Poll:What's your annual vacation/travel budget?

[REWahoo]

I probably spend less than $1,000/year on travel.

You might want to think about loosening up a bit and enjoying your new-found freedom while your health is good. Here's why I make that comment:

We just returned from a short RV trip to the mountains of New Mexico. We stay at the same RV park each time we go and have made the acquaintance of a few folks who usually spend the summer at that park.

The park has a few spots where folks keep RV's parked year round, only using them in the summer. Three of these "permanent" RV's were for sale as the health of the folks who own them had deteriorated to the point they could no longer make the trip. Alzheimer's, heart disease, and blindness took away the ability to make the drive or to enjoy the cool 7,000' elevation. These folks - all in their 70's - were there last summer and gone this one.

 

[Disappointed]

Our budget is about $20,000/yr as I am still employed (wife does not work). I think the budget will go up more when I retire, at least for the first few years in my retirement.

This year we attended the US Open in NY, air/hotel bought through Expedia cost $5,200 (6 nights at the Plaza, Jet Blue from CA to NY). US Open tickets cost $3,600, one day trip to Philadelphia and Pennsylvania cost $400. Food and miscellaneous expenses about $2,000.

Hope to take another trip before the end of the year.


Do retired people budget more for travelling than when they were still employed?

mP

 

[DangerMouse]

I did my actual spend figures for 2010 and realise that I have spent more than $10k already.

We also like to travel in some style. On long haul flights over 5 hours, unless we are in premium economy or above we are not going. Too old, done too many trips to get any joy out of riding up the back. That said, it is not always necessary to buy premium seats, using frequent flyer/credit card points we are normally able to get what we want at a reasonable cost. Same with our hotels, we always stay at a Hyatt or Hilton equivalent. Once again we find that loyalty to these programs does pay off. We are planning a trip to Europe for 30 days in 2012 after DH says adios. We have sufficient points to be able to do that in business class on British Airways and we are working on getting enough hotel points to have at least 15 free nights at Hyatt standard hotels.

I have noticed when flying back from Hawaii when they do the pre-boards how many are being pushed onto the plane in a wheelchair. That is not going to be me. If I can not make it under my own steam I don't want to play the travel game, so I say enjoy while you are young enough and fit enough.

 

[REWahoo]

W2R, I know you aren't an RV fan, but maybe something like this beauty would change your mind?

Check out the fins and fender skirts...

 

[rescueme]

Do retired people budget more for travelling than when they were still employed?

mP

We didn't for the simple reason that we've always traveled. It's not something we planned to do in retirement.

It was our biggest expense item before retirement (at least me; DW still is employed).

It is our biggest expense item in retirement.

If you live the life you want to before retirement, there is no reason why your planned expenses should change, IMHO...

 

[DangerMouse]

We didn't for the simple reason that we've always traveled. It's not something we planned to do in retirement.

It was our biggest expense item before retirement (at least me; DW still is employed).

It is our biggest expense item in retirement.

If you live the life you want to before retirement, there is no reason why your planned expenses should change, IMHO...

I agree with this statement. The only thing that will change with retirement will be the duration of our trips. We were planning on going to Italy in 2011 for 2 weeks but have cancelled it as it does not make sense to do that when we can go in 2012 with no time restraints.

 

[Nords]

Good poll, Fuego, and quite an eye-opener when I started running our Quicken spending reports.

In the last three years spouse and I have been averaging over $8K/year for a family of three. Most of those were trips to college campuses or getting our kid to some educational opportunity. Hopefully we're done with that.

The irony is that we find it difficult to give ourselves permission to take vacations. (Is that because we've already been on vacation for over eight years?) Maybe it's the same mindset that makes it hard to loosen the frugal reins or to make the mental shift from accumulation investing to decumulation. There's more than enough to do here, and there's a certain amount of [-]five-hour flights[/-] wasted effort in getting to most destinations. Intellectually we know that we could just pick up next Tuesday and go spend a couple weeks at Monterey Bay, but somehow that never happens. Heck, in 20 years of Hawaii I've never even visited Molokai or Lanai, let alone Niihau or Kaho'olawe. OTOH we're quite happy to travel "for a purpose" on subsidized trips to Maui, San Diego, Bangkok, the Marianas, and even Dallas.

