7 summer trips...that won't break the bank

[Janice]

"Even though prices are going up, you can still find good values if you pick a destination a bit off the beaten track," says Barbara Messing, vice president of customer experience at discount travel site Hotwire.


http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/02/pf/summ ... /index.htm

[HollynLA]

Thanks for the link, but I have to completely disagree with trips that they claim won't break the bank. $300/night for lodging is condered inexpensive??

[Janice]

Well, this was per money magazine. I thought I saw one for under $300 for a family of four and that included room and all meals...

That means a family of two adults and two children can expect to pay an average $261 a day for food and lodging.

Some hotels include all meals, all inclusive, which is great. I know Sandals does. This comes in handy, cause feeding four people a day can really add up for three meals.

[HollynLA]

I'm searching for a inexpensive vacation for my family of 4 to take sometime in July. We usually take a week long vacation each year, but we just moved a couple of months ago into an unfinished home and we've sunk a ton of $ finishing up, so we're limited on what we can spend. I'm looking for a 4 day vacation to somewhere (driving distance) for under $1200. I'm looking hard at Destin FL.

[gtalum]

You might consider a 4 or 5 day cruise.

[JonathanBelles]

ive been to a couple of those already

[cajungal]

I'm searching for a inexpensive vacation for my family of 4 to take sometime in July. We usually take a week long vacation each year, but we just moved a couple of months ago into an unfinished home and we've sunk a ton of $ finishing up, so we're limited on what we can spend. I'm looking for a 4 day vacation to somewhere (driving distance) for under $1200. I'm looking hard at Destin FL.

Destin is gorgeous and it my favorite place to go for vacation. But, it is very expensive! In the peak of the summer it is nearly impossible to find a room for under $200 a night. I went August 4th-11th when I thought prices would go down some. But, my bill came up to $1200 for the week, but of course I had beachfront. The restarants are very expensive too unless you plan on eating fast food stuff all week. Bring some groceries and cook at your condo you save tons. We did not do that. We ate out every meal. Only because the elderly lady we brought with us insisting on eating out instead. She is filthy rich though and paid for all 3 of us to eat every single time. Our bill came up to nearly $80 for all 3 of us to eat and that was not including the tip. But, she did not pitch in a dime to help me pay for the condo. If she would of not paid our meals, we would of lived off ham sandwiches all week because I would not be able to afford to eat anything else.

[Regit]

$300/night for lodging is condered inexpensive??

The article was aimed at people who would otherwise be going to Europe. So to answer your question: yes.

[Janice]

Well, I don't think you are going to find a hotel much cheaper than $200 a night.

But, if you choose to stay in a motel, they are about half price.

I don't know, I have no children. Do they charge extra for children when getting a room?

I would try to find something all inclusive that includes meals.

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[cajungal]

If you have children, most hotels won't charge for them if under 13. Depends on how many kids you have. Most allow them to eat for free too. I know Holiday Inn lets kids 12 and under stay and eat for free. I love finding hotels with kitchenettes so you can cook. Saves a lot of money. I know most people don't enjoy cooking on their vacations, but it can just be simple stuff. If you book your hotel online by Expedia you can save money. When I book a hotel, I almost never book from the hotel themselves. They charge way more. When I went to Destin, I booked the Pelican Beach Resort. At their website, a week was $1800. I booked through resort quest instead and only paid $1200 for the week. Big difference.

[alicia-w]

I'm searching for a inexpensive vacation for my family of 4 to take sometime in July. We usually take a week long vacation each year, but we just moved a couple of months ago into an unfinished home and we've sunk a ton of $ finishing up, so we're limited on what we can spend. I'm looking for a 4 day vacation to somewhere (driving distance) for under $1200. I'm looking hard at Destin FL.

Nothing cheap about Destin! The beaches are still pretty wrecked, the traffic is atrocious and the restaurants are packed and expensive. (We live about 5 miles from there and avoid it like the plague during the summer.)