I would spend upto 10% per I would spend upto 10% per year. But my husband says it should be less than that. whats piggs thoughts??
chicobeaks
March 23, 2009 @
8:24 AM
10% of your net seems a bit 10% of your net seems a bit high.
kev374
March 5, 2013 @
5:28 PM
i’ve allocated $4000 this i’ve allocated $4000 this year which is 3% of my gross. However, I have low monthly expenses, no mortgage, no debt.
UCGal
March 23, 2009 @
9:48 AM
I think it depends on whether I think it depends on whether you are a travel junky or not, and whether you have cut back in other areas of your expenses. If you keep your housing costs low (By renting, large down payments, or just having bought frugally), then you have more income left over for other stuff.
Some chose to spend 10% or more of their income on private schools for their kids. Some choose to spend 10% or more of their income on a boat and slip. I would venture that some of my friends spend 10% of their income on meals in restaurants. Our household spends about 10% on travel. But that’s average… some years more, some years less. But we made a goal to reduce our expenses so that we could afford to travel. This decision was made prior to having kids, prior to buying our current house.
If travelling is your priority or passion AND you reduce your expenses so that you can afford to travel, why not.
zzz
March 23, 2009 @
9:59 AM
I think it really depends on I think it really depends on how much money you make. 10% for someone who makes 500k/year income is very different than 10% of 40k/year. I would argue the person who makes 500k could afford it if they chose to, and the person making 40k cannot.
earlyretirement
March 5, 2013 @
8:13 AM
UCGal wrote:I think it [quote=UCGal]I think it depends on whether you are a travel junky or not, and whether you have cut back in other areas of your expenses. If you keep your housing costs low
If travelling is your priority or passion AND you reduce your expenses so that you can afford to travel, why not.[/quote]
Totally agree. For us, traveling is a big priority AND passion. It’s our #1 biggest expense each year. Some people absolutely have no interest in traveling out of San Diego. And that’s ok as well.
For us, we love giving our kids culture and learning and seeing new places is absolutely wonderful. And they love it as well.
Now that our daughter started school we keep saying we will slow down but there are enough vacations throughout the summer and school year where we still take lots of trips.
Even in retirement, traveling will be our biggest expense by a long shot.
cvmom
March 5, 2013 @
12:55 PM
earlyretirement wrote:It’s [quote=earlyretirement]It’s our #1 biggest expense each year. [/quote]
Very similar situation for my family. Our #1 biggest expense is kid stuff (schools, camps, etc.), but travel is #2. We live very modestly so that we can afford both of these. Prices to Europe this upcoming summer are crazy, if you want to fly direct from SD, leave in the evening and have minimal plane changes. Vacation time is too precious to waste it sitting in connecting airports, IMHO.
spdrun
March 5, 2013 @
1:26 PM
Book a flight to NYC, catch a Book a flight to NYC, catch a train to the city for a day, then catch a connecting flight abroad in the evening. The price difference between flying out of SAN and flying out of Kennedy might actually make it worth while. Same might go for Chicago depending on where you’re going.
Also, pre-booking flights to Europe 4-5 months ahead of time has actually been MORE expensive in my experience. I had better luck booking 2-3 weeks in advance, as long as I was willing to be a bit flexible.
(That’s one advantage of staying in NYC; flights to Europe from the West Coast are crazy expensive. In NY, I’ve seldom paid over a grand in summer, even if I did have to fly via Keflavik.)
XBoxBoy
March 23, 2009 @
10:49 AM
I’ll add the opinion that I’ll add the opinion that some of us don’t really like to travel. For me, time off to hang out at home is way more fun than schlepping a suitcase onto a plane, putting up with security, sleeping in a bed that god knows who has slept in, and not having a home cooked meal for a week. Personally, I’d much rather just hang out with my wife, go for a run, watch a movie, shop at the local farmers market and make a great meal at home. No need to go anywhere to enjoy life.
XBoxBoy
briansd1
March 23, 2009 @
2:02 PM
I will be spending the same I will be spending the same amount but I’m going to go more often and get more for my money.
You can go Taiwan for $500. (my friend got deal at $430).
Dublin, Ireland is less than $400.
