Are you frugal on vacation?

[savvy06]

Yes and no. Since our daughter was born we haven't gone on that many vacations, but we've had several, 99% mostly in the US. We look out far in advance for the best deals to book a flight, hotel and car, and always request a room with a fridge. Most of the time the hotels are 3 star rating, ( never below that ) but we're fine with that because we're mostly out and about and use the room only for sleeping and short naps. Also through the internet we've been able to find the locations of regular grocery stores in the area we vacation, so as soon as we arrive we purchase our deli stuff and fruit to use for our daily lunches. That's what we normally eat at home, plus we're not big breakfast eaters. We pack and bring along all of our snacks, but as far as dinners, we're on vacation, so we eat at really nice restaurants, and try to eat things we haven't had before. Somethimes it turns out worth the money and somethimes it doesn't but it's worth the experience.

We hardly spend any money on souveniers, but always purchase post cards for our own use. I keep a seperate photo album for travel, and along with our vacation pictures I include the post cards. Makes it easier to remember the places we've been to.

lrjohnson, I agree with you on the burek thing. I'm not Bosnian, but burek is one of the Eastern European and Medeteranian specialties, and boy is it good. I grew up with it, and don't eat it as often, ( too greasy for me, and I prefer the cheese or spinach one ) but whenever I get the cravings ( which is about once or twice a month ) I get it from the ethnic store not far from where I live. My husband is an American, and he doesn't like it that much, but my 3 yr old loves it.

[cicy33]

we go on vacation once a year and usually it is for a week. for the past two years we have done as above and stayed at a cabin where we cooked mostly in and budgeted so we could spend other ways. This year is different. we are going to disney. taking four kids (yes we are insane) I am sacrificing all year for this and as such I am NOT being frugal on vacation beyond the already set budget to go. I am not cooking or cleaning or nothing else while I am on vacation. I am hoping to get a good package with an all inclusive meal and activity. So for this year, nope. Once we get back to reality and for a couple of years definitely!
ooops, i mean next september. I am sooo ready for that month!!

[Staceyy]

For many years I traveled for business and accumulated lots of hotel and airline points. Also, dh is a long distance truck driver who stays in motels each night. Consequently, we've racked up a lot of hotel, motel and airline points. We've gone to Hawaii using airline points and hotel points. I am not presently working but still have lots of accumulated points. Usually though, when I get the urge to travel, I go with dh on one of his long distance trips. His company allows me to travel with him.

[Scanner]

I guess vacations are one time where we are not necessarily activating the "frugality sensors."

We generally stay at budget or moderate hotels - that would be frugal. We try to pack food, as much as we can - that would be frugal.

However, we vacation in Disney World and while Disney is a great place, it hardly could be considered a "frugal vacation." Many places for 4 to 10 days could be had for much less money, I'll admit. Although we are not doing a lot of the expensive extras that Disney has - golf, tours, racing, etc.

We also stay in the parks and fly down from Jersey, even if driving would be cheaper. I just can't to stand the thought of being in my car for 18 hours with my two boys.

[crabbypatty]

I am more willing to spend on vacataion but I don't go hog wild.

Personally I love all-inclusive resports. You can go and never spend a dime except on tips for the housecleaning staff etc. It's all pre-paid. We haven't done that in a while and won't be doing it in the near future but IMO it's nice way to vacation. I just wish I could fiund them stateside.

[baking23]

I try to be. For the last few years some of my high school friends and I have traveled together, which has been irritating and fun. I spent less than $500 for two weeks, one in DC and one in NYC, staying at their houses helped a lot.

Last year I think I took $200. I always try and come home with some money leftover. Basically I'll buy food and tickets to zoo (attractions) for myself. I don't shop for clothes and I'm a really light packer, which irritates them, however I enjoy not shopping. I've always tried to be polite about it before, this year if I go somewhere with them and they want to shop, I'll bring a book and sit somewhere.

Of course that'll really bother them, but that's their problem.

[Aleta]

DayByDay: I know where you are coming from. We did the same thing by visiting relatives on our vacation. Although we love them, if you only have a short amount of time for vacation, you need to get away from all relatives and friends, and clocks, etc and just relax. Family is great but it can become a source of work if they wait for you to go there to do work for them that someone else close by could do. Sometimes, vacations are not vacations.

