https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:33:45 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2309453 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 23:28:13 +0000 Nutella 2309453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yikes! Flying anywhere in the northern hemisphere from Australia is so expensive. We budget at least $3k for flights alone :shocked: and that is with a lap infant! Hence why we've kept holidays local. But I'm suffering severe wanderlust and so this whole thing is really tough! I think I'll just have to shelve travel plans until LO is old enough to be a bit more independent! :crying: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2309388 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 20:57:36 +0000 photojane 2309388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're going to Disney in November for a week, and that will be a little over $2500 for a family of 3 (one of those is a toddler) including flight, park tickets, resort, and food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2309342 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 19:51:10 +0000 gingerbebe 2309342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think a month's mortgage sounds about right for hotel for a week! </p> <p>We are West Coast and we alternate between 4-5 days at Lake Tahoe and Hawaii and honestly, aside from the airfare the cost differential wasn't that huge, so we would rather suck it up and go to Hawaii. Even cheaper deals are to be had in Mexico but we get lazy and like nonstop flights. We usually spend between $450-600 a ticket and then we try to shoot for a condo or hotel that doesn't cost more than $300 a night. We usually score a night or two free at a Starwood property (Sheraton or Westin) to offset costs but that won't work now with a kid who needs his own sleeping space. Now we always look for condos or places with suites. Condos make things cheaper for food anyway. We are doing Maui as a lap infant in a little over a week since we figure it's just going to be more expensive from here on out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2309298 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 18:57:29 +0000 Corduroy 2309298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just spent about $2k to spend a week at the in laws (so no hotel and few food expenses). $1000 for flights, $450 for minivan/larger car rental, $200 for airport parking. It hurts. I'd rather spend a lot more for a vacation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2309291 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 18:51:53 +0000 petitenoisette 2309291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: Thank you!<br /> @lamariniere: I can imagine that must add up, but 3 weeks! I'm jealous, my husband gets terrible vacation time and it's so frustrating since I have plenty.<br /> @ShootingStar: Yea, the flights I'm finding I can stomach the cost of, for some reason it's the hotel cost that just seems crazy. It's like a month's mortgage payment for 5 nights in a hotel! But it is what it is I suppose! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308699 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 09:54:32 +0000 ShootingStar 2308699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Flights cost what what they cost, unfortunately. Depending on the destination I estimate $500-$700 per person. And I estimate about $300/night for hotel. So that puts it at around $3k for a week long trip, not including food or activities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308584 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 08:41:28 +0000 Mamaof2 2308584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@petitenoisette: we stayed here but it was just me and DH, no kids</p> <p><a href="http://www.sjcourtyard.com/default-en.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.sjcourtyard.com/default-en.html</a></p> <p>I would recommend! Right on the beach, great pools and hot tubs, great food on site, casino on site (if your into that) and easy access to major highways. About 10 mins from airport </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308579 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 08:38:45 +0000 lamariniere 2308579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@petitenoisette: Our annual "big" vacation is generally a long one because my husband gets an obscene amount of vacation time. This summer we traveled for more than 3 weeks! I don't even want to think about how much that cost when it was all said and done; the airfare alone made me want to cry when I bought the tickets. :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308574 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 08:34:54 +0000 petitenoisette 2308574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: Oh, would you mind sharing where you stayed in SJ and if you would recommend? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308572 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 08:33:42 +0000 petitenoisette 2308572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: @PawPrints: @Alivoo01: @yoursilverlining: Yes, your costs obviously will vary widely! I just wanted to get an idea of what people felt are sort of "normal" costs for their annual big vacation. Maybe I didn't word my OP too well :) Just as a person who isn't accustomed to spending much money on travel I wanted to get an idea of what's "normal" for other people. Obviously will be very different based on location, and everyone's financial situation is different. </p> <p>@yoursilverlining: From Boston too! I can't believe that price on tickets to FL! I thought about just going there to make it cheaper but it looks like it might not make a difference and I'd rather go someplace that feels more international (even if it technically isn't!).<br /> @looch: I did a costco search a few weeks ago and now I can't remember why but it didn't seem like it was going to work, I'll check it out again though, thank you!<br /> @Mamaof2: Thanks, that is great info. I'm finding tickets for $500 each (+lap infant) which I'm fine with but trying to decide if we should splurge more on hotel, bringing up total costs for 5 nights to around $3k or stay someplace more reasonable which would be more around $2k.<br /> @mediagirl: That's awesome your parents live near the beach! Mine do too but that's not much of a help in MA in the winter. ;) </p> <p>These answers really have been helpful and make me feel more ready to pull the trigger! Just have to wait for our new travel rewards card to arrive... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308562 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 08:13:13 +0000 yoursilverlining 2308562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh man, I don’t think these answers are going to be particularly helpful! Spend whatever you are comfortable with. Where are you flying from, generally?