Vacations...what do you spend on them?

[ScrimpAndSave]

I can honestly say that traveling in the future is very important to me. My fiance and I do not plan on having children, so we like to think that without kiddies, it will be easier for us to plan and save for a nice vacation every 2-3 years or so. I know we have a lot of his student loans to pay off and such - but I really think that putting a few thousand dollars aside for every other summer would be very important for our relationship and marriage.

I figure if I put $50 a pay away for 2 years, I will have about $2,600...I'm hoping that we would be able to find something all inclusive with airfare included (whether it be a cruise or just a trip to the Ca wine country)...but I don't know enough about traveling to understand the costs of everything. I could up the amount to $75 a pay and then save $3,900 and put whatever we don't use on the trip towards savings and debt payments and/or savings.

I guess I am just babbling...but I do really like to think that we can take awesome trips before the debt is paid off....

[MoneyTrev]

You have to add 2% to the price for 2 years to find the price after inflation when you want to have vacation.

Then you have to break down how much you're spending for what and figure out if you would have saved enough money to spend on a vacation.

[MiikeB]

I think $50/paycheck would be plenty for a baseline, then as it gets closer you could figure out where you are going and exact costs, and just readjust to make things match. If you decide you want to go to mexico and it cost $3,500 then you just need to save more the last 4 months coming up to it etc.

Also, ALWAYS leave a large cushion, especially if its all inclusive. If you think you will spend $2k, plan for $2,500 or so. You don't want to be in California with 2 days left not being able to do what you want because you under budgeted.

[Goldy1]

What always got us was food costs on trips. I mean I couldn't believe how much money I would spent eating at cruddy places like Corner Bakery for sandwhiches with no drinks in Chicago. I would spend a lot of food even getting a hotel fridge and using it for milk and cereal. lol I would be like "how did I spend $200 or so on food with 3 nights and I ate nowhere nice?" lol
I am totally cool with people not having kids. My first and last is on the way adn I am thrilled. Oh yeah it took me almost 8 yrs of marriage to take the plunge(ironically I, not husband had cold feet for kids
We live in Michigan, and I look forward to renting those quaint cabins and such on the lakes. can't wait!
I like all inclusive cruises. food included and great food.

[fruitbowlk]

I have a 2 year old and she my traveling partner. I think we will be spending a little over $1,000 next year in vacations trips.

[snafu]

Your question leads to more questions... What do you think makes a nice vacation? Do you want to stay in the USA and not deal with passport, visas, currency exchange and other languages? Would you rather go somewhere exotic like Bali, Bangkok or Costa Rica? Do you want to be with groups of people or a twosome? Do you want to fly, drive, cruise? [Some people are afraid to fly]

Do you feel you need to stay in a five star hotel and eat at restaurants that feature famous chefs and first class dining? Would you want a resort or to a famous city like Los Angeles, New Orleans or New York? Do you like special shows and gambling offered in Las Vegas? What is your favorite form of entertainment? Do you like to hang out at the beach? Would you rather go shopping? Do you like to go hiking and enjoy nature? Rent a car and tour wine country? Drive all the way to Canada and tour wine country making getting there the major part of the vacation?

What fun to save and plan for different vacations every two yrs or so.

[ScrimpAndSave]

We are basically beach people, not afraid of flying, no into fancy food, not into shopping, love the idea of going somewhere tropical...don't need a lot of night life. We basically want to sight see and tan. lol

I'm not sure what places are cheaper to get to (Bermuda is not so far)...but that is what we want to start with. I know a lot of cruises stop all over the islands and would be around $3000 for both of us, all inclusive other than alcohol (I don't drink).

[disneysteve]

Everyone's travel preferences are different. Personally, I would much rather take a budget trip 2-3 times/year than take a more costly trip only once a year or less. We love to travel and do it whenever we get the chance (and not nearly as often as we'd like).

I think you can do a very nice trip for $2,600. The 3 of us can do a week in Disney World for less than that. Two people can easily do it for under $2,000.

We've done plenty of vacations that cost no more than $2,500 for a week and that's for 3 people. A couple of years ago we did a 2-week trip to California and Vegas that came in around $5,500 total, again for 3 people, not 2.

So I think $50/week is plenty, but I'd suggest you consider traveling more than once every 2 years. Do a $1,300 trip annually instead. Or put a little more toward the travel fund.

[ScrimpAndSave]

Disney, thanks...I do think traveling is really important...especially with his stressful job.

I haven't been to Disney since 1997 I know a lot has changed there! I have two aunts in Orlando that have homes there but they aren't there year round...and they keep bugging me to go down there and stay. They even work in the theme parks dressed up as toy soldiers in gift shops (It's hilarious...they are in their 70's) and they said they can get us week passes for very cheap. That could definitely be one of our first trips...especially when we can get a flight down there pretty cheap. What airport do you usually go to FL? I am in PA and not too far from you...

I don't think I would have to save up too much for a trip like that...especially since we wouldn't pay for lodging!

[jIM_Ohio]

steve is on target- doing 2-3 small trips will probably make life more bearable than 1 big trip every 2 years, especially if big trip is $2600 in value (triple that, IMO for a BIG trip). If flying, budget higher.

We are going with a 5 percent ($500/mo) budget for vacations. That is quite high.

If a car repair, house repair or house improvement is needed, it reduces the vacation portion. If EF is tapped, that $$ also replaces the EF. That money is what is replenishing our EF right now.

$6000/year is getting us around 7 long weekends in 2009.
Kids birthday, camping trip in May, NYC or Chicago weekend for wife and I, October wine tasting trip to finger lakes, xmas trip to see family, and probably 1-2 other weekends where we do something with friends or family.

A portion of the monthly budget is set aside for a bigger trip (Vegas in 2010) or even bigger trip (disney in 2016?).

[ScrimpAndSave]

Wow Jim...that is a lot of vacations! I guess I am also assuming that since my fiance will just be starting his job as a lawyer, he will be very busy and he doesn't necessarily want to take multiple vacations for the first few years...

[disneysteve]

he doesn't necessarily want to take multiple vacations for the first few years...

Vacation doesn't necessarily mean 7 days away. It could mean a 3 or 4 day weekend over a holiday when the office is closed, like Memorial Day or Labor Day. Last month, my daughter had a few days off from school for teacher conferences so we went to York, PA for 3 days. We relaxed in the hotel, did some factory tours and some other sightseeing, went out to eat and just enjoyed a break from the regular routine. The whole trip only cost about $600. We usually do a weekend in Lancaster, PA at least once each year. We'll go up to New York City for a weekend periodically.

I think breaks are needed, especially if you work in a high-pressure job. Sure, it is great to get away for a week or longer, but those shorter breaks can be just as rejuvenating and a lot cheaper.

[eeyoresmom]

I don't mean to hijack this thread but could someone please point me in the direction of getting some specific visiting NYC advice? I'm trying to figure out a way to drive to NYC then park the car and use public transportation for the 2 days we'll be there. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[jIM_Ohio]

I might use 1 day of vacation for wine tasting- that is just a weekend we get out of town.

Same with kids birthdays and xmas visit to Buffalo- take 1 day off and get a 4 day weekend usually.

[mknight]

Without kids, be willing do your homework

You are not planning to have kids, yet you are asking people in this forum to qualify your savings rate or fill you in as to how to apply your $50 weekly savings ambitions towards a vacation?
Seems kind of ridiculous.

Henceforth and ever more, you should have plenty of time to devote to studying any issue that pops up, educating yourself on a whim. Barring the time you will devote to your profession, you will have virtually no other responsibility to captivate your time other than satisfing your own whims.