Guadalajara for under $200
(all these fares are including taxes)
If your income is steady, take advantage of this economic crisis to see the world on the cheap. Take your kids and show them the world.
[img_assist|nid=10659|title=TPE|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=100|height=73]
UCGal
March 23, 2009 @
4:55 PM
XBoxBoy wrote:I’ll add the [quote=XBoxBoy]I’ll add the opinion that some of us don’t really like to travel. For me, time off to hang out at home is way more fun than schlepping a suitcase onto a plane, putting up with security, sleeping in a bed that god knows who has slept in, and not having a home cooked meal for a week. Personally, I’d much rather just hang out with my wife, go for a run, watch a movie, shop at the local farmers market and make a great meal at home. No need to go anywhere to enjoy life.
XBoxBoy[/quote]
See that’s why we do the “slow travel” thing… We get vacation rentals that have kitchens and SPACE – so we aren’t cramped in a small hotel room with kids. We only pack/unpack once a week. We cook many of the meals at home.
We did 3 weeks in Italy a few years ago. We only ate out 1 meal/day… And shopped in the local farmers markets there. We saw 3 distinct parts of Italy (Rome, Sicily, Tuscany) and got a real feel for the places – not just the tourist spots, but the local markets, etc. It’s the only way to travel with kids!
(And kids will be motivated to do almost any kind of boring museum if they know they get Gelato and a park to run around afterwards.)
The way we travel – doing vacation rentals, staying in one place longer, is FAR cheaper than the typical 10 cities in 12 days type of vacations.
yooklid
March 23, 2009 @
6:03 PM
I travel so much that the I travel so much that the concept of traveling for my time off is repugnant. If I do need to travel, I’ve so many miles/points, it’s practically free.
patientrenter
March 23, 2009 @
7:40 PM
I’ll spend a few $K, less I’ll spend a few $K, less than usual, but I might upgrade to $10-15K to go on a nice trip with my sister and her husband (who like to spend more on vacations than me).
I suspect lots of people are cutting back on vacations. It’s one of the most discretionary and expensive items in most budgets. Terrible for people living off tourism.
GoUSC
March 23, 2009 @
8:42 PM
My girlfriend and I travel a My girlfriend and I travel a lot. We try to do two main trips a year. One over Xmas with the family and one with just us. Then lot’s of little trips in between. My theory is we live on a big planet and we are meant to go out and explore. Lot’s of people see it otherwise though…
% of income is an irrelevant number though as people make very different incomes on this board.
afx114
March 23, 2009 @
8:59 PM
GoUSC wrote:My theory is we [quote=GoUSC]My theory is we live on a big planet and we are meant to go out and explore.[/quote]
I subscribe to this theory as well. Additionally, travel provides you with a lifetime of memories that can’t ever been taken away (except for perhaps Alzheimers). To me this is something that is not so easily provided by other ‘things’. There is nothing I’d rather spend my money on than travel, food, and drink, especially with friends and loved ones. Not to mention the ability for it to give you a better understanding about people, places, and things that are different than yourself. I truly believe that the world would be a better place if more people had the desire to travel — not just to theme parks and their own country’s national parks, but all over the world.
Not trying to sound like a MasterCard commercial here, but to me, travel is priceless. I’d be first in line for a ride to Mars if they offered it.
temeculaguy
March 23, 2009 @
11:51 PM
I’m with xbox, I don’t get I’m with xbox, I don’t get the travel thing, especially to cold places or third world countries. I used to drag my kids along on far away adventures and one time my son asked me “everywhere smells like poo and why does the resort have an army man with a machine gun at the entrance.” Poetry from the mouths of babes. Eventually they got older and everytime we went somewhere new they compared it to hawaii or a resort in palm springs, somewhere warm where they bring you drinks to your chair and you don’t have to tolerate the open sewage aroma or political unrest just to be cool.
CA renter
March 24, 2009 @
2:25 AM
Smart son you have there, TG! Smart son you have there, TG! 🙂
————–
For those who like to travel with a significant other, sans kids…enjoy it while you can. Traveling with kids will kill the travel bug in a great majority of people.
For us, we have at least two camping trips planned, and might do a multi-day Disneyland trip, but that’s about it.
