This just sounds like a normal trip to me. We pretty much always move from place to place during a trip (exception being something like a beach vacation).

We often do split stays. It gives you a different perspective on an area or more options to meet everyone’s interests. This spring we split a ski trip between 2 western states - 3-4 days in each. The drive was about 4 hours but we skied in the morning, changed clothes at the ski area and drove in the afternoon across beautiful country (craters of the moon in Idaho), and arrived in time for a nice dinner. I don’t feel like it was a wasted day even though it was a chunk of driving.

The year before we had our first kid my DH and I took an awesome 10 night vacation…and stayed in 6 different places! lol. It worked well.

I agree you should split the trip. Alternatively, I’d be very surprised if you can’t find a ranch that also has luxury elements. I haven’t been but my family members who have gone to Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch, for instance, say it’s amazing (and they like being pampered).

I think spilt stays are great if the trip is day 6+ nights in two hotels, no more. Anything shorter or more hotels and it feels like a hassle. I say this as someone whose husband likes to do 6 nights in 3 hotels and, with only two nights in each place, it feels like we are always packing and unpacking! I am always losing things in this process!! But if you have a few nights in a couple places that works better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do a lot of split vacations, 3-4 days each in two different places.

I'm more like your DH, I'd love the ranch resort and have no interest in a luxury hotel in town. I'd pick up non-perishable food for breakfast, lunch and snacks at a store in town on my way there, and just eat dinner at the ranch restaurant. But if the luxury hotel is what you want, it's your vacation too. Splitting the time sounds like a perfect compromise.

+1 the bulk of our vacations are split across 2 places. Usually a city + national park or other nature/hiking place. The former is often the city with the airport we flew into. Nice to experience different things over a 7-10 day trip.

And I would add that unless it's a very long drive it doesn't really waste a day. We do stuff during the day like any other day (you have the car for all the stuff).

Anonymous wrote:We do a lot of split vacations, 3-4 days each in two different places.

I'm more like your DH, I'd love the ranch resort and have no interest in a luxury hotel in town. I'd pick up non-perishable food for breakfast, lunch and snacks at a store in town on my way there, and just eat dinner at the ranch restaurant. But if the luxury hotel is what you want, it's your vacation too. Splitting the time sounds like a perfect compromise.

+1 the bulk of our vacations are split across 2 places. Usually a city + national park or other nature/hiking place. The former is often the city with the airport we flew into. Nice to experience different things over a 7-10 day trip.

Personally have never done a not split stay vacation

Anonymous wrote:My tip for this is to stay at the nicer hotel on the second leg so it doesn't feel like a downgrade. I also try to align this with the more relaxing portion of the trip.

+1. Was coming here to say this.

We almost always split stay. It is fun and makes for two different vacation experiences

My tip for this is to stay at the nicer hotel on the second leg so it doesn't feel like a downgrade. I also try to align this with the more relaxing portion of the trip.

Thanks, everyone! I guess I was majorly overthinking this! I truly appreciate all of your input!

Definitely makes sense to do a split stay so you can enjoy different amenities and be closer to the activities and sights you want to see. We ended up in 4 hotels over 10 days on a recent trip to Yellowstone/Grand Teton and it worked out perfectly fine.

To not waste a day, on checkout day for one place, we would head out for a morning activity, come back and pack up the room and check out. Aim for early check in at the next place if possible and if not have a stop or two to sightsee along the way.

We almost never stay in the same hotel the whole vacation. Yes, people do it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally prefer split stays.

+1 we always do this

+2