I'm curious. What does everyone budget for a vacation (per person, per day)? How do you get the money together? Do you say "hey we've got some extra money, let's go to the beach" or do you put away certain amount each month just for vacations?

 

Unless you have unlimited funds or opportunities for extra funds to be available, you will need to budget for a vacation. Depending on where you are going, you may need to make reservations as much as a year in advance. Where you go and the time of the year tend to greatly impact costs. You will need to budget for transportation, lodging, meals, activities, and emergency money.

Begin by taking a look at your checkbook to see if there is anything which you are spending that could be eliminated or reduced. Also track what cash is spent on and what could be eliminated--like that cup of cappucino. You can make a game out of it by putting every dollar saved into a vacation jar.

Off-season vacations cost less and many hotels offer reduced rates then. You can save by avoiding pricey hotels and restaurants. There are also opportunities that offer free for kids. There are budget airfares available if booked in advance. There are also budget auto rentals available. Camping is also an alternative. If you have a destination in mind, staying at a less expensive motel a few miles away can save money. Reserving a room with a microwave and refrigerator can help save money on meals. You can easily have breakfast in your room and make sandwiches for lunch.

You do not want to come home from vacation and be confronted with bills. Your vacation should be fun, relaxing, and worry free.

 

We use a intrest free savings account for our vacation fund.

It's called our federal income tax refund.

 

great, I'm in trouble then... I have to pay every year... no matter what I do, I still pay.. can't understand how everybody around me is getting all these big checks back.. I claim 0, have a mortgage, expenses like everybody... oh well

 

My wife and I have a savings account just for vacations and we contribute a set amount each month. We also put in "joint" gifts like when relatives give us a joint birthday check (our b-days are a week apart).

 

frhrwa - Paying taxes sucks. However, paying at the end of the year is better than letting Uncle hold your money all year w/o paying you interest. At least if you have to send in a check you got to hold on to yours a little longer.

We also have a separate account for vacations. We decide each year where we want to go the next year, we swag the cost and save accordingly. We also contribute any "found' money during the year. Our pocket change goes into a jar and each year it amounts to $400-$500. We use it to upgrade rental cars, for a special dinner or a round of golf at a pricey course.

Next month we're off to Hawaii for 3 weeks.

 

every year you get to go somewhere for vacation??? Is that the norm for everyone? NICE!

I just sit and wait. If I have the extra money or someone sends me on vacation then I'm blessed. If not...my vacation is at home. It's been 2 years since my last vacation to Hawaii that I didn't have to pay for (flight and stay). My uncle had the frequent flyer thing and a time share condo so me, my son, mom, dad, 2 bros and sis all got to go. I guess a few vacations in a lifetime makes the trip more memorible.

Hey Wayne...3 weeks???! That's super nice! I hadn't had time off that long since...high school but that was summer vacation. Have fun and enjoy!

 

(C.) charge!!!!

 

DIY - Been there. I spent a lot of years working w/o realy taking a vacation. Time off was spent at home, usually working on the to-do list. Then one day I got a wake up - the Doc said unstress or wait for your heart attack.

At the time I had a big mortgage, two kids in college, car payments etc. and I found out that you can have a pretty good vacation on the cheap. You just have to look a little harder.

Now I'm retired and dedicated to dying broke. My wife and I vacation 2-3 times a year (she still works or it would be more).

 

"dedicated to dying broke" - i love it! you can't take it with you, huh?! if only we knew exactly when we were going to die, we could time it exactly right and spend every last penny!!

 

Wayne: Where are you going in Hawaii?

We went to Maui for Christmas a few years ago. There were three things I really liked.
1. Saw a tow-in surfing competition at "Jaws".
2. Seing the exact line where tropical jungle changes to desert on top of the mountain between Wailuku and Lahaina. In 10 steps you can go from jungle to desert.
3. Visiting Charles Lindburg's grave. The "Road to Hana" is incredible.

O.K. I'll sneak in #4: Trying a Mai Tai at every bar in Lahaina. At least I think I hit every one. After number six (or was it eight...) things got a bit fuzzy.

 

We're spending a couple of days in Waikiki to do some tourist stuff, a few more on Oahu up at Turtle Bay and then over to Kauai for two weeks. We like Maui, but prefer the less crowded, laid back Kauai.
Mai Tais and sunsets in Paradise. The only trouble is every time we go it gets harder and harder dragging my wife onto the plane to come back to the mainland.

My tops -
Golf anywhere in the islands
Watching the Triple Crown of Surfing at Banzai Pipeline - those people are crazy
Flash fried snapper at Haliewa Joe's
Kaneolani (sp) Miller at the Halekaulani in Waikiki
The view from Kalalau lookout in Koke'e State Park
Kalua pork sandwiches at Hanalei plate lunch
my list could go on but it would take too much BW

and yes - the road to Hana is incredible. Not one to drive after a couple of Mai Tais though. Next time you're on Maui do the sunrise van trip to the top of Mt Haleakala (sp) and then the fat tire bike ride down.

 

Road to Hana was incredible! I agree! Me and my family found this waterfall down a bridge and climbed down there and a few of us swam in the water. (On that road trip, where are the bathrooms????) I don't think we were supposed to go down there but it was awesome. People were looking down at us from the bridge and wondering how the heck we got down there.

After my vacation to Hawaii...I wanted to move there...but I can't afford it. Home prices are worse than CA. People are so laid back there and nice.

Hey Wayne...are you going to take the airplane with those "standing seats"?

 

Inter island flights are all like that. Just like riding DaBus.

BTW- Lots of bathrooms on the road to Hana (and anywhere else) - all I need is a bush and a short break in traffic.

 

Ah! That's explains some of the dying bushes along the road...! That's one reason for wanting to be a male...

 

Have you been to Europe - Spain/France/Italy - no bushes necessary there. Even some of the public restrooms are an adventure. Just two footprints and a hole.