UCGal
March 24, 2009 @
3:26 PM
CA renter wrote:S
For those [quote=CA renter]S
For those who like to travel with a significant other, sans kids…enjoy it while you can. Traveling with kids will kill the travel bug in a great majority of people.
[/quote]
Having been an avid traveler pre-kids, and post kids… I’d agree it’s different. And more difficult during the stroller/diaper years.
But I’m enjoying the post diaper, pre-sullen-teenager years. My kids are good travelers and it is really neat to see the world through their eyes. Travelling with kids requires slowing down a bit. Not as much time in museums, more time people watching in parks or shopping in open air markets. I’m enjoying traveling with kids. Maybe I’m the exception, but I want to travel MORE with my kids.
CA renter
March 24, 2009 @
8:29 PM
That’s awesome, UCGal, and That’s awesome, UCGal, and there’s always hope that your kids won’t be one of the sullen teenager types. 😉
We’re still in the 3-7 y.o. range, and are just starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I agree that travel (especially international) is one of the best experiences parents can provide for their kids.
Like the OP said, it’s important for our kids to realize how very fortunate they are.
Here’s hoping you have many, many years of happy globe-trotting with pleasant kids! 🙂
temeculaguy
March 24, 2009 @
9:28 PM
One thing not mentioned that One thing not mentioned that does affect kids, especially teenagers and some adults is the fact that many of these travel destinations allow indoor smoking and smoking in restaurants and hotels.
I could care less, I grew up before this country declared war on smokers so I am desensitized, plus the occasional cigar smoking makes me immune. But my teens have been so protected from smoke in public that they are borderline allergic and can feel ill if they have to sleep in a hotel room or eat a restaurant where someone smoked within the last month, they are like bloodhounds, I blame the government. The next generation are smoke wimps and many of these countries take public indoor smoking to casino like levels.
It just ends up the same way, with the same phrases, “Dad, was Hawaii closed for repairs again?” or my favorite “Dad, couldn’t you find a closer place we could get diahrrea?”
SDowner
March 25, 2009 @
7:59 AM
urbanrealtor,
angor wat is urbanrealtor,
angor wat is where i would like to go. it has been my childhood dream to visit there after seeing an archealogical documentary.
any travel tips? when is the best time to go, now or in december?
urbanrealtor
March 25, 2009 @
10:24 PM
SDowner [quote=SDowner]urbanrealtor,
angor wat is where i would like to go. it has been my childhood dream to visit there after seeing an archealogical documentary.
any travel tips? when is the best time to go, now or in december? [/quote]
Honestly, I am probably the wrong person to ask.
I was last there in 2001.
At that time, Cambodia had no rail service and no paved roads.
Landmines were prevalent and the Khmer Rouge were still active near Siem Reap.
The only 4 wheeled vehicles were generally the de-mining equipment (which usually said “gift of Japan” or something similar on the side).
For 5 bucks I hired a “driver” (a dude with a motor scooter) for the day.
It was truly incredible.
Ancient palaces and huge empty reflecting pools.
It looked like Raiders of the Lost Ark.
At one point I rounded the corner of an outlying building edging on the jungle to find an orange-clad Monk sitting smiling (in ecstasy I guess?).
At that time you could see the unregulated commerce and corruption slipping in.
Lots of amputees sitting outside half-completed casinos with Australians in 3-piece suits.
It was a weird asian Oliver Twist scene.
On the positive side, there is nothing like checking out ruins strait out of tomb raider.
Lots of those columns with faces on 4 sides.
Also, fried crickets are delicious when you are really stoned.
My real point here is that it was very much full contact traveling.
I suspect it is easier now.
I have actually heard that a lot.
I cannot stress enough the importance of the Lonely Planet guide.
Here is link to the online version: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/cambodia
Truly one of the most intense trips I have ever taken.
