Depressed about international travel costs

[Anonymous]

We bought 4 non stop roundtrip tickets to Amsterdam in United for under $1800 total, traveling during spring break week in April. But we bought them last August when I saw a great deal (and decided to go to Amsterdam based on the price of the tickets). If you book in advance and are flexible you can get great deals, even during popular dates (although admittedly prices are usually higher over the summer...). I used google flights to find a good deal over our dates (and booked through Lufthansa, it’s a codeshare). It’s a peak travel week in Amsterdam due to the tulips, do you don’t necessarily have to go someplace where it’s off season either.

[Anonymous]

Go in low season and fly in the middle of the week.

[Anonymous]

My grandmother passed away this year. She left me and my two high school kids $25,000 each. Complete windfall. I had no clue any of us were in her will. My kids each get to use up to $2500 of theirs for a high school or college program that would otherwise me out of the budget. Kid 1 is doing a pre-college summer program this year. Kid 2 is biding her time. The rest of their money is going for college.

I’m using my inheritance in 3 parts. The first third is the the airfare, hotel/ AirBNB costs, rental car for a part of the trip for a 2 week family trip to Europe this summer. The second 1/3 is waiting for a trip with DH in four years— for our 25th anniversary, which is the year our youngest goes to college. I’d like to go someplace in the fall, which has been off-lints for travel with kids at home and in school. And the third is a trip somewhere in the US for a week or so with each kid— just the two of us— the summer after they graduate from high school and before college.

I wanted to do each of these trips. But couldn’t justify it with college costs about to hit. Some of the family budget will go for the miscellaneous expenditures, museum tickets and food for Europe this summer. But, my grandmother is making it possible. I think that would make her happy.

So, two weeks in Europe, here we come!

[Anonymous]

We have averaged about five international trips per year for the last 15 years or so. It can be done with planning and budgeting. And as others have said, it’s all about priorities. But there’s no question that the costs have gone up considerably in recent years, that’s a fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My grandmother passed away this year. She left me and my two high school kids $25,000 each. Complete windfall. I had no clue any of us were in her will. My kids each get to use up to $2500 of theirs for a high school or college program that would otherwise me out of the budget. Kid 1 is doing a pre-college summer program this year. Kid 2 is biding her time. The rest of their money is going for college.

I’m using my inheritance in 3 parts. The first third is the the airfare, hotel/ AirBNB costs, rental car for a part of the trip for a 2 week family trip to Europe this summer. The second 1/3 is waiting for a trip with DH in four years— for our 25th anniversary, which is the year our youngest goes to college. I’d like to go someplace in the fall, which has been off-lints for travel with kids at home and in school. And the third is a trip somewhere in the US for a week or so with each kid— just the two of us— the summer after they graduate from high school and before college.

I wanted to do each of these trips. But couldn’t justify it with college costs about to hit. Some of the family budget will go for the miscellaneous expenditures, museum tickets and food for Europe this summer. But, my grandmother is making it possible. I think that would make her happy.

So, two weeks in Europe, here we come!

Um I think this thread is for people who didn’t get windfall inheritances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I know my vent is whiny and a first world problem. I'm also just sincerely curious how people can afford international travel both time- and money-wise...

Not whiny IMO. I wonder the same thing. There are so many families in my circle who take at least one overseas trip each year. We can only afford it once every 5 years or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I know my vent is whiny and a first world problem. I'm also just sincerely curious how people can afford international travel both time- and money-wise...

Not whiny IMO. I wonder the same thing. There are so many families in my circle who take at least one overseas trip each year. We can only afford it once every 5 years or so.

We don't go every year but have gone every other year recently. We make it work with miles/points for airfare and to cover a couple of hotel nights. Still not a free trip by any means, but 2 weeks in Europe we are estimating around $6K all-in, about half of that for 3 bedroo Airbnbs for 11 nights in a two places.

[Anonymous]

Our parents live in Europe and we have relatives in Asia, and like many international families we live with the goal of being able to travel to see them regularly (every year for Europe and every 5 years for Asia).

So unlike your situation where you consider the expense an unwelcome and unexpected addition to your regular bills, we know we have to budget for this, and our daily lifestyle reflects this added burden.

For our last Asian trip for 4 people and 2 weeks, it was 15K.
Europe is cheaper and we can stay at our parents’, unless we all take a vacation together and go to hotels.

[Anonymous]

Are you guys only flying business? We went to Italy in the late winter last year. 3 people (DC Poor). $1750 flights. AirBnb average of $90/night travel between Rome and Venice $250. We grocery shopped. Ate street vendor and small cafe type food. So first we book the flights. Biggest expense gone. Then Airbnb. Then we start a squirrel fund for in country dining and activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you guys only flying business? We went to Italy in the late winter last year. 3 people (DC Poor). $1750 flights. AirBnb average of $90/night travel between Rome and Venice $250. We grocery shopped. Ate street vendor and small cafe type food. So first we book the flights. Biggest expense gone. Then Airbnb. Then we start a squirrel fund for in country dining and activities.

Traveling in Europe in late winter prices for airfare and lodging are almost half what they are in the summer. A $90 Airbnb in Rome in the winter will be $200 from May-September. Similar for airfare- you probably got tickets for $600/person and its tough to beat $900-1000 to Italy in the summer. We do similarly to you for meals- eat in for breakfast, half and half packed meals and eating out for lunch, then mostly eat at simple places for dinner. But even with that you can easily spend $125/day on food for 2 adults and 2 kids. So food can add up quick. Although I guess you could really count it vs. what you would spend at home so maybe its not as much as you might think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's all timing. I fly to Europe about every 2-3 months. If I fly outside of summer, my tickets are $800-1000. If I fly in summer, they are $1,300-1,600. Same route and same carrier every time. It's just supply and demand.

Right now it looks like I have to go to Amsterdam in July for work. Tickets on the dates I need are pricing at $2,400 (direct flight; with connections is $1,500), though it drops to $1,600 if I stay the weekend. THat's still high -- I can fly there in winter for $800.

Basically what I realized now that we have kids is that if you want to fly when they are off school, that's when everyone else wants to go also so you'll pay dearly for it.

Compare that to the $3,000-$4,000 I pay to fly to China in business class when I fly in October/November (17 hours of traveling). There's simply no demand then.

Only being able to go during school vacations is killer, cost-wise. My dc’s old school had spring break at odd times, and it was great — one year we went to Paris because it was cheaper than domestic flights. His current school has spring break around Easter and it’s awful. Not sure why more schools don’t wise up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have averaged about five international trips per year for the last 15 years or so. It can be done with planning and budgeting. And as others have said, it’s all about priorities. But there’s no question that the costs have gone up considerably in recent years, that’s a fact.

Average of 5? impressive that you even have the time.

[Anonymous]

Get serious about frequent flier miles - there are some greats websites. It takes some time to do, and organize, but it works.

Once you get free tickets, economizing in Europe is pretty easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I know my vent is whiny and a first world problem. I'm also just sincerely curious how people can afford international travel both time- and money-wise...

It's not easy, but it's doable. It comes down to priorities. If you prioritize travel, then you cut other costs. That's what we do.

[Anonymous]

We’ve had great luck with Norwegian Air for our last trip to Europe and our upcoming trip to Italy this May.

We are flying direct from Oakland to Rome for three people in late May for $2,200– all costs included.

Three years ago we flew on norwegian air to Stockholm and return from Copenhagen for about $450 each ticket. Direct flights as well. Very good experience.

We live north of Oakland, but make the drive down for these direct flights.

Look into Norwegian Air and look to drive out to airports further our. You may be surprised.