtrip tickets to Florence, Italy. The travel is for summer 2026 and we booked last month. These flights are priced in dollars at $1200 on TAP, with a stop in Portugal, and at $1700 nonstop on United. The flights for us our 40,000 United points each way for our family of four. We had our own United points, which combined with the sign-on bonuses, gave us free flights. The flights are now 70,000 points, so while it felt insane to book a summer 2026 flight in November, it looks like it saved us- though maybe the price will drop again?

The flights for us cost 40,000 United points each way for our family of four.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took my children to Spain last summer for 2 weeks and the whole trip cost less than a Bethany rental, flight included.

This is not believable.

Well, I guess if you rent a massive house in Bethany and a tiny place in the middle of nowhere in Spain. And I agree that Spain is cheaper overall, but flights would basically make the costs break even.

There’s no need to exaggerate to prove your point. It just makes you look ridiculous.

That probably isn't far off.

I just looked and the average weekly rental for a 3 bedroom Bethany house is 4300 per week. Flights to Spain next summer are about $750. Food is far cheaper as are accommodations (2 bedroom in central Madrid during the summer is 1500-2500 for 2 weeks). I bet it would be cheaper to go to Spain for 2 weeks.

Where are you seeing $750? I just checked and iAd to mad for 6/25-7/5, the cheapest is $807 but requires an 18 hour flight in exonomy! Reasonable flight times are $1051 for economy. So I think if you are talking about a family of 4, you need at least 2 weeks vacation to make Europe more affordable plus need to be willing to fly economy red eye.

Also, I’m no longer psyched about renting apartments in anticipation in any place since I saw a new thing about the number of people who have secret cameras in those places and are uploading videos to the dark web. Particularly with my teen girls…..I’m really creeped out by the idea that someone could be filming them. We’ve also found that the mattresses in rental apartments are so cheap no one gets a decent nights sleep. I’ll compromise on a lot when traveling but everyone is just so cranky after sleeping on bad mattresses plus my husbands back will actually go out — so that is a priority for me.
Obviously those are preferences for us but I feel like all the people who are saying Europe is so much cheaper are comparing apples and oranges, or ignoring some significant compromises you have to make in order for Europe to be cheaper.

I agree food, activities, train tickets are all way cheaper in Europe. Hotel prices vary widely depending on where you are. Like London is pretty comparable to DC prices, and I think Madrid was maybe more, at least in summer. Small towns tend to be cheaper but that’s true here too. I guess the difference is that small town Spain or Italy is more interesting than a random small town in most of America.

I see under 700 on Air Canada and Lufthansa/United flights. Of course, those leave Monday and come back on a Thursday. So 16 days.

The point isn't whether your particular itinerary with the specifics you want is cheaper,, it is whether in general overseas travel is competitive with domestic travel. And using the example of 2 weeks in Spain (generally) versus 2 weeks in Bethany Beach, I think it is safe to say that it is competitive in price (if not cheaper) to travel overseas. Is that because the US is overpriced or is it because overseas is just cheap?

Who can take 16 days to travel, especially when you have school age kids. They have activities/camps/etc. even during the summer. Are you in the DC area? Most people I know do not take vacations this long unless they are pre-kids / post-kids / DINKS.

Plenty of people can. Teachers/professors with summers off. People who have flexibility to work remotely full-time or permission to do so for a few weeks of the year. People who own their own business. People in tech/private sector firms who have "unlimited PTO" but you need to keep working even while on vacation. And you forget that there's a good chunk of SAHMs and SAHDs too who don't work at least partially so they can be "there for their kids" during the summer.

