Summer vacation plans and costs?

[Nika]

Going to Asia - mostly China and Singapore for 34 days. In style! Flying there first class, back in business(both on Cathay), staying in 5 star hotels the entire time. Working very hard in advance to minimize the cost, and I think doing a darn good job at it.

[cardtrick]

already spent 2 weeks in California and Canada and about $1500.

Another 2 weeks vacation in Asia - $3000

Yet another 2 weeks with the gf in Costa Rica most likely - $7000 is what I'm estimating. Either that or The Dominican Republic. That would be cheaper at around $5000.

[dawnwes]

Summer plans are more expensive this year than in the past.

$225- Scout camp for oldest
$200- Scout Top Gun Program for oldest
$300- Church mission trip for middle schooler
$200- Church camp for youngest
$1800- Scout Summit high adventure trip for 3 (Dh and two oldest)
$400- High school reunion for me
$500- trip to see relatives (pretty much just covers gas)


My guess is that the above will reach about $4,000

[Reggie]

I'm jealous is the people going to Asia. I've been wanting to go but it's on the hell no list for my clearance. Boo!

[Nika]

I'm jealous is the people going to Asia. I've been wanting to go but it's on the hell no list for my clearance. Boo!

It is absolutely no problem for your clearance. Just notify them in advance and do the briefing.

Its not like you are going to Iran or to Cuba.

[Reggie]

It is a big problem. It's on my list of dont dos. I don't have a regular clearance so I have higher restrictions than most.

[dawnwes]

I love Singapore. I like China too but I prefer Northern China over Southern. My father grew up in Northern China.

The last time I was there was 7 years ago. It is hard to do as much overseas travel with a family of 5.

Dawn

Going to Asia - mostly China and Singapore for 34 days. In style! Flying there first class, back in business(both on Cathay), staying in 5 star hotels the entire time. Working very hard in advance to minimize the cost, and I think doing a darn good job at it.

[rennigade]

I just took my 1st vacation out of 3 this year. Wife and I went to Puerto Rico. It ran us $2k for a week. We did splurge on food though. That was a little over 1/4 of the cost of the trip.

The next 2 trips should be roughly around $1,700 - $2,300/each.

Next year is going to be much cheaper vacations. Since I had a ton of southwest rewards and a companion pass for 2014...we decided to hit up as many places as time/rewards allowed.

[falboe]

I will probably do that because my aunt likes to pick her up when she has layovers there, so she gets a little bonus family visit out of it.

[bigdaddybus]

Heading to Mexico for 8 days to celebrate our 20th Anniversary. Its a pricey trip but our last trip without kids was 12+ years ago. Private limo transfers, messages everyday, award winning food, swim up suite with ocean view. Heavily discounted to approx $6500.
We will likely take our kids to Florida to see family and visit Disney and Universal. $1500 on that mostly hotels and food as family (theme park employees)gets us in the parks

[humandraydel]

We had a baby in February. So our summer "vacation" consists of what I'm calling "the world tour" to let family see our newborn (plus attend a wedding). We will end up driving about 2500 miles through 8 states to see 2 families (mine and my wife's) over the course of 1.5 weeks. This trip will cost around $500 for gas, $150 for hotel, and $200 for pet boarding.

I already used up many of my vacation days when the baby was born, so after this trip I will have no vacation days left. I'm a little disappointed that I got no vacation days for myself this year.

[MonkeyMama]

**Family Camp, 3 nights near Tahoe. Cabin and food provided. Annual tradition with extended family.

**In-Laws wanted to treat us to Disney this summer. So we do have a bigger summer trip planned. (July was just the only time they were free; we usually go in spring or fall). Not sure how much this will cost us, though hotel and parks are probably covered.

**August - We've got 4 days planned at the beach. Free beachfront hotel.

**September - Napa weekend for our anniversary, no kids. Free hotel.

**October - planning to visit my sister in Kentucky. Probably just me. Primary expenses will be airfare. I may have to actually pay for a hotel. This is only trip that requires airfare.

**November - Pismo beach. The kids just happen to get the Monday after Thanksgiving off, so we can do a 3 or 4-day trip. I can usually swing a free beachfront hotel. Haven't decided on this, but it's been a recent tradition.

I have a $1500 vacation budget, and expect to use the bulk of it for Kentucky trip and pet boarding throughout the year. Other than that, our big vacation expense is always food.

[Nika]

It is a big problem. It's on my list of dont dos. I don't have a regular clearance so I have higher restrictions than most.

I think a lot of this is just perception. You should talk to your security officer. Hard to believe that entire Asia is off limits. Asia ranges widely in degrees of US friendliness - From North Korea to Taiwan.

If they can't trust you to go to Singapore, than they probably shouldn't trust you to get into the building.

[Reggie]

I think a lot of this is just perception. You should talk to your security officer. Hard to believe that entire Asia is off limits. Asia ranges widely in degrees of US friendliness - From North Korea to Taiwan.

If they can't trust you to go to Singapore, than they probably shouldn't trust you to get into the building.

I'm a military contractor. We get written into programs and when you are working on those programs, you have a great deal of restrictions on traveling internationally. It's only certain programs and they don't allow you to work on them at length anyway, so it's not indefinite.

Also, nothing is left to perception. They make that crystal clear when you are written in. That punk b*t h Eric Snowden made things even more strict. Black programs are being tightly guarded.