We went on work trips with my mom. Her flight and hotel were paid for, and my dad and I would either drive there or fly (depending on distance). It was usually at a cool place (she worked for an association of lawyers) so I would enjoy the hotel pool and my dad and I would explore the city, then my mom would join us in the evenings.

We did on trip to Europe when I was 4 to visit family. No other trips, ever. Not camping, not once have I stayed in a hotel with my family of origin.

Anonymous wrote:Well, I'm MC now, and I don't do much traveling because I have to save my leave to substitute for maternity. But we generally do a week in the summer to visit family at a northern mountain type destination (Adirondacks, White Mountains, etc). We both camped as kids, and we do weekend camping with ours, but our parents now like to rent a big cabin and we appreciate sponging off their generosity in exchange for some bulk cooking and time with the grandkids.

Similar here. My ILs are super generous with family vacations, they will rent a house every couple years to get everyone together, this year in the Smokies. With my family we have split the cost of a beach house once. We like to camp but with an infant and toddler it's not ideal right now, hopefully in a couple years again.

A key way to reduce costs is travelling in the offseason, which isn't always feasible once the kids are in school but take advantage of it while they are young. Neither of us travel as much for work as we used to but when we were travelling frequently it was a good way to build up FF miles.

Well, I'm MC now, and I don't do much traveling because I have to save my leave to substitute for maternity. But we generally do a week in the summer to visit family at a northern mountain type destination (Adirondacks, White Mountains, etc). We both camped as kids, and we do weekend camping with ours, but our parents now like to rent a big cabin and we appreciate sponging off their generosity in exchange for some bulk cooking and time with the grandkids.

The question isn’t what lower to MC did years ago (when traveling wasn’t as common) but what do the do NOW.

We planned day trips throughout the summer, which coincided with my father’s work schedule. Went to the beach and boardwalk (with a cooler full of lunch) for one long day. We’re allowed to bring a friend. Went to a lake. Signed up for the town’s day camp (very cheap, did things like crafts and swings). Was fine, since I knew none of the types of people who live around this region!

We used to rent a cabin on a lake for a week as a kid. A few long car rides- once to Montreal. One trip to Ireland as a family to visit relatives.

I was a single mother making just under $60K and would take a trip to a different country every other year with my kid. I lived within my means, pretty frugal. I only shopped for things when I needed them not random shopping trips for clothes manis/pedis, etc. I saved a lot, took leftovers to work for lunch, no cable, no car note, and did not have to pay daycare since my kid was older by then. I made it a priority to fund my vacation savings with any extra money I might have. I worked pt seasonally and any money from that went into that bucket. I traveled during off seasons, stayed in rentals and didn't spend a crazy amount while on vacation. The years I didn't need to fly somewhere I'd take a long weekend vacation to the beach or somewhere close.

Anonymous wrote: Obviously not complaining, we're still very fortunate, but overseas vacays are out of the question. The airfares alone...

We can do some of the "splurge" vacations because of points/miles covering airfare and some hotels. Cuts vacation price in half or so. Otherwise would be too costly and not worth it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Especially in this area. And I mean middle class not UMC. Not “I make 200k plus but I feel middle class.” Even some of the beaches DCUM sneers at can be pricey. Are people going into debt to afford it?

Our HHI is just above 200k and we go to someone of the places mentioned here that are lower to middle class. I don't understand how so many people can afford vacations to Caribbean, Europe, etc.

+1
We're house poor and can barely do one week at Bethany, plus one week with relatives at the Cape. Obviously not complaining, we're still very fortunate, but overseas vacays are out of the question. The airfares alone...

Anonymous wrote:Especially in this area. And I mean middle class not UMC. Not “I make 200k plus but I feel middle class.” Even some of the beaches DCUM sneers at can be pricey. Are people going into debt to afford it?

Our HHI is just above 200k and we go to someone of the places mentioned here that are lower to middle class. I don't understand how so many people can afford vacations to Caribbean, Europe, etc.

used to go to the beach or a lake for a week or two every summer. when i was older and my dad had some business trips we would sometimes join. that's when we went to california and british columbia. i do remember one big trip to montreal and quebec. we drove from ny. and we had one trip in HS to Europe to visit my dad's relatives.

We rarely went on vacation: a long weekend to NYC, a couple of road trips to FL, but every trip was memorable because they were so unusual. My own children grew up going on at least one major trip (Europe, CA, Cape Cod, Disney) every year, and though they are appreciative, they probably don't have the same kind of long-term memories because it was a regular thing.

Anonymous wrote:They don’t.

- kid who grew up lmc

+1

Anonymous wrote:No souvenirs or anything like that.

Oh -- I had forgotten about this. We NEVER got souvenirs. I remember going to the rare Icecapades or Circus (tickets gotten on discount, of course!) and being the only kid not hold some sort of tchotchke.