I worked in academia. All the professors I knew were on 12 month contracts. They are researching/writing/useless meetings maybe teaching a class. I'm 49 and work for a large nonprofit (have also worked for the gov't). Husband is an attorney. I feel like I know a broad base of working professionals and most aren't taking long vacations like this during the summer. Sounds like there are a lot of lucky people. Guess I have not figured out how to do this. I do know teachers and SAHPs. These folks aren't taking 2 week trips to Spain because their partners don't have the same kind of schedule, or they don't have the $$ for these kinds of trips. One does take her kids for multiple trips to her parents beach house in Jersey. There is also the crowd who own a house in Bethany/NC/wherever. These folks may do a Europe trip in addition, but they aren't worried about the budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took my children to Spain last summer for 2 weeks and the whole trip cost less than a Bethany rental, flight included.

This is not believable.

Well, I guess if you rent a massive house in Bethany and a tiny place in the middle of nowhere in Spain. And I agree that Spain is cheaper overall, but flights would basically make the costs break even.

There’s no need to exaggerate to prove your point. It just makes you look ridiculous.

That probably isn't far off.

I just looked and the average weekly rental for a 3 bedroom Bethany house is 4300 per week. Flights to Spain next summer are about $750. Food is far cheaper as are accommodations (2 bedroom in central Madrid during the summer is 1500-2500 for 2 weeks). I bet it would be cheaper to go to Spain for 2 weeks.

Where are you seeing $750? I just checked and iAd to mad for 6/25-7/5, the cheapest is $807 but requires an 18 hour flight in exonomy! Reasonable flight times are $1051 for economy. So I think if you are talking about a family of 4, you need at least 2 weeks vacation to make Europe more affordable plus need to be willing to fly economy red eye.

Also, I’m no longer psyched about renting apartments in anticipation in any place since I saw a new thing about the number of people who have secret cameras in those places and are uploading videos to the dark web. Particularly with my teen girls…..I’m really creeped out by the idea that someone could be filming them. We’ve also found that the mattresses in rental apartments are so cheap no one gets a decent nights sleep. I’ll compromise on a lot when traveling but everyone is just so cranky after sleeping on bad mattresses plus my husbands back will actually go out — so that is a priority for me.
Obviously those are preferences for us but I feel like all the people who are saying Europe is so much cheaper are comparing apples and oranges, or ignoring some significant compromises you have to make in order for Europe to be cheaper.

I agree food, activities, train tickets are all way cheaper in Europe. Hotel prices vary widely depending on where you are. Like London is pretty comparable to DC prices, and I think Madrid was maybe more, at least in summer. Small towns tend to be cheaper but that’s true here too. I guess the difference is that small town Spain or Italy is more interesting than a random small town in most of America.

I see under 700 on Air Canada and Lufthansa/United flights. Of course, those leave Monday and come back on a Thursday. So 16 days.

The point isn't whether your particular itinerary with the specifics you want is cheaper,, it is whether in general overseas travel is competitive with domestic travel. And using the example of 2 weeks in Spain (generally) versus 2 weeks in Bethany Beach, I think it is safe to say that it is competitive in price (if not cheaper) to travel overseas. Is that because the US is overpriced or is it because overseas is just cheap?

Who can take 16 days to travel, especially when you have school age kids. They have activities/camps/etc. even during the summer. Are you in the DC area? Most people I know do not take vacations this long unless they are pre-kids / post-kids / DINKS.

DP

The point isn't whether your particular itinerary with the specifics you want is cheaper, it is whether in general overseas travel is competitive with domestic travel. And using the example of 2 weeks in Spain (generally) versus 2 weeks in Bethany Beach, I think it is safe to say that it is competitive in price (if not cheaper) to travel overseas. Is that because the US is overpriced or is it because overseas is just cheap?

I'm pricing my Bethany Beach $4,300ish beach front condo (week of August 1-8) vs. a trip to Fueringola, Spain for two weeks (July 31-August 14) and not seeing how it is cheaper, or even the same price. Looks like flights/transportation to Malaga area are going to be $800ish each for my family of four (everyone is 12 and up). There is a comparable airbnb for $3,200 for the two weeks. We are at $6,400 for two weeks just for flights/transportation/accomodation. I do agree with everyone that looking at it per person, per night, for 2 weeks in Spain is a cheaper vacation, but, the reality is that I am not just paying for myself. I'm paying for the whole family, so I am looking at it from a total cost basis.

