Will the price of gas keep you from taking a vacation this year?

PRICEPLUS · #1 (**permalink**) 04-24-2006, 05:28 PM

With gas going up every day will you be driving on or to your vacation this year? Will you be going on vacation at all for that matter?

Thrifty Ray · #2 (**permalink**) 04-24-2006, 06:04 PM

Great question!

Luckily, I live where there are dozens of lakes and rivers...and camping is as close as 30 minutes away from home. Our vacation is usually trips to one of these with our trailer.

We are planning a trip to Harris Beach in a few weeks- which is a 2 hour drive for us...and I adjusted the budget to cover more fuel costs.

I have to say that I am thinking twice about my annual trip down to visit a friend in California for this reason....I will see if I can save enough to cover the added expense...if not, I will most likely cancel this years trip down...

jodi · #3 (**permalink**) 04-24-2006, 07:30 PM

No, having a 1 and a 2 year old will be what keeps us from having a vacation!

Seriously, though, we plan to go camping for a week with my in-laws. They rent a cabin every year and we usually join them for a few days, but this year we are going to rent our own place and stay for the week. It's only 1 1/2 hours away, so no, the price of gas will not keep us home.

PrincessPerky · #4 (**permalink**) 04-25-2006, 05:18 AM

Our vacations are to visit family in pgh, While we will be going less than in previous years it is more to do with me not being able to keep a civil tounge in my mouth than the price of gas. (I have no tact,a nd MIL isn't to happy with me generally, with reason - I just blew up their oven!)

Though this year for the first time we are taking a non family vacation! we are going to DC, DS has been begging fo over a year, gas would have to be astronomical for me to disapoint him!

NoWayNovember · #5 (**permalink**) 04-25-2006, 05:27 AM

We are closing on our first house on Friday, so I imagine our 'vacation' this year is going to be remodeling!

sakigt · #6 (**permalink**) 04-25-2006, 05:53 AM

Congrats NowayNovember! I too will be closing next month...exciting isnt it?

I dont think Ill have an actual "vacation." I went to Argentina on spring break so we'll probably go to the beach (15 minutes away) more often and save for the trip next year.

I would have driven around after graduation (this week) but I may just stay in town and chill

Fern · #7 (**permalink**) 04-25-2006, 06:47 AM

No.

the rising price of gas, and fossil fuels in general, will impact a lot more than vacations; i would prefer to scrimp in other areas and make certain adjustments, but not rule out a driving vacation entirely.

I get nearly 4 weeks vacation, but we haven't planned anything yet this year aside from a possible trip to AZ/Grand Canyon in the fall, where SO's parents have a condo. Otherwise, my pending move/new job search will keep me pretty occupied and i'll want to use at least 3 or 4 days for moving day and settling in afterwards. We'll also keep busy with some planned projects at his house: putting in a little pond in back yard, continued plantings with all the plants/shrubs pilfered from my house, finishing the fencing around the yard to keep deer at bay. And we've got the kayaks, which occupy us on many summer weekends locally. I've also bought a pair of golf clubs, so there's another outlet if we have any spare time!

Ima saver · #8 (**permalink**) 04-25-2006, 12:11 PM

We have no plans for vacation. We usually go to Gatlinburg a few times a year and it is 125 miles away.

JoyJoy · #9 (**permalink**) 04-25-2006, 05:50 PM

We plan to visit my 90 year old aunt in Mobile, Al and also to visit hubby's mother in RI.

lrjohnson · #10 (**permalink**) 04-25-2006, 05:55 PM

I'm going to Croatia and London in September. Tickets already bought, but even if not, I'd still go. I'm with Fern; I'd prefer to scrimp on other things.

PRICEPLUS · #11 (**permalink**) 04-25-2006, 10:10 PM

This will be a summer of day trips. The town pool will get a lot of use. No big car gas guzzling vacation this year.

SuzeOFan · #12 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 05:19 AM

The price of gas is certainly going to put a damper on any ambitious trips we have this summer. We travel in an RV which gets around 10mpg! We usually do local weekend camping in the summer and one long trip a year to either Cape Cod or Florida from Pennsylvania. Instead, we are going to stay a lot closer to home and check out more local attractions. A few new ones and our more regular haunts. It's ok though. It gives me an excuse not to have to visit relatives!

P.S. - Congratulations NoWayNovember and sakigt on the purchase of your first home! Very exciting news!

Yes you'll have your hands full this summer!

SuzeOFan · #13 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 05:54 AM

jodi_m

Don't give up the idea of going on vacation just because you have little ones!

It may be a bit more challenging, but with a little creativity - it can happen. I have six children and could probably write a book! That's one of the reasons we ended up with an RV. It's really the only way to travel with so many. But now, getting there is half the fun!

I see a lot of folks on this board like camping. That's the ticket!
I'm a firm believer in 'a family that camps together - stays together.'

My youngest is 12 mos. Last summer we had her little bassinet set up in the shower while on the road! Worked great. And we were surprized how well she took to camping! It was amazing how much less she fussed while listening to the birds and wind and things. You just have to be a little more vigilant that's all. And you'll appreciate it more when they get older and more independant. There are lots of families with little ones - who either rent a cabin or bring a tent.

Camping is not a very expensive vacation at all! I can remember when I young, my mother packed us all up in her big old station wagon (along with the kitchen sink and an old army tent) and we spent an exciting week in the White Mountains at a nice campground and lots of crystal clear streams to play in. Fond memories in turbulant times....

Some of my best memories are of camping with the family.

veronak · #14 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 06:03 AM

I will be taking a vacation but not too far away from home, this is crazy. I know we should not be complaining because in other countries gas is about $6.00 a gallon but my God

PrincessPerky · #15 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 07:07 AM

Ditto on the go with kids, my youngest is 6 months, and my oldest is 4, vacations are still great, just a bit less 'action packed' and less sightseeing, more science centers, and naps in the middle (which isn't a bad thing IMO, I need a nap!)

getforfree · #16 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 02:47 PM

I can't remember the last time we were going anywhere far and for long, but we go places on the weekends. We live in California, so last summer we went to see the ocean, this winter we been to the mountains to see the snow a few times. So we usually have one day mini-vacations. It is hard to go somewhere with little kids for long time. Plus, if you go for more than one day, you will have to pay for the room to stay, So I think it is cheapper to come back next time again even with $3 or more per gallon.