Anonymous wrote:DC attracts people who have intl experience and who are travelers. Virtually everyone I know has spent some time abroad. It is not surprising then, that once these people start earning money, they prioritize travel. In other parts of the country, they might prioritize cars, houses, hobbies, etc.

It is moreso that some people did not get these things (posh vacations) growing up, and they are overcompensating - not that they are going to visit their immediate family in another country. There is some of that (people seeing their immediate family overseas), but mostly not. It is not that different that the destination wedding rationalization "but *I* deserve it". Eh whatever, keep telling yourself that.

Anonymous wrote:Baltimore to Reykjavik is $310 round-trip right now, only 4 months in advance. Departing 6/14 on the 12:45am flight, returning 6/22 (on the 9:10pm flight). Yes, you have to pay for checked bags but with a family, just consolidate into 1-2 suitcases.

Yes, and we've been there. It's a rich mans country. The flights are the very least of your expenses.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baltimore to Reykjavik is $310 round-trip right now, only 4 months in advance. Departing 6/14 on the 12:45am flight, returning 6/22 (on the 9:10pm flight). Yes, you have to pay for checked bags but with a family, just consolidate into 1-2 suitcases.

But then you'd be in Reykjavik.

NP: it's beautiful and worth a trip.

I agree but this is not even slightly unique to DC area. Friends in NY, Boston and LA also travel with their kids every school break, as evidenced by FB posts galore. It is hard when your kids feel like the only ones who have stayed local over a school break, though - we take off a few days to do things together as a family but do have to work others and then the kids are bored because they claim “no” friends are around.

Anonymous wrote:Baltimore to Reykjavik is $310 round-trip right now, only 4 months in advance. Departing 6/14 on the 12:45am flight, returning 6/22 (on the 9:10pm flight). Yes, you have to pay for checked bags but with a family, just consolidate into 1-2 suitcases.

But then you'd be in Reykjavik.

Baltimore to Reykjavik is $310 round-trip right now, only 4 months in advance. Departing 6/14 on the 12:45am flight, returning 6/22 (on the 9:10pm flight). Yes, you have to pay for checked bags but with a family, just consolidate into 1-2 suitcases.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were you unaware that you moved in among rich people?

If I could, I would take more vacations.

Um -- I lived somewhere comparable in NY and I imagine OP lived someplace comparable in Chicago, so don't act like there aren't rich people outside this area. But the desperation to run away every time there is a day off is definitely exclusive to this area.

We have three major airports that offer international flights for less than $400 round trip. Any savvy person could travel with their kids for a fraction of what they spend on club sports every year.

Serious here. I have not been able to find this from Dulles or national. Occasionally from bwi.

Are you really able to find $400 rt during spring or winter break?

New poster here who travels a lot.

WOW Air from BWI has $400-ish flights to Europe, but you need to book early. They are low-frills.

Then Southwest and JetBlue in particular have direct flights to countries south of here, like in the Caribbean and also Puerto Rico (still the US, but quite a different experience). Those can be easily had for sub-$400, but you need to book ahead.

We're flying to Europe in July, and booked our tickets last September. That trip will cost about the same as a spring break trip to Florida next month, that we booked two weeks ago.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK you think an week long vacation that is NOT international is a BIG deal? That's weird.

NP - I know it's shocking but some of us grew up in families where we may have vacationed together 2 times in the 18 years at home and 1 of those was like a driving vacation to the outer banks. So yeah to us -- when you are making $$ and can take a flying vacation EVERY SINGLE YEAR no matter what, that is a BIG deal. Sorry we didn't all grow up like you.

I grew up poor. Nevertheless, my family always valued experiences and travel over money. Taking only a week off per year and working the rest of the time is slavery.

Is what?

Is WHAT?

You should be ashamed of yourself for posting that.

I am not ashamed a bit. Working all year long to have more material things, bigger house, fancier car, brand name clothes without having a free time to spend with your family is a modern slavery. It is sad that people lost their freedom so much that they cannot even talk openly about it and get offended.

NP. Good God. For all the patting yourselves on the back I see in this thread for flying to international destinations a few times a year, there are some messed-up values in this thread. PP, here is a primer on what modern slavery looks like:

https://www.cfr.org/interactives/modern-slavery/

Tix to Europe in August have been in the 400s both this summer and last. Not to every destination but to many. We bought them. Way less than had been over past decade. There have been tix to Asia in the 500s and when considering all costs, may be the less expensive trip.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were you unaware that you moved in among rich people?