You're comparing a 1 week trip to a 2 week trip? Just ensuring I read that right.

Yes, I priced out transportation and accomodations for one week in Bethany vs. 2 weeks in Spain. Obviously this is a quick comparison and is not taking all expenses into account.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I priced out transportation and accomodations for one week in Bethany vs. 2 weeks in Spain. Obviously this is a quick comparison and is not taking all expenses into account.

Understood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We aren’t too heavy into the credit card/points game, but spouse and I recently got United Chase cards. With sign-on bonuses, we were able to get roundtrip tickets to Florence, Italy. The travel is for summer 2026 and we booked last month. These flights are priced in dollars at $1200 on TAP, with a stop in Portugal, and at $1700 nonstop on United. The flights for us our 40,000 United points each way for our family of four. We had our own United points, which combined with the sign-on bonuses, gave us free flights. The flights are now 70,000 points, so while it felt insane to book a summer 2026 flight in November, it looks like it saved us- though maybe the price will drop again?

It's not insane. This is how the credit card points game is played. You book as early as the flights open up to have the most options. I am planning a trip to Asia for winter break of 2026-2027, and I'm setting up my alerts as soon as the system opens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took my children to Spain last summer for 2 weeks and the whole trip cost less than a Bethany rental, flight included.

This is not believable.

Well, I guess if you rent a massive house in Bethany and a tiny place in the middle of nowhere in Spain. And I agree that Spain is cheaper overall, but flights would basically make the costs break even.

There’s no need to exaggerate to prove your point. It just makes you look ridiculous.

That probably isn't far off.

I just looked and the average weekly rental for a 3 bedroom Bethany house is 4300 per week. Flights to Spain next summer are about $750. Food is far cheaper as are accommodations (2 bedroom in central Madrid during the summer is 1500-2500 for 2 weeks). I bet it would be cheaper to go to Spain for 2 weeks.

Just do the math for your family and find out, it's pretty simple math. The problem with your example is are you going to want to stay in Madrid for two weeks in the middle of the summer? The beach resorts tend to cost more (although you can find cheaper Airbnbs). And don't forget transit/rental car costs.

Even beaches in Spain are cheaper during the high season. You could also do a week in Madrid or Barcelona and then a week in Portugal (cheaper hotels, great coastline) and the expense of travel between the cities would still keep the trip cheaper than the Bethany house. The Bethany house is just overpriced, period. People pay the premium because they don't want to travel, and Bethany is half a days drive. But for what you are actually getting, the Bethany house is insanely overpriced and you would get so much more bang for your buck in Spain.

Bethany Beach is overpriced period, but there are plenty of cheaper beaches or lake destinations in the US. If you want to go to Spain, go to Spain, but you can have a cheaper vacation here if you broaden your horizons a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took my children to Spain last summer for 2 weeks and the whole trip cost less than a Bethany rental, flight included.

This is not believable.

Well, I guess if you rent a massive house in Bethany and a tiny place in the middle of nowhere in Spain. And I agree that Spain is cheaper overall, but flights would basically make the costs break even.

There’s no need to exaggerate to prove your point. It just makes you look ridiculous.

That probably isn't far off.

I just looked and the average weekly rental for a 3 bedroom Bethany house is 4300 per week. Flights to Spain next summer are about $750. Food is far cheaper as are accommodations (2 bedroom in central Madrid during the summer is 1500-2500 for 2 weeks). I bet it would be cheaper to go to Spain for 2 weeks.

Where are you seeing $750? I just checked and iAd to mad for 6/25-7/5, the cheapest is $807 but requires an 18 hour flight in exonomy! Reasonable flight times are $1051 for economy. So I think if you are talking about a family of 4, you need at least 2 weeks vacation to make Europe more affordable plus need to be willing to fly economy red eye.

