Yearly Vacation Budget

**DaveInPgh** · 10-31-2016, 04:35 AM

The cost of our 2016 beach vacation was around $3k before meals and entertainment were factored in.

**disneysteve** · 10-31-2016, 04:50 AM

Let's see. In 2016, we did a week in WDW in January for the 3 of us, 2 weeks in WDW in July for the 3 of us, and DW and I are doing a 7-day cruise plus a few extra days in Florida in December. There have also been a few shorter trips like a weekend in NYC and such. So yeah, we spend over $3,000/year. I think that number is pretty low as the top option on the poll actually.

**TexasHusker** · 10-31-2016, 04:53 AM

We have two high school athletes (golf and volleyball) which translates into about $13-15K a year in travel.

**kork13** · 10-31-2016, 05:05 AM

This is tough for us to fully quantify... We budget $2400/yr for vacations, which is put into a savings account for holding, but we often take small weekend trips here and there, and we cash flow them versus using the vacation savings. It may be closer to $3k/yr for us, but that's just a guesstimate.

**Jluke** · 10-31-2016, 05:17 AM

Originally posted by disneysteve View Post

So yeah, we spend over $3,000/year. I think that number is pretty low as the top option on the poll actually.

I think that is my frugalness coming through... I fall in the $800-$1000 ballpark for our beach vacation.

**scfr** · 10-31-2016, 05:18 AM

$500-1,000 for 2 adults and 1 dog is the average. Many years it is under $500, but we have some higher spend years that bring the average up. I forsee 2-3 more $3K+ years in my lifetime.

**MonkeyMama** · 10-31-2016, 05:31 AM

We put aside $1,500 per year for vacation.

The last two years were huge anomalies for us, but we also didn't really use our own money, so I think $1,500 is still fair. Our kids only had two years left with a nice fall break together so we each picked one *big* vacation to do as a last hurrah. & my older child was invited on a couple of trips that cost about $3k/each, both of which I'd say were essentially funded with cash gifts from grandparents. For us, these were crazy sums to spend on vacation. It's just not a financial priority or something we enjoy enough to plan every year.

I'd say that next year will be a normal year for us. We just have weekend trips and maybe one big road trip planned (for just the adults). Or the two of us could easily go to Hawaii on our budget (some future year).

**feh** · 10-31-2016, 05:31 AM

We don't really have a budget. We plan on one family destination vacation per year. Depending on the length and destination, that means anywhere from $3-8K.

**disneysteve** · 10-31-2016, 06:29 AM

Originally posted by scfr View Post

$500-1,000 for 2 adults and 1 dog is the average. Many years it is under $500, but we have some higher spend years that bring the average up. I forsee 2-3 more $3K+ years in my lifetime.

I'm curious what an "under $500" vacation consists of. Or a $500-1,000 one for that matter. Just a cheap motel for a week would run over $500. Add in food, activities, travel, etc. and it can add up pretty quickly.

**Jluke** · 10-31-2016, 06:43 AM

Originally posted by disneysteve View Post

I'm curious what an "under $500" vacation consists of. Or a $500-1,000 one for that matter. Just a cheap motel for a week would run over $500. Add in food, activities, travel, etc. and it can add up pretty quickly.

Wildwood Beach Vacation - Thursday through Sunday.

3-bedroom suite with kitchen and family room, shared with 2 other couples. $650/couple

Bring food/drinks, etc.

This year we did take out from various restaurants rather than dine-in.

Very basic.

**disneysteve** · 10-31-2016, 06:53 AM

Originally posted by Jluke View Post

Wildwood Beach Vacation - Thursday through Sunday.

3-bedroom suite with kitchen and family room, shared with 2 other couples. $650/couple

Bring food/drinks, etc.

This year we did take out from various restaurants rather than dine-in.

Very basic.

If it's only a weekend trip, that makes more sense. Keeping that under $1,000 is very doable. I was thinking in terms of a standard 7-day vacation.

**scfr** · 10-31-2016, 06:54 AM

Originally posted by disneysteve View Post

I'm curious what an "under $500" vacation consists of. Or a $500-1,000 one for that matter. Just a cheap motel for a week would run over $500. Add in food, activities, travel, etc. and it can add up pretty quickly.

A great vacation does not have to be a week long or involve spending tons of money. Day trips or overnight trips are a big part of our vacation plans. We can do a few of those in a year for under $500 TOTAL for the year. We sometimes use hotel points. For activities we tend to gravitate towards museums, national (and local) parks, and historical sites. Since moving to Austin we've enjoyed great trips to Corpus Christi, Houston, Dallas, Fredericksburg, and San Antonio.

Travel by air (domestic and international) usually involves going to visit family so no hotel.

For our 25th anniversary we plan on spending at the high end of the range (already planned and budgeted right at $1,000) for a trip to Hot Springs National Park.

When making my budget I include the "cost" of driving based on the IRS business mileage rate, not just the cost of gasoline.

**Jluke** · 10-31-2016, 06:56 AM

Originally posted by disneysteve View Post

If it's only a weekend trip, that makes more sense. Keeping that under $1,000 is very doable. I was thinking in terms of a standard 7-day vacation.

Yep, we all have our own definition of vacation.

And it also depends on your personal situation:

With a toddler, 3-4 days away from home is plenty

**tripods68** · 10-31-2016, 07:03 AM

We cashflow all vacation spending; hotels, gas, car rentals, and food around $2000 in the summer But we take so many mini travel vacation/getaway every so often too. I'd say we spend roughly between $2000-$7000 a year.

Yearly Vacation Budget