Maybe we'll figure out how to loosen our mental travel chains. But I'm still going to avoid the cheap seats.

I figured there were at least some people on here that typically fly business or first for international trips. That will obviously rack up the dollar amounts (as you have shown!). Hey, if you can afford it, why not travel in luxury! Being a cheapskate, I'll continue to suffer through steerage class, er I mean economy...

I take every one of those first-class upgrades and hopefully with as few connections as possible. Spouse finds this highly amusing in view of my years of submarine experience. I call it making up for missed opportunities.

In reality, kids are expensive (travel or not )...

I'm hoping that all the money we've spent on traveling to college campuses (and paying for our kid's other educational jaunts) have helped her achieve orbital parameters on the first (and only) launch.

So our vacation budget really might be more appropriately named the "college education & research budget".

$300 for the Amtrak ticket to Seattle and $40 a day on the ride back.

Boy, that's commitment. I'd bicycle away from home and see how far I got before I needed the train. Like it or not, you're going to have to bicycle the entire distance just to get back home!

 

[FIREd]

I am amazed at the amounts people spend on travel! You guys either have deeper pockets than mine, or you don't pay for your own health care...

 

[FUEGO]

Good poll, Fuego, and quite an eye-opener when I started running our Quicken spending reports.

Thanks! I'm most excited about the poll's near perfect bell curve I have created from carefully selecting bin ranges.

This thread is a bit of an eye opener for me too and I think it reveals a lot. Some could care less about traveling. Some are frugal travelers, and some splurge big time (from my frugal traveler opinion!).

My ulterior motives for the thread and poll are finding out if I have projected my FIRE budget for travel correctly. Is $12000 enough and where is that amount taking other people?

I'm such an opportunistic cheapskate that some of my travel planning is guided by where can I go cheap. I never go anywhere I don't want to go, but priorities and order of visiting certain places are dictated by the dollar and finding a good deal.

 

[fisherman]

Heck, in 20 years of Hawaii I've never even visited Molokai or Lanai, let alone Niihau or Kaho'olawe.

We visited Hawaii in the early 90s and loved it. We went to almost every island including Molokai and Lanai. Molokai and Lanai were not at the top of the list compared to the others. You made an excellent choice as I would rather be surfing than on those islands but then I do not have water to Surf!

 

[rescueme]

I am amazed at the amounts people spend on travel! You guys either have deeper pockets than mine, or you don't pay for your own health care...

Sorry to get OT, but since you asked, I pay $6k/yr for DW/me under my Megacorp retirement healthcare plan.

Normal Dr. visits are $15; specialists are $25. No dental. Drug (3 month supply via mail) is $16 for generic, $45 for name.

Any procedures? They pay 90%; I pick up 10%. I'm going in for a cataract operation in two weeks (2 of 2), which will be several hundred dollars out-of-pocket (same as last time).

I can't complain (I leave that to DW; drum roll please)...

 

[stephenandrew]

This varies from year to year but it always seems to land in the $2,000-$5,000 range for the 2 of us.

For $2,000, we get one 15-day trip to Europe.
For $5,000, we get two 15-day trips to Europe and one week-long trip to the west coast.

Once my wife retires, I hope we can get 1 trip to Europe plus lots of small RV trips throughout the year.

Note: we have lots of family and friends living in Europe and on the west coast so we enjoy free lodging and free meals on many of our trips.

I was just about to ask how you could swing a 15-day trip to Europe on $2K, but then just as I started to respond say the "fine print". Even with no lodging costs, $2K is pretty cheap with airfare, some meals out (preumably), museum entry fees, etc. I doubt I could do it for that little, but moe power to you, if you can.

 

[Moemg]

I agree with traveling while you still are able . My Mom loved to travel . It did not have to be far she just loved a change of scenery . At 94 she really can not travel much with out all sorts of help and she still wants to . It's sad !

 

[W2R]

You might want to think about loosening up a bit and enjoying your new-found freedom while your health is good.

But, but, but.... I am traveling as much as I want to travel, already! After being dragged around the world continually as a child, and then traveling all over as required for my work for years, at this age I want to enjoy my new-found freedom NOT to travel, while my health is good. When I travel, it is fun for a while but very quickly I am thinking about home and missing being at home.

