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Originally posted by scfr
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We just got back from our 2018 vacation so I thought I'd post the results. Our costs increased because we added a third city to our Arkansas itinerary. We visited Bentonville, Little Rock, and Hot Springs. We utilized hotel points for only one night, and paid for one night. We ran in to some limitations on where we could stay using points because of room availability and because we had our dog with us. Because we added some things, we also cut back a little and did not do the Hot Springs baths. We decided we'd rather add the Bentonville leg of the trip.
We drove 1,400 miles and visited Crystal Springs Museum (Bentonville), Little Rock High School National Historic Site, Bill Clinton Presidential Museum (Little Rock), and Hot Springs National Park (including Bathouse Row). We got in some nice walks / trail hikes with the dog. We saw some interesting sites in a state we had never visited, learned some things, saw some gorgeous scenery, and really enjoyed our time hanging out together. We even had a couple deluxe splurges like sharing a tasting flight of beers at Superior Bathouse (they utilize thermal spring water to make their beer). Before our trip I read several library books on the places we were going to visit and on the history of Little Rock HS, doing a little "armchair travelling" as a buildup to our road trip. I came home with a list of 2 books and 1 DVD I want to read/watch to continue my "education." While on the road we listened to audiobooks from the library.
We shelled out $264 on gas, tolls, hotels, food & drink, and one souvenier (a museum book). There were no admission fees. We started off with a full tank and came home with it about 2/3 full, so if you add another estimated $6 for a top-up, that brings us to $270.
If we calculate cost using IRS mileage instead of just gas (to account for wear & tear on our car), and deducting what we would have spent on food if we had been home, then our cost was $932.
And what was our "true cost"? Somewhere in between those 2 numbers.
And worth every penny.
We drove 1,400 miles and visited Crystal Springs Museum (Bentonville), Little Rock High School National Historic Site, Bill Clinton Presidential Museum (Little Rock), and Hot Springs National Park (including Bathouse Row). We got in some nice walks / trail hikes with the dog. We saw some interesting sites in a state we had never visited, learned some things, saw some gorgeous scenery, and really enjoyed our time hanging out together. We even had a couple deluxe splurges like sharing a tasting flight of beers at Superior Bathouse (they utilize thermal spring water to make their beer). Before our trip I read several library books on the places we were going to visit and on the history of Little Rock HS, doing a little "armchair travelling" as a buildup to our road trip. I came home with a list of 2 books and 1 DVD I want to read/watch to continue my "education." While on the road we listened to audiobooks from the library.
We shelled out $264 on gas, tolls, hotels, food & drink, and one souvenier (a museum book). There were no admission fees. We started off with a full tank and came home with it about 2/3 full, so if you add another estimated $6 for a top-up, that brings us to $270.
If we calculate cost using IRS mileage instead of just gas (to account for wear & tear on our car), and deducting what we would have spent on food if we had been home, then our cost was $932.
And what was our "true cost"? Somewhere in between those 2 numbers.
And worth every penny.
Can you post pictures?
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