I do think that 2 to 3 day weekends works wonders for fun and relaxation and it's doable. It's easier to save up for than a whole week and maybe you can plan something special to do that is out of the ordinary. As long as you know the set amount that you have to spend (all total including gas, motels, food, etc), you can break it up anyway that you want. You might save in the food area to go to something special that costs more and that you wouldn't be able to do at home. The main thing is knowing what you are spending and adjust it accordingly.

[frugalmomof1]

We have quite a few free places to stay across the country.... My parents live in Minnesota, and my Grandmother lives in Arizona. We've been pretty lucky getting good air fare. Most meals are eaten at 'home', and the family usually insists on treating us to meals out since we had to pay for the plane tickets. IL's have houses in Maine and Florida. We usually try to get to Maine 2x's per year, once in summer and once in the winter. Gas is usually our only expense when we go there. Depending on what time we leave, sometimes we stop at a fast food restaurant to break up the 4.5 hour car trip.

The last time we went to AZ, DH and I splurged on a 30 minute helicoptor ride over the Sedona mountains ($200/ea), and neither one of us regret it. It was the most amazing time.

We are in New England, so Cape Cod, Newport, New Hampshire and Vermont are day trips, and usually cost us gas and the price of one meal. (We always bring drinks and snacks) I always have to get lobster when we go to the Cape.....I just can't cook them at home.

We tend to splurge more on date nights than vacations.

[baking23]

Every year until we hit college our family used to pile in the car and drive to a new state every year. In the summer before senior year of high school ('96) we did 14 states in a month out west, and I think the whole trip cost about $2000 for four. We would try to get hotels where we could get breakfast with the room, and we used to carry a cooler with fruit and sandwich makings that we would refill as the trip went on.

Those are great memories.

[My English Castle]

We just got back from a Disney trip, and stayed at a Comfort Suites near there. I watched in horror as families in the breakfast room sent their kids back again and again for apples, bananas, apple sauce, and yogurt--not for breakfat consumption but to fill their coolers. One family took a dozen apples. Some even brought their coolers with them into the breakfast room.
What do you all think? When does this line get crossed?

[Aleta]

Hopefully, all families aren't like that, but you have to wonder what the parents are thinking of. I've seen that a couple of times and it's like the People in charge don't want to say anything.

[kateochang]

Hmm kind of frugal when it comes to vacation. I need to make sure that I don't spend more than I should since I only have the money as budgeted earlier.

[shengmei]

I bought several items from the so called "antique" shops that I could find much cheaper on ebay.

Never again I would shop antique shops in quaint towns.

We were relatively frugal. We spent less than $500 in total, and that was our honeymoon.

[msnln]

We are going to Disney World in August and a friend gave me a tip on saving on airfare. He told me to book flights to Tampa if I don't mind 90 mile drive to Orlando. Hour and half drive does not bother me. Besides, I get to see extra city to boost

I looked up the rates and Tampa was $100 cheaper per person, which means $400 savings for our family! I wish I could say I put that money into savings but I convinced myself to buy GPS device with that money, figuring I woudd need one to navigate from Tampa airport to Disney World.

Look to neighboring cities for possible savings on flight.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

NOT frugal at all. one chance to enjoy so I do what I want and see everything my heart desires. I may not eat at a fancy place but I certainly spend money seeing everything or doing all experiences I want to.

[DebbieL]

Yes and no. I'm frugal about the flights and hotel, etc. I do spend more than I would at home and eat out alot though. It is supposed to be fun afterall!

[Elgin526]

I'm frugal only because I'm a travel agent. I fly for free, so does my husband (either on my free tickets through work or miles we earn on our CC rewards) and we stay pretty cheap too, up to half off the going rate, depending on what kind of rates they give to agents.

But no, I don't go out of my way to save money while on vacation. To me, I'm also taking a vacation away from penny-pinching! We work damn hard all year to take a vacation, we're not denying ourselves once we get there!

[mom-from-missouri]

Very frugal. We have an RV, so no hotel bills, we take and cook all our own food. We can sleep in Walmart parking lots at night, or rest stops till we get to where we want to camp. Usually we spend around $12-$18 a night to camp. Often, we "camp" in friends and family driveways-thats free!
Our last "big" trip with the trailer was for 3 weeks and cost me under $1000. That included: fuel, groceries, camping fees and entrace fees to attractions.