Here's why I make that comment:

We just returned from a short RV trip to the mountains of New Mexico. We stay at the same RV park each time we go and have made the acquaintance of a few folks who usually spend the summer at that park.

The park has a few spots where folks keep RV's parked year round, only using them in the summer. Three of these "permanent" RV's were for sale as the health of the folks who own them had deteriorated to the point they could no longer make the trip. Alzheimer's, heart disease, and blindness took away the ability to make the drive or to enjoy the cool 7,000' elevation. These folks - all in their 70's - were there last summer and gone this one.

My, aren't we a ray of sunshine today! I have to admit that this morning I was grumbling about how so many people seem to get cancer in their 60's and wondering if or how my doctor (a busy doctor with way too many patients) would ever notice if I had some sort of cancer.

Still, I somehow did not make the huge leap of thinking that therefore I should go do something I really don't want to do. There is one place I would (mildly) like to go to, and that is the Smithsonian. After we move and have settled down up north, would be a better time to do that. But even if I never went there, I could still die happy.

W2R, I know you aren't an RV fan, but maybe something like this beauty would change your mind?

Check out the fins and fender skirts...

That is the ugliest vehicle I have ever seen, I think! No thanks.

 

[FIREd]

I was just about to ask how you could swing a 15-day trip to Europe on $2K, but then just as I started to respond say the "fine print". Even with no lodging costs, $2K is pretty cheap with airfare, some meals out (preumably), museum entry fees, etc. I doubt I could do it for that little, but moe power to you, if you can.

When we do incur food or gas expenses, they are usually minimal and certainly lower than what we would incur while staying at home (our European hosts tend to get upset if we propose to pay for the food they graciously share with us). So I file them under my normal "groceries" and "gas" categories and not under my "travel expenses" category.

We also rarely pay anything for activities. When we go to Europe, much of what we do is outdoorsy and/or super cheap (hiking, snow shoeing, walking/taking pictures, visiting with family and friends, etc...). In 2008, I spent an entire week exploring Valencia on foot and I don't remember spending more than 20 euros for entry fees. Those costs, when incurred, do get filed under the "travel expenses" category however.

 

[Tom57]

I am one of the 2 so far in the $50K - $100K bin. Our medical insurance is currently $14,588.28 per year and includes prescription drugs, dental and vision care. Copays for regular doctors are $15 and specialists are $25. Hospital copays are $500 per admission and then the insurance pays 100% after. Lab tests and screenings are 100% covered and drugs cost $10 for a 90 day supply for generic and from $20 to $80 for a 90 day supply of brand names.

I agree with the posters about the importance of loyalty to airlines and hotels. I am a lifetime Platinum member at Marriott and soon a lifetime Premier Executive at United Airlines ( over 1 million miles lifetime ). When I read to DW what other posters spend a year, DW gave me permission to disclose the fact the we spent over $1,500 for 3 nights at DW's first five star hotel stay in Geneva, Switzerland in July 2010 at the Hotel d'Angleterre. It was great but DW has agreed to settle for 4 stars in the future.

 

[Moemg]

We have family and friends living all over Europe. We crash in their guest bedrooms or in their vacant vacation homes for free. So we rarely pay anything for lodging. Often times they feed us too and lend us one of their vehicles to get around. So usually, our largest expense is airfare which ranges from $1,500 to $2,500 for 2 people depending on the season. Of course we return the favor when they come stateside. We just hosted a group of Germans last week.

Maybe we could trade relatives .I could go to Europe and you could stay on my Aunt's pull out in scenic Wilkes -Barre ,Pa..

 

[Htown Harry]

DW gave me permission to disclose the fact the we spent over $1,500 for 3 nights at DW's first five star hotel stay in Geneva, Switzerland in July 2010 at the Hotel d'Angleterre. It was great but DW has agreed to settle for 4 stars in the future.

Or maybe you could treat her to a 7 star? (Just kidding around, Tom )

Very interesting thread, FUEGO.

One thing I am curious about from those who are posting relatively high numbers. Do you find that your LBYM instincts are suppressed when planning travel? I.e. you will do research and shop around for days to save $100 on an appliance purchase, but for whatever reason you do not choose to work as hard to find low fares or less expensive hotels?

