What about a driving distance trip where kids could do a spring break camp? Outside of this area they aren’t as expensive and hard to get in. My friend does this during the summer in South Carolina.

It’s the kids club that is killing you here with that budget.
Jet blue usually has the cheapest flights to Florida. And a cruise might work but I think only disney has 5 person rooms so you’d need two, and disney is outside your budget, as is two rooms on a carnival cruise.

I think your best bet is seeing what costco has for cheap and then trying to get a SW wanna get away flight — they fly to DR, Jamaica, Aruba ,PR and Cancun. But you need to be ready to book the moment those flights open for purchase to get the wanna get away.

I also have three kids. Mine are teens now and I wish they would spend time with me! I’d suggest rethinking the kids club thing. My big vacation a-ha moment was when I realized we did not all have to do things together. So if my husband stayed napping with one, I could take the other shopping, etc. Someone could stay at the beach with one kid and another could do inside and play card games with the other.

If you decide not to do the kids club, I love the marriot vacation club properties with the two bedroom suites. Hilton head grande ocean, Aruba surf, Marco island are all great….they aren’t cheap but if you have a ton of Marriott points that might work for you. With three kids those 2 br suites are so wonderful.

Costco Travel is awesome. We use them all of the time. They have vacation packages at all price points from the Four Seasons to the Hilton Garden Inn. Often up to 20% of rack rate.

Their website is very easy to navigate and user friendly. But they also have actual travel agents at their 800# who will talk to you on the phone and help you book your travel and answer Qs for no additional charge.

And you can make a deposit and make payments over time if you choose.

I'm confused...have you never planned out, purchased airline tix, book a hotel/condo, rental car, etc before?

What you have done prior to this?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cruise out of Baltimore/Norfolk/Philly/NYC within driving distance of the DMV on Royal Caribbean or Carnival. Book through Costco and book now for next Spring.

I cannot figure out how to book now for next year!

You may be planning a bit too far in advance. Just wait until the cruises are released for then.

Anonymous wrote:Cruise out of Baltimore/Norfolk/Philly/NYC within driving distance of the DMV on Royal Caribbean or Carnival. Book through Costco and book now for next Spring.

I cannot figure out how to book now for next year!

Your previous budget of $8K total was more possible. This 6K budget will cover a drive to a Florida beach front airBNB rental that is not luxurious and groceries for the week.

Get a condo and bring someone along to watch the kids. Try Royal Shell for Captiva/South Seas and other Florida locations or rent directly from an owner on southseastimeshares.com if rebuild from hurricane will be complete by then.
You can fly into RSW from DC for less than $200pp if you book at right time and pick up a car.

Yes to two rooms. No clue how you can do this for $6000. Maybe rent a condo?

Anonymous wrote:How old are your kids? Five people flying for $1k pp is already 5k. You need to raise your budget. Get an Airbnb. I do all my travel planning myself.

To go to FL she doesn’t need $1k pp. $400pp would do it.

If your kids are elementary school age or younger, don’t go during spring break. Go at a non peak time. It is so much less expensive and they really won’t miss much. Do it now while you still can.

Can you hire a nanny to go with you and stay somewhere within driving distance that has lots of kids activities?

Anonymous wrote:Spring Break for Dummies 2025…explain this to me like I’m 5.


How do people plan this?
Costco?
Travel agent?
Cruise?
Marriott points? Do they do all inclusive?

We are a family of 5 which makes things tricky (do we need 2 rooms?)

We also have a budget of around $6000 or under.

Just want a nice hotel and to not deal with my kids so a kids club is a must.

I would reach out to a travel agent. You don’t seem to travel enough to have accumulated enough Marriot points. A good travel agent can help you plan a more realistic vacation for your budget and make sure you have the quality vacation you’re targeting. If you don’t want to work with an agent I would try to find a reasonable place to drive to that and try to rent a timeshare. You don’t have to own to rent and you still avoid the sales presentation. You can go somewhere nice, stay in a two bedroom timeshare or large studio timeshare, and not blow your budget on paying for a second hotel room.

I’m not a cruise person but I think people saying cruise are right if you want (1) inexpensive, (2) organized kids stuff, and (3) not spending $$$ on plane tickets for 5 people. I know people who have found Costco deals. Cruise out of Baltimore (if that’s a thing again) or if you can stomach the drive, Florida. Or plan a ski trip, stay at airbnb, and put the kids in ski school but the timing of local spring breaks is bad for that next year and it doesn’t sound like that’s what you’re looking for.

Cruise out of Baltimore/Norfolk/Philly/NYC within driving distance of the DMV on Royal Caribbean or Carnival. Book through Costco and book now for next Spring.