Also, I’m no longer psyched about renting apartments in anticipation in any place since I saw a new thing about the number of people who have secret cameras in those places and are uploading videos to the dark web. Particularly with my teen girls…..I’m really creeped out by the idea that someone could be filming them. We’ve also found that the mattresses in rental apartments are so cheap no one gets a decent nights sleep. I’ll compromise on a lot when traveling but everyone is just so cranky after sleeping on bad mattresses plus my husbands back will actually go out — so that is a priority for me.
Obviously those are preferences for us but I feel like all the people who are saying Europe is so much cheaper are comparing apples and oranges, or ignoring some significant compromises you have to make in order for Europe to be cheaper.

I agree food, activities, train tickets are all way cheaper in Europe. Hotel prices vary widely depending on where you are. Like London is pretty comparable to DC prices, and I think Madrid was maybe more, at least in summer. Small towns tend to be cheaper but that’s true here too. I guess the difference is that small town Spain or Italy is more interesting than a random small town in most of America.

I see under 700 on Air Canada and Lufthansa/United flights. Of course, those leave Monday and come back on a Thursday. So 16 days.

The point isn't whether your particular itinerary with the specifics you want is cheaper,, it is whether in general overseas travel is competitive with domestic travel. And using the example of 2 weeks in Spain (generally) versus 2 weeks in Bethany Beach, I think it is safe to say that it is competitive in price (if not cheaper) to travel overseas. Is that because the US is overpriced or is it because overseas is just cheap?

Who can take 16 days to travel, especially when you have school age kids. They have activities/camps/etc. even during the summer. Are you in the DC area? Most people I know do not take vacations this long unless they are pre-kids / post-kids / DINKS.

DP

The point isn't whether your particular itinerary with the specifics you want is cheaper, it is whether in general overseas travel is competitive with domestic travel. And using the example of 2 weeks in Spain (generally) versus 2 weeks in Bethany Beach, I think it is safe to say that it is competitive in price (if not cheaper) to travel overseas. Is that because the US is overpriced or is it because overseas is just cheap?

I'm pricing my Bethany Beach $4,300ish beach front condo (week of August 1-8) vs. a trip to Fueringola, Spain for two weeks (July 31-August 14) and not seeing how it is cheaper, or even the same price. Looks like flights/transportation to Malaga area are going to be $800ish each for my family of four (everyone is 12 and up). There is a comparable airbnb for $3,200 for the two weeks. We are at $6,400 for two weeks just for flights/transportation/accomodation. I do agree with everyone that looking at it per person, per night, for 2 weeks in Spain is a cheaper vacation, but, the reality is that I am not just paying for myself. I'm paying for the whole family, so I am looking at it from a total cost basis.

You're comparing a 1 week trip to a 2 week trip? Just ensuring I read that right.

Well compare it to a 1-week trip by cutting the Airbnb price in half. So $3200 + $1600 = $4800. SO roughly the same as a house in Bethany before food/activities/etc. So it's competitve, but not necessarily cheaper like OP insists. Where it gets cheaper on a per day / per person basis is when you're staying longer. If you're only going for a week, you're less likely to make up the cost of the flight (not to mention jetlag, etc.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We aren’t too heavy into the credit card/points game, but spouse and I recently got United Chase cards. With sign-on bonuses, we were able to get roundtrip tickets to Florence, Italy. The travel is for summer 2026 and we booked last month. These flights are priced in dollars at $1200 on TAP, with a stop in Portugal, and at $1700 nonstop on United. The flights for us our 40,000 United points each way for our family of four. We had our own United points, which combined with the sign-on bonuses, gave us free flights. The flights are now 70,000 points, so while it felt insane to book a summer 2026 flight in November, it looks like it saved us- though maybe the price will drop again?

To be clear, are you flying on the nonstop IAD-Rome, or on TAP to Florence with a stop in Lisbon? Pretty sure United doesn't fly to Florence (it's a very small airport).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took my children to Spain last summer for 2 weeks and the whole trip cost less than a Bethany rental, flight included.