 

[Moemg]

I am curious about from those who are posting relatively high numbers. Do you find that your LBYM instincts are suppressed when planning travel? I.e. you will do research and shop around for days to save $100 on an appliance purchase, but for whatever reason you do not choose to work as hard to find low fares or less expensive hotels?

I love to research my trips and get the best prices available . I usually book Hotels via Priceline or Hotwire and I keep an eye out for any price reductions .We recently cruised to Costa Rica and were booked in an outside cabin but because I watch the price changes every day we ended up being upgraded into a balcony for $50.

 

[Htown Harry]

I love to research my trips and get the best prices available .

I'm the same way, Moemg. That's one reason I find the high-spenders interesting, at least the ones that are spending quite a bit per day or per trip.

I certainly enjoy luxury accommodations and comfortable airline seats as much as the next guy. But I value the other aspects of travel much more highly.

Even at 6'2", the thought of spending double for biz class seats for 10 hours of flight on a two week vacation doesn't compute. I'd probably be so comfortable on the flight back that my mind would surely wander to thoughts of the extra week DW and I could have stayed in paradise if I hand't blown so much on the airline tickets.

To each his own, I guess.

 

[Alan]

One thing I am curious about from those who are posting relatively high numbers. Do you find that your LBYM instincts are suppressed when planning travel? I.e. you will do research and shop around for days to save $100 on an appliance purchase, but for whatever reason you do not choose to work as hard to find low fares or less expensive hotels?

We spend relatively large amounts on travel and will be away 20 weeks this year, 26 weeks next year.

We still shop for the lower airfares, and tend to stay in B&B's or rent a house. This year we had a month in Colorado and the 2 bed house in a beautiful location cost $2,100 for 30 days. With your own house you shop at the local supermarket and cook, and / or share the costs with friends and relatives as we did in France and Spain 2 years ago and Guadaloupe the year before and Quebec City the year before that. We are currently in a 4 bed room lovely house in Canada, sharing with 3 other pairs of family members.

This summer in England we stayed in student dorms in 3 different University cities (London, Exeter and York), and we also got around via rail and bus much cheaper than hiring a car.

 

[hankster]

Still working, $4,000-$9,999, 2 people.

February, airline+hotel+rental car to Phoenix for 7 days about $2,300

April, mix of camping and motels from Washington State to Arizona for 13 days about $1,400

July, airline+hotel+rental car to Mississippi to visit kids (would never go there in July otherwise-OMG! Hot! Humid! ) for 8 days, $2,100

Two other trips with camping or staying with family, between $500 & $1,000.

 

[Emeritus]

We Scuba Dive in Warm Exotic Places...
At least $15K-$25K for 2 Peeps - and that is pre-retirement.
Once we FIRE, watch out!!

We dove Bonaire , Grand cayman and Phuket over the past year.
Im a certified PADI warm water wimp diver. No cold, no dark, no caves

 

[Emeritus]

I'm the same way, Moemg. That's one reason I find the high-spenders interesting, at least the ones that are spending quite a bit per day or per trip.

I certainly enjoy luxury accommodations and comfortable airline seats as much as the next guy. But I value the other aspects of travel much more highly.

Even at 6'2", the thought of spending double for biz class seats for 10 hours of flight on a two week vacation doesn't compute. I'd probably be so comfortable on the flight back that my mind would surely wander to thoughts of the extra week DW and I could have stayed in paradise if I hand't blown so much on the airline tickets.

To each his own, I guess.

This was my lucky year
I was a 1 K on united and could fly Biz class to Thailand on upgrades.
Nice but not worth a lot of money
had lots of upgrades for domestic flights including Alaska .
Back to Gold for next year. Oh well

 

[Emeritus]

One thing I am curious about from those who are posting relatively high numbers. Do you find that your LBYM instincts are suppressed when planning travel? I.e. you will do research and shop around for days to save $100 on an appliance purchase, but for whatever reason you do not choose to work as hard to find low fares or less expensive hotels?

I am well known in the family as the cheap travel expert. I hate spending more than $100 a night anywhere, even Paris.
I love upgrades but never paid for them.
Best travel deal we ever had were the bungalows in Kruger national park.
Last Mercedes Benz I rented was 36 dollars a day (May 2010)