Anonymous wrote:Are you outdoorsy? I'd vote for the Pacific Northwest. Seattle, Olympia, and then out to the islands in Puget Sound. If you prefer cities, you could tack on Vancouver too.

Not going to happen for $5K to $10K, unless OP happens to live within driving distance.

My vote would be Mexico - tons of history, culture, and nature and could definitely be done on this budget.

Anonymous wrote:The other area to consider since you have 2 weeks + is a Southeast Asia trip. If you can get very discounted economy flights that is your biggest expense. Look at flights to Vietnam, Malaysia. Indonesia or Thailand on Google flights. That would likely be $5-6k economy minimum, but then other expenses eould not be as high as in the US.

I think for 4 people airfare is going to eat up too much of this budget, but I do agree with going somewhere internationally where the dollar will go further. I'd look at Central or South America. Belize, Guatemala, Ecuador. Flights will be cheaper than to Asia and food/lodging/activities will be very affordable.

Anonymous wrote:I was thinking Costa Rica. Direct flights from bwi are not that expensive. Rent a house for a month and travel around. Eat like a local.

Im sure it’s possible to do this but our trip to CR was much more expensive than I expected it to be.

Anonymous wrote:Are you outdoorsy? I'd vote for the Pacific Northwest. Seattle, Olympia, and then out to the islands in Puget Sound. If you prefer cities, you could tack on Vancouver too.

Second this, especially for July/august. Highly recommend going to Vancouver if you can

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP says the trip should be 1-2 weeks, not 4 weeks.

Chicago has great museums and fun food to try. You can find reasonable clean hotels downtown in the $200-$250/night range.

Oh jeez I read one month in the first sentence and didn't notice the later timeframe, thanks.

That’s pitiful.

Oh be quiet.

-NP

The other area to consider since you have 2 weeks + is a Southeast Asia trip. If you can get very discounted economy flights that is your biggest expense. Look at flights to Vietnam, Malaysia. Indonesia or Thailand on Google flights. That would likely be $5-6k economy minimum, but then other expenses eould not be as high as in the US.

Example 1 month rental.

Check out this place in Costa Rica I found on Vrbo. https://t.vrbo.io/Ab3x5hEoZSb

I was thinking Costa Rica. Direct flights from bwi are not that expensive. Rent a house for a month and travel around. Eat like a local.

Where has your family already been? What do your kids like to do on vacation? What are your goals for the trip?

If I had a month to travel, I’d mix it up: city, beach, mountains/lakes, etc. I’d focus on some big items to wow the kids (amusement park, fishing, whatever your kids like—or might like to try).

The cruise suggestion is a good one. I’ve never met a kid who didn’t enjoy a cruise. Then you can piggyback a road trip on the back-end.

Do you know about Home Exchange? It's a little bit of a life hack, if you are willing to let a family stay in your home. Free exchange.

We rented a house on the water in the finger lakes for $2200 for a week. I agree with other posters to drive north. I would just search Airbnb for homes on the water.

Montreal?

Are you outdoorsy? I'd vote for the Pacific Northwest. Seattle, Olympia, and then out to the islands in Puget Sound. If you prefer cities, you could tack on Vancouver too.

Anonymous wrote:Take the kids on a nice long cruise.

Road trip to Florida for a cruise. Make a couple stops on the drive back. Charleston and an area beach, perhaps? Williamsburg?

Or visit some FL beaches afterwards but stay in hotels or airbnbs further inland.