When we first ER'd, we set aside quite a princely sum for travel in style. In general I think that was a good idea - have something to "splurge" without concern for the total portfolio.
And we went on some mighty fine trips, some in high style.
And you know what? Couldn't care less about the "5-star" hotels. They don't appeal to me any more than your regular motel. It's still just a barren, empty, sterile room. Little comfort - no matter how "fancy" the presentation.
Actually - I had already figured this one out from traveling on business trips - the fancy hotels just don't deliver that much for the price. Really nothing more than a changing room/place to sleep.
The absolute most fun trip we ever had involved staying in extremely cramped cabins in a 80 foot long-range fishing vessel plus shared showers. But we sailed the Sea of Cortez from dawn till dusk every day following whales and other marine creatures. And the ship cook was amazing. The decks and common areas very nice. The wildlife encounters, the views, the mooring near secluded bays and islands - that was so fantastic, it really didn't matter where we slept, showered or changed.
It was a pleasure to see how much our travel expenses came down after we figured out how to do things "our way" at our own pace. Using an RV instead of staying in hotels/motels was a biggie. It's amazing what a different it makes when you are staying in your "own space". And of course - no guides, no groups, no car rentals, - way less expensive.
When you are working, you have to pack as much vacation as you can into a the short amount of time you have available. You have to fly there - again time constraints. You want the best of everything, the biggest bang for your buck. When you aren't working anymore and have oodles of time, priorities change. You want a more leisurely experience. You're not willing to follow someone else's agenda, you want to create your own. The amazing thing is that as you have more time, recreational travel becomes less expensive and less stressful.
Audrey