This article in the NYT about budget weekend in Las Vegas led me to wonder: How do Vintage Folks like to travel....or DO they like to travel far from home

We tend to travel on the 'frugal' mode....sometimes upgrading to the 'middle' $. I would rather stretchhhhhhhhhh my available travel $$$ to allow going on more trips, but at a modest level of luxe.

For example, our 3.5 week trip to New Zealand cost about HALF of a comparable 'travel company' organized tour. Even so, we stayed in some very luxe B&B's and did some very expensive tours (o'nite wilderness boat trip, helicopter tour of the NZ Alps, whale watch flight). This was balanced by a few nights in small cabins and using a second-tier domestic rental car agency.

How about you? Would you rather travel less often but in luxury, or more often with modest accoutrements

 

It depends on the destination I guess. On those rare occasions when I travel on vacation I tend to visit large cities and resort areas and I tend to stay in luxury hotels. The car only matters if I will have a chance to drive on some nice roads. The method of travel and first class accomodations are important if you want to arrive well rested. Lately I have been using Amtrac to commute to NYC. The first class car costs less than the airline shuttle and it takes no longer to get me to midtown.

 

I'm way to cheap to fly first class. When I've checked the prices were about four times the price of cattle seats.

As far as hotels go, I look for low price but won't go as low as a Motel 6. It seems to me that the more you pay for a hotel, the less you get. Mid priced hotels, like La Quinta Inn (my favorite) have free parking and a decent, free breakfast. Go to a Marriott and you'll be charged more for the room, pay for parking and have to buy your breakfast.

 

Our vacation budget does not allow for first class travel. However, the budget has been well served by Hampton Inns, Comfort Inns, chains of that type. A decent breakfast is always included, and we've not been disappointed in the accomodations.

We won't go as low as a Motel 6 ever again. We spent one night at one of their establishments. The towels were like paper towels and the walls were paper thin.

If we are going somewhere where scenic areas/ attractions are on the agenda then we spend the extra $$ and get a convertible. On a trip to Vegas, we went into Utah and AZ and Zion National Park in a convertible. It made the ride very enjoyable. We're not gourmets by any stretch of the imagination, so we look for reasonable places to eat, vs. the more upscale.

And absolutely no Maybe a hike, but NO camping.

 

My wife and I are off to Maui on Wednesday, with our new son Nathan. Kristin goes back to work when we get back, so this is our last hurrah. As this is the first time we're travelling with Nathan, we decided to upgrade to first class (more seat room). However, we paid for the flight with frequent flyer points.

We're staying at the Westin Kaanpali--about a year and a half ago we got a vacation deal from Westin that said pay $750 now for seven days and six nights at our hotel, if you come in the next two years. Well, we're doing it now.

So, flying first class to Maui and staying at a great resort has cost us about $1,500 so far. Add food, car rental, scuba, babysitting one night, and it still seems like a reasonable price for a vacation where you actually feel like you're taking one.

 

I don't mind flying coach, especially on internal flights.

When it comes to hotels, etc, I guess it depends on the destination. We have a timeshare at the Westin St. John, which is a fairly pricey resort, and we tend to spend a lot on day trips when we go there.

We also look for deals before we go, and you'd be amazed at how often you can get a cheap rate at a Pan Pacific hotel, or the Chateau Lake Louise, etc.

We travel cheap sometimes, such as trips to Lake Tahoe where we can stay with my sister-in-law for free, or Ireland, where we can just stay at my parents' house.

I like to DO things on vacation, whether skiing, snorkeling, boating, or hiking. That can be expensive or free, depending.

 

It all depends. Mainly it depends on who's paying for it.

My vacation accommodations are usually primitive. I'm typically camping in the back of my truck or wedged into a narrow bunk on a sailboat. I've never been a fan or resorts or cruises.

On the other hand I've gotten quite spoiled when it comes to getting to and from vacation destinations. I just won't do 6+ hour flights in economy anymore. If I'm flying for business I insist on business class if I will be crossing an ocean, and then try to use frequent flier miles to upgrade from business to first. If I'm travelling for vacation I trade in miles for business class seats, or I don't go.

I don't know what I'll do when I run out of miles. I can't imagine myself every paying $4000/seat for a flight. Maybe I'll never leave North America again.

 

If I can't go 1st class I don't go.

 

......although we may do some overnite hikes in the future that stay in decent tended camp huts

 

Wow.