Simultaneously, troubling and incredibly beautiful.
sdrealtor
March 26, 2009 @
12:34 AM
I’ve spent far too much I’ve spent far too much travel time taking my kids to see their relatives. Time to see the world…all of it…..1st, 2nd and 3rd world. But following on TG’s guidance of where to start, I just pricelined myself to Hawaii next week. Aloha!
temeculaguy
March 26, 2009 @
1:04 AM
sd, good for you, you sure sd, good for you, you sure you want to start out with warm weather, bikini clad women and mai tai’s. You sure you want to save the landmines, crickets and limbless villagers for last. I wish you had mentioned it earlier, I would have been your wing man, we could tear that island up. Two eco uber geeks, loose in the land of the milfs, discussing income to median housing ratios, it would be like fish in a barrel, ha. But alas, my travel plans for spring break are already set, greens fees are already paid, so have a blast, I’ll be green with envy. More than likely I will be saying to myself “couldn’t I have found a place in California to slice my ball into the trees, did I really need to pay this much to golf badly in another state. sdrealtor probably paid less and he’s in hawaii, they have golf plus women in bikini’s are in hawaii, thong bikini’s are popular these days, I like thong bikini’s more than I like golf, once again, what the hell am I doing here.”
Have Fun.
urbanrealtor
March 24, 2009 @
2:05 PM
temeculaguy wrote:I’m with [quote=temeculaguy]I’m with xbox, I don’t get the travel thing, especially to cold places or third world countries. I used to drag my kids along on far away adventures and one time my son asked me “everywhere smells like poo and why does the resort have an army man with a machine gun at the entrance.” Poetry from the mouths of babes. Eventually they got older and everytime we went somewhere new they compared it to hawaii or a resort in palm springs, somewhere warm where they bring you drinks to your chair and you don’t have to tolerate the open sewage aroma or political unrest just to be cool. [/quote]
Well considering that you like temecula, we will agree to disagree.
I love to travel, primarily in the third world.
I love it because its cheap, not terribly dangerous, and always an adventure.
I like the water taxi in Bangkok for 10 cents, the 4th floor walk up in old Delhi for 5 bucks a night, the Pad Thai for 20 cents at the temple, the streetside pizza and beer in Havana, eating crickets and smoking weed down the road from Angkor Watt, and sleeping next to the camels in the desert on the border with Pakistan.
Though right now, I could really go for some Bavarian beer an sausage. No wonder I am such a fatass.
sdnerd
March 24, 2009 @
2:42 PM
Traveling has been a life Traveling has been a life changing experience for me. I absolutely agree the world would be a better place if everyone saw the rest of the world.
Aside from all the great places, experiences, and memories – by and large the biggest eye opener for me was the appreciation of just how good of life we Americans have.
When the day comes and I do have kids, I’m absolutely taking them to third world countries where places smell like poo, etc. I can’t think of a better way to teach them to be thankful for what they have, and the opportunities before them.
(Taking multiple trips this year while prices are so good, and we still have jobs. 🙂 )
beanmaestro
March 25, 2009 @
1:46 PM
Definitely agree that salary Definitely agree that salary percentages don’t make any sense. When I was a grad student, a $1200 trip to England (mostly crashing on friends’ couches) was about 7% of my salary. My last trip (Switzerland) cost about $4000, but was less than 4% of my salary. I’d have trouble spending 10% of my salary on vacations without running out of vacation time.
flyer
March 5, 2013 @
4:27 PM
Travel has always been our Travel has always been our passion as well, so I completely understand how many of you feel.
Even though we’ll always have free travel through the airline–even in retirement–with positive space available for a very small fee, over the past few years, we’ve been traveling with friends who own jets, and it has been a real treat.
Even though I could never justify that cost, you’d be surprised how many people can. Sales of “PJ’s” are, literally, soaring. (I’m not justifying the expenditures of the 1%-ers–just stating facts–so don’t shoot the messenger.)
earlyretirement
March 6, 2013 @
7:56 PM
flyer wrote:
Even though [quote=flyer]
Even though we’ll always have free travel through the airline–even in retirement–with positive space available for a very small fee, over the past few years, we’ve been traveling with friends who own jets, and it has been a real treat.
Even though I could never justify that cost, you’d be surprised how many people can. Sales of “PJ’s” are, literally, soaring. (I’m not justifying the expenditures of the 1%-ers–just stating facts–so don’t shoot the messenger.)[/quote]
You know, that’s one thing I wish we had was one of us working for an airline or something where we could get free travel. Back when I was single, I’d still spend a small fortune flying around. When I got married it doubled. Now with 2 kids, it’s a small fortune to fly abroad on an international trip. Even in coach you can spend $6,000 to $7,000 + on COACH class tickets for a family of 4 traveling overseas.