This is not believable.

Well, I guess if you rent a massive house in Bethany and a tiny place in the middle of nowhere in Spain. And I agree that Spain is cheaper overall, but flights would basically make the costs break even.

There’s no need to exaggerate to prove your point. It just makes you look ridiculous.

That probably isn't far off.

I just looked and the average weekly rental for a 3 bedroom Bethany house is 4300 per week. Flights to Spain next summer are about $750. Food is far cheaper as are accommodations (2 bedroom in central Madrid during the summer is 1500-2500 for 2 weeks). I bet it would be cheaper to go to Spain for 2 weeks.

Where are you seeing $750? I just checked and iAd to mad for 6/25-7/5, the cheapest is $807 but requires an 18 hour flight in exonomy! Reasonable flight times are $1051 for economy. So I think if you are talking about a family of 4, you need at least 2 weeks vacation to make Europe more affordable plus need to be willing to fly economy red eye.

Also, I’m no longer psyched about renting apartments in anticipation in any place since I saw a new thing about the number of people who have secret cameras in those places and are uploading videos to the dark web. Particularly with my teen girls…..I’m really creeped out by the idea that someone could be filming them. We’ve also found that the mattresses in rental apartments are so cheap no one gets a decent nights sleep. I’ll compromise on a lot when traveling but everyone is just so cranky after sleeping on bad mattresses plus my husbands back will actually go out — so that is a priority for me.
Obviously those are preferences for us but I feel like all the people who are saying Europe is so much cheaper are comparing apples and oranges, or ignoring some significant compromises you have to make in order for Europe to be cheaper.

I agree food, activities, train tickets are all way cheaper in Europe. Hotel prices vary widely depending on where you are. Like London is pretty comparable to DC prices, and I think Madrid was maybe more, at least in summer. Small towns tend to be cheaper but that’s true here too. I guess the difference is that small town Spain or Italy is more interesting than a random small town in most of America.

I see under 700 on Air Canada and Lufthansa/United flights. Of course, those leave Monday and come back on a Thursday. So 16 days.

The point isn't whether your particular itinerary with the specifics you want is cheaper,, it is whether in general overseas travel is competitive with domestic travel. And using the example of 2 weeks in Spain (generally) versus 2 weeks in Bethany Beach, I think it is safe to say that it is competitive in price (if not cheaper) to travel overseas. Is that because the US is overpriced or is it because overseas is just cheap?

Who can take 16 days to travel, especially when you have school age kids. They have activities/camps/etc. even during the summer. Are you in the DC area? Most people I know do not take vacations this long unless they are pre-kids / post-kids / DINKS.

We are in the DC area and we took two 16 day vacations, one to Ireland and one to France with kids that were 8 & 10 and then 9 & 11. If you decide you are going to do it, then you don't enroll them in camps for those weeks.

Obviously, if you take off 2 weeks and then you include all the weekend days, that's 10 business days plus 6 weekend days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took my children to Spain last summer for 2 weeks and the whole trip cost less than a Bethany rental, flight included.

This is not believable.

Well, I guess if you rent a massive house in Bethany and a tiny place in the middle of nowhere in Spain. And I agree that Spain is cheaper overall, but flights would basically make the costs break even.

There’s no need to exaggerate to prove your point. It just makes you look ridiculous.

That probably isn't far off.

I just looked and the average weekly rental for a 3 bedroom Bethany house is 4300 per week. Flights to Spain next summer are about $750. Food is far cheaper as are accommodations (2 bedroom in central Madrid during the summer is 1500-2500 for 2 weeks). I bet it would be cheaper to go to Spain for 2 weeks.

Where are you seeing $750? I just checked and iAd to mad for 6/25-7/5, the cheapest is $807 but requires an 18 hour flight in exonomy! Reasonable flight times are $1051 for economy. So I think if you are talking about a family of 4, you need at least 2 weeks vacation to make Europe more affordable plus need to be willing to fly economy red eye.

