Day trip cost in Monterey, CA

[tripods68]

Day trip to Monterey gas $30 + lunch $46.60+ 4.50 parking 4 hours with family of 4 = $81.10. Probably our most expensive day trip so far this year. What your cost?

[97guns]

Sounds like a fun day trip, I've been meaning to get down there myself, I'd probably be right in that price range too but it would be around $25 for lunch, an $8 Starbucks and a few bucks shopping, I'd save on parking because I roll with moms handicap sign

[tripods68]

Sounds like a fun day trip, I've been meaning to get down there myself, I'd probably be right in that price range too but it would be around $25 for lunch, an $8 Starbucks and a few bucks shopping, I'd save on parking because I roll with moms handicap sign

We were surprised it didn't rain at all. It was definitely a nice chill day to hangout especially with Clam Chowder.

[HundredK]

Awww, no visit to the aquarium? :-(

[97guns]

Awww, no visit to the aquarium? :-(

a bit pricey but could have taken pictures out front and make it look like your there.

were going to L.A., San Diego and Las Vegas next month and will hit up all attractions for pics. the wife doesn't want to go inside Disneyland, only pics in the front, bless her little heart

[disneysteve]

What your cost?

Do you mean how much do we spend on a day trip? It really varies based on the trip. It can be anywhere from just gas money and lunch to a lot more if there are tolls, parking, shopping, or paid activities involved. I can't really say that there is a typical amount.

[tripods68]

Awww, no visit to the aquarium? :-(

We usually don't go to Aquarium unless we have visiting family from other places. but there's so many things to see in Monterey without going over planned budget.

[tripods68]

Do you mean how much do we spend on a day trip? It really varies based on the trip. It can be anywhere from just gas money and lunch to a lot more if there are tolls, parking, shopping, or paid activities involved. I can't really say that there is a typical amount.

I've been trying really put an effort in planning our weekend getaway and save more $$ so we can do more (spend the save money) at later time, if that makes sense to you. Not that we have not budgeted in the past, it's just don't really track our weekend activities. When we go to Monterey or other parts of California depending how far to travel, we can easily $50 just gas alone. Our goal is keeping it under $100 whenever possible.

[disneysteve]

I've been trying really put an effort in planning our weekend getaway and save more $$ so we can do more (spend the save money) at later time, if that makes sense to you. Not that we have not budgeted in the past, it's just don't really track our weekend activities. When we go to Monterey or other parts of California depending how far to travel, we can easily $50 just gas alone. Our goal is keeping it under $100 whenever possible.

Makes sense. We tend to regulate the spending by spacing out the trips rather than necessarily economizing on each one. So if we do a cheap trip, we're likely to take another sooner rather than later. If, however, we do a particularly costly trip, it might be a while before we do the next one.

I look more at the big picture overall spending over time rather than the cost of each individual trip. This year, for example, we have a couple of relatively expensive vacations planned so we will probably significantly limit the day trips and weekend getaways because of that.

[Milly]

a bit pricey but could have taken pictures out front and make it look like your there.

were going to L.A., San Diego and Las Vegas next month and will hit up all attractions for pics. the wife doesn't want to go inside Disneyland, only pics in the front, bless her little heart

Husband and I actually just stayed up late last night trying to figure out a better balance. We agree that saving is important, but our kids are only going to be kids once. If we don't get out with them now, we never will.
Don’t give up living your life just to change some numbers. Your memories are what life is actually made out of.

That being said, there is plenty of stuff you can do that is free or extremely cheap. I loved Dennis the Menace Park and tide pooling in Monterey. Since I have little kids I would have definitely packed a lunch to reduce cost and gone into the aquarium. I probably would have done it with just my spouse and I too since it is a childhood memory for me. I wouldn’t if I didn’t have a passion for the place though.

You choose where to spend your money. I just don’t want you to get into the trap we are trying to get out of. Invest money into life too!

[scfr]

$50-70 is typical for 2 of us. We don't do a lot of them.
Next on the list is a trip to Cave Without A Name.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

We go to monteray for the aquarium. Kids love it.