I wish I had friends with private jets. Man, that would be the way to travel! Yes, I read that private jets and fractional leasing of them has really skyrocketed.
We’ve spent over 100+ days a year traveling the past 4 years. Even after the kids were born. Our kids have 3 passports @ and were born abroad. People always are amazed when they see their passports. They are only 3 and 4 years old but have been to 25 countries around the world.
There are good ways to make traveling a bit more cost effective. For example, we love love love home exchanges and been on over 30 home exchanges (www.homeexchange.com) over the years and have stayed in some fabulous properties. It’s almost impossible traveling and staying in hotel rooms when you have young kids.
We have some regular exchange partners so it’s fabulous always having a place in cities like Manhattan, Paris, Monte Carlo, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, etc.
When we are fully retired, my wife and I plan to probably spend a few months a year in Europe. If you can do home exchanges it makes vacations amazing.
Now if only I can meet some of flyer’s friends with a private jet to cart us off on our trips and we’ll be set. 🙂
Doofrat
March 6, 2013 @
4:45 PM
We always spend 7%-10% of net We always spend 7%-10% of net (assuming 40% goes to tax) on travel. Sounds like a lot, but when you add up what you’ve spent over 10 years and compare the memories and experience to if you’d bought a luxury car (or two) ten years ago, the travel looks like a better deal IMHO.
March 23, 2009 @ 8:10 AM
I would spend upto 10% per
I would spend upto 10% per year. But my husband says it should be less than that. whats piggs thoughts??
March 23, 2009 @ 8:24 AM
10% of your net seems a bit
10% of your net seems a bit high.
March 5, 2013 @ 5:28 PM
i’ve allocated $4000 this
i’ve allocated $4000 this year which is 3% of my gross. However, I have low monthly expenses, no mortgage, no debt.
March 23, 2009 @ 9:48 AM
I think it depends on whether
I think it depends on whether you are a travel junky or not, and whether you have cut back in other areas of your expenses. If you keep your housing costs low (By renting, large down payments, or just having bought frugally), then you have more income left over for other stuff.
Some chose to spend 10% or more of their income on private schools for their kids. Some choose to spend 10% or more of their income on a boat and slip. I would venture that some of my friends spend 10% of their income on meals in restaurants. Our household spends about 10% on travel. But that’s average… some years more, some years less. But we made a goal to reduce our expenses so that we could afford to travel. This decision was made prior to having kids, prior to buying our current house.
If travelling is your priority or passion AND you reduce your expenses so that you can afford to travel, why not.
March 23, 2009 @ 9:59 AM
I think it really depends on
I think it really depends on how much money you make. 10% for someone who makes 500k/year income is very different than 10% of 40k/year. I would argue the person who makes 500k could afford it if they chose to, and the person making 40k cannot.
March 5, 2013 @ 8:13 AM
UCGal wrote:I think it
[quote=UCGal]I think it depends on whether you are a travel junky or not, and whether you have cut back in other areas of your expenses. If you keep your housing costs low
If travelling is your priority or passion AND you reduce your expenses so that you can afford to travel, why not.[/quote]
Totally agree. For us, traveling is a big priority AND passion. It’s our #1 biggest expense each year. Some people absolutely have no interest in traveling out of San Diego. And that’s ok as well.
For us, we love giving our kids culture and learning and seeing new places is absolutely wonderful. And they love it as well.
Now that our daughter started school we keep saying we will slow down but there are enough vacations throughout the summer and school year where we still take lots of trips.
Even in retirement, traveling will be our biggest expense by a long shot.
March 5, 2013 @ 12:55 PM
earlyretirement wrote:It’s
[quote=earlyretirement]It’s our #1 biggest expense each year. [/quote]
Very similar situation for my family. Our #1 biggest expense is kid stuff (schools, camps, etc.), but travel is #2. We live very modestly so that we can afford both of these. Prices to Europe this upcoming summer are crazy, if you want to fly direct from SD, leave in the evening and have minimal plane changes. Vacation time is too precious to waste it sitting in connecting airports, IMHO.