Also, I’m no longer psyched about renting apartments in anticipation in any place since I saw a new thing about the number of people who have secret cameras in those places and are uploading videos to the dark web. Particularly with my teen girls…..I’m really creeped out by the idea that someone could be filming them. We’ve also found that the mattresses in rental apartments are so cheap no one gets a decent nights sleep. I’ll compromise on a lot when traveling but everyone is just so cranky after sleeping on bad mattresses plus my husbands back will actually go out — so that is a priority for me.
Obviously those are preferences for us but I feel like all the people who are saying Europe is so much cheaper are comparing apples and oranges, or ignoring some significant compromises you have to make in order for Europe to be cheaper.

I agree food, activities, train tickets are all way cheaper in Europe. Hotel prices vary widely depending on where you are. Like London is pretty comparable to DC prices, and I think Madrid was maybe more, at least in summer. Small towns tend to be cheaper but that’s true here too. I guess the difference is that small town Spain or Italy is more interesting than a random small town in most of America.

I see under 700 on Air Canada and Lufthansa/United flights. Of course, those leave Monday and come back on a Thursday. So 16 days.

The point isn't whether your particular itinerary with the specifics you want is cheaper,, it is whether in general overseas travel is competitive with domestic travel. And using the example of 2 weeks in Spain (generally) versus 2 weeks in Bethany Beach, I think it is safe to say that it is competitive in price (if not cheaper) to travel overseas. Is that because the US is overpriced or is it because overseas is just cheap?

I hear what you are saying but I think the people saying Europe is so cheap often have little asterix. So your example of leaving on a Monday and returning on a Thursday — that’s a 3 week work vacation for only 17 days of vacation. Whereas a U.S. destination if you took 3 weeks off work you could have 23 days of vacation. And flying economy for like 10 hours versus driving in your comfortable car for a few hours. There are some significant trade offs. We do Europe vacations and I’m not an extravagant person but by the time I do things that I think are reasonable compromises — staying someplace relatively convenient, flying on days that work with my work schedule and the kids’ schedules, it really just isn’t cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We aren’t too heavy into the credit card/points game, but spouse and I recently got United Chase cards. With sign-on bonuses, we were able to get roundtrip tickets to Florence, Italy. The travel is for summer 2026 and we booked last month. These flights are priced in dollars at $1200 on TAP, with a stop in Portugal, and at $1700 nonstop on United. The flights for us our 40,000 United points each way for our family of four. We had our own United points, which combined with the sign-on bonuses, gave us free flights. The flights are now 70,000 points, so while it felt insane to book a summer 2026 flight in November, it looks like it saved us- though maybe the price will drop again?

To be clear, are you flying on the nonstop IAD-Rome, or on TAP to Florence with a stop in Lisbon? Pretty sure United doesn't fly to Florence (it's a very small airport).

I got it mixed up. Flying nonstop on United to Venice. Most of vacation is in Florence/Tuscany.

[Anonymous]

People could have such extraordinary vacations in the South Pacific - Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu - for less than the cost of renting a beach house in Bethany or Rehoboth or the Outer Banks in August.

For more informed people, the US isn't competing these days. Lame and expensive. There are far better opportunities and experiences overseas than what the US tourism industry is offering at these price levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People could have such extraordinary vacations in the South Pacific - Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu - for less than the cost of renting a beach house in Bethany or Rehoboth or the Outer Banks in August.

For more informed people, the US isn't competing these days. Lame and expensive. There are far better opportunities and experiences overseas than what the US tourism industry is offering at these price levels.

But doesn’t this only make sense if you can take several weeks of vacation at a time? Flying around the world for a one week vacation doesn’t seem economical, comfortable, or good for the environment., I think the issue is that most Americans just can’t afford to take off 2-3 weeks at a time. I don’t think I’ve ever taken a vacation longer than 10 days. I’m not the type to rent a house in rehobeth for a month but the people I know that do that do it specifically so that one or both spouses can drive back and forth to DC for work meetings as needed.