</p> <p>Last winter we flew from Boston to Florida and it was $1600 for 3 people, so there is NO WAY we could do any vacation for under $2k. We flew to FL and took a 7-night cruise and the cruise was cheaper than the airfare to get there. Honestly, I don’t think we could fly anywhere and stay in a hotel for less than $2k, unless it was a super short flight for a weekend.</p> <p>Airfare just is what it is. We ballpark about $300/night for hotel, because once you add on taxes, surcharges, wifi fees, maybe a bit of room service, whatever, it generally is about that much. Food is another $200 or so per day – often it is less than that, but sometimes it’s more. </p> <p>For a 5-7 day vacation for a family of 3, we generally spend about $4-5k. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308555 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 08:09:54 +0000 Mamaof2 2308555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just went to San Juan and tickets were $500 each and about $1000 for the hotel</p> <p>So for a family of 4 it would be at least 3K just for flight and hotel </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308552 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 08:09:01 +0000 mediagirl 2308552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Vacations are so expensive!! We haven't been on a "real" vacation yet. All of our vacations have been at our parents houses (They both live in areas near the beach). I'd say we spend under $500 when we stay with family and drive. If we had to pay for flights, rent a place, a car, get transportation and eat, we would spend $2500. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308549 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 08:07:42 +0000 Alivoo01 2308549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree on location being a big factor, but in general, just for flights and hotel - about $2,000+. We're a family of 3. Food is usually another grand or so. We love to splurge on food when we travel since it's not something we can get back home! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308459 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 06:26:25 +0000 looch 2308459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>An idea for you is to look up Costco Travel (or some other similar warehouse travel program). I've found them to be extremely competitive. We've paid just under $3000 for flights, rental car, park tickets, condo, etc for a 5 day trip to Walt Disney World.</p> <p>Other years, we spend $3000 on flights alone to visit family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308399 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 00:46:29 +0000 PawPrints 2308399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree it's totally location dependent. We've done some very thrifty vacations and some total luxury blowout ones. I would say for a run of the mill, let's get out of town and relax for a week, kind of vacation, we'd try to keep it under $2500. (Very roughly, $1K airfare, $1K lodging, $500 food/booze/outings/etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308384 Thu, 01 Oct 2015 23:48:42 +0000 lamariniere 2308384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's hard to pinpoint a number since it's so location dependent. And obviously, if you have to fly it's going to really increase the number. I usually do a lot of comparison on sites like Kayak or Trip advisor to get an idea of prices within a particular city for the amenities we want and then narrow it down from there. Just offhand though, I would say that 5-7 days with flights and accommodation is probably between $2000-2500. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308126 Thu, 01 Oct 2015 19:27:26 +0000 petitenoisette 2308126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Yea, we're big into the no flying vacation so it's hard for me to justify the expense. But I figure I want to get one so-called "real" vacation in this year because I might be pregnant again next winter and if I'm going to go on a kid-vacation I need to at least be able to have a drink! :wink: And then who knows when we'll take another flying vacation after that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308110 Thu, 01 Oct 2015 19:14:51 +0000 lawbee11 2308110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went to NYC with LO for 4 days and spent around $2K on flights and hotel (LO had her own seat on the flight, though). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308099 Thu, 01 Oct 2015 19:07:51 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2308099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Now with kids we are way below that. We don't really fly and often travel to visit other families or friends (no hotel). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308096 Thu, 01 Oct 2015 19:06:51 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2308096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If we do flights we used to figure about $1k pp with hotel food and activities (skiing etc) for about a 5-7 day trip. It seemed like trying to make the trip change much we always arrived at a similar number. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308092 Thu, 01 Oct 2015 19:05:07 +0000 mrsjyw 2308092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went to Hilton head island and myrtle beach as a family of three. Both trips with nonstop flights and hotel stay for a week / 5/6 days were around $2500. We probably spent another 500$ on food, drinks, souvenirs, etc. eta the rooms were 2+ suites or condo.</p> <p>We also did a five day trip to nyc w a paid seat for ds for around 2500$ for hotel (one bedroom but with a closed door to attached living room suite) and nonstop airfare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308085 Thu, 01 Oct 2015 18:58:45 +0000 Bao 2308085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What vacation? :) We haven't been on a family vacation yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vacation-costs#post-2308083 Thu, 01 Oct 2015 18:57:01 +0000 petitenoisette 2308083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi everyone, this is my first post I'm starting! I'm a teacher with a 7 month old babe, and I'm currently in the midst of planning our first family vacation. We're planning to go to San Juan next February. Of course as a teacher we can only travel during school vacation weeks = more expensive! </p> <p>So my question is, how much do you normally spend on a 5-7 day long vacation for flights/hotels for a family of 3-4 (or whatever size your family is!)? We are not big vacationers, we've gone on two real vacations in the past 5 years (and a lot of "free-ish" family vacas), including our honeymoon. I am just trying to wrap my mind around what is a reasonable amount to spend/reassure myself that the cost will be worth it!</p> <p>I'm not so much worried about money spent while we're there because I know once we are I won't worry about it, but feel free to comment on that in the thread too! </p>