March 5, 2013 @ 1:26 PM
Book a flight to NYC, catch a
Book a flight to NYC, catch a train to the city for a day, then catch a connecting flight abroad in the evening. The price difference between flying out of SAN and flying out of Kennedy might actually make it worth while. Same might go for Chicago depending on where you’re going.
Also, pre-booking flights to Europe 4-5 months ahead of time has actually been MORE expensive in my experience. I had better luck booking 2-3 weeks in advance, as long as I was willing to be a bit flexible.
(That’s one advantage of staying in NYC; flights to Europe from the West Coast are crazy expensive. In NY, I’ve seldom paid over a grand in summer, even if I did have to fly via Keflavik.)
March 23, 2009 @ 10:49 AM
I’ll add the opinion that
I’ll add the opinion that some of us don’t really like to travel. For me, time off to hang out at home is way more fun than schlepping a suitcase onto a plane, putting up with security, sleeping in a bed that god knows who has slept in, and not having a home cooked meal for a week. Personally, I’d much rather just hang out with my wife, go for a run, watch a movie, shop at the local farmers market and make a great meal at home. No need to go anywhere to enjoy life.
XBoxBoy
March 23, 2009 @ 2:02 PM
I will be spending the same
I will be spending the same amount but I’m going to go more often and get more for my money.
You can go Taiwan for $500. (my friend got deal at $430).
Dublin, Ireland is less than $400.
Guadalajara for under $200
(all these fares are including taxes)
If your income is steady, take advantage of this economic crisis to see the world on the cheap. Take your kids and show them the world.
[img_assist|nid=10659|title=TPE|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=100|height=73]
March 23, 2009 @ 4:55 PM
XBoxBoy wrote:I’ll add the
[quote=XBoxBoy]I’ll add the opinion that some of us don’t really like to travel. For me, time off to hang out at home is way more fun than schlepping a suitcase onto a plane, putting up with security, sleeping in a bed that god knows who has slept in, and not having a home cooked meal for a week. Personally, I’d much rather just hang out with my wife, go for a run, watch a movie, shop at the local farmers market and make a great meal at home. No need to go anywhere to enjoy life.
XBoxBoy[/quote]
See that’s why we do the “slow travel” thing… We get vacation rentals that have kitchens and SPACE – so we aren’t cramped in a small hotel room with kids. We only pack/unpack once a week. We cook many of the meals at home.
We did 3 weeks in Italy a few years ago. We only ate out 1 meal/day… And shopped in the local farmers markets there. We saw 3 distinct parts of Italy (Rome, Sicily, Tuscany) and got a real feel for the places – not just the tourist spots, but the local markets, etc. It’s the only way to travel with kids!
(And kids will be motivated to do almost any kind of boring museum if they know they get Gelato and a park to run around afterwards.)
The way we travel – doing vacation rentals, staying in one place longer, is FAR cheaper than the typical 10 cities in 12 days type of vacations.
March 23, 2009 @ 6:03 PM
I travel so much that the
I travel so much that the concept of traveling for my time off is repugnant. If I do need to travel, I’ve so many miles/points, it’s practically free.
March 23, 2009 @ 7:40 PM
I’ll spend a few $K, less
I’ll spend a few $K, less than usual, but I might upgrade to $10-15K to go on a nice trip with my sister and her husband (who like to spend more on vacations than me).
I suspect lots of people are cutting back on vacations. It’s one of the most discretionary and expensive items in most budgets. Terrible for people living off tourism.
March 23, 2009 @ 8:42 PM
My girlfriend and I travel a
My girlfriend and I travel a lot. We try to do two main trips a year. One over Xmas with the family and one with just us. Then lot’s of little trips in between. My theory is we live on a big planet and we are meant to go out and explore. Lot’s of people see it otherwise though…
% of income is an irrelevant number though as people make very different incomes on this board.
March 23, 2009 @ 8:59 PM
GoUSC wrote:My theory is we
[quote=GoUSC]My theory is we live on a big planet and we are meant to go out and explore.[/quote]
I subscribe to this theory as well. Additionally, travel provides you with a lifetime of memories that can’t ever been taken away (except for perhaps Alzheimers). To me this is something that is not so easily provided by other ‘things’. There is nothing I’d rather spend my money on than