If I could, I would take more vacations.

Um -- I lived somewhere comparable in NY and I imagine OP lived someplace comparable in Chicago, so don't act like there aren't rich people outside this area. But the desperation to run away every time there is a day off is definitely exclusive to this area.

We have three major airports that offer international flights for less than $400 round trip. Any savvy person could travel with their kids for a fraction of what they spend on club sports every year.

Serious here. I have not been able to find this from Dulles or national. Occasionally from bwi.

Are you really able to find $400 rt during spring or winter break?

You just need to be open to all option and always be on the look. Two years ago when Norwegian air started to flight from Baltimore, we got a direct flight to Martinique $90 round trip/each for 4 people.

Really? You went to Martinique during high season when kids are out is school and travel is at its peak?

Sure, I find deals ALL THE TIME on skyscanner, but those great deals are always when kids are in school. We fly down to Charleston to our house at IOP and even that traditionally cheap direct flight out of Regan is 300-400 during 3 day weekends, SB, and Christmas.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were you unaware that you moved in among rich people?

If I could, I would take more vacations.

Um -- I lived somewhere comparable in NY and I imagine OP lived someplace comparable in Chicago, so don't act like there aren't rich people outside this area. But the desperation to run away every time there is a day off is definitely exclusive to this area.

We have three major airports that offer international flights for less than $400 round trip. Any savvy person could travel with their kids for a fraction of what they spend on club sports every year.

Tell me where to find $400 RT tix abroad?

Right...when everyone else is traveling who has kids. They don't exist, unless you pull your kids from school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK you think an week long vacation that is NOT international is a BIG deal? That's weird.

NP - I know it's shocking but some of us grew up in families where we may have vacationed together 2 times in the 18 years at home and 1 of those was like a driving vacation to the outer banks. So yeah to us -- when you are making $$ and can take a flying vacation EVERY SINGLE YEAR no matter what, that is a BIG deal. Sorry we didn't all grow up like you.

I grew up poor. Nevertheless, my family always valued experiences and travel over money. Taking only a week off per year and working the rest of the time is slavery.

Is what?

Is WHAT?

You should be ashamed of yourself for posting that.

I am not ashamed a bit. Working all year long to have more material things, bigger house, fancier car, brand name clothes without having a free time to spend with your family is a modern slavery. It is sad that people lost their freedom so much that they cannot even talk openly about it and get offended.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were you unaware that you moved in among rich people?

If I could, I would take more vacations.

Um -- I lived somewhere comparable in NY and I imagine OP lived someplace comparable in Chicago, so don't act like there aren't rich people outside this area. But the desperation to run away every time there is a day off is definitely exclusive to this area.

We have three major airports that offer international flights for less than $400 round trip. Any savvy person could travel with their kids for a fraction of what they spend on club sports every year.

Serious here. I have not been able to find this from Dulles or national. Occasionally from bwi.

Are you really able to find $400 rt during spring or winter break?

You just need to be open to all option and always be on the look. Two years ago when Norwegian air started to flight from Baltimore, we got a direct flight to Martinique $90 round trip/each for 4 people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were you unaware that you moved in among rich people?

If I could, I would take more vacations.

Um -- I lived somewhere comparable in NY and I imagine OP lived someplace comparable in Chicago, so don't act like there aren't rich people outside this area. But the desperation to run away every time there is a day off is definitely exclusive to this area.

We have three major airports that offer international flights for less than $400 round trip. Any savvy person could travel with their kids for a fraction of what they spend on club sports every year.

Serious here. I have not been able to find this from Dulles or national. Occasionally from bwi.

Are you really able to find $400 rt during spring or winter break?

We probably do some sort of out of town trip once a month or so -- but many are a quick road trip with a cheap motel stay, or a night or two camping.

We are very lucky to be able to do those and many people would find that to be extravagant (or would not have the time off work to swing this). But OP is talking about a (new??) car for a 16th birthday -- I would consider that to be an extraordinary extravagance. But it seems to me that it's less of an income disparity between OP and her neighbors, and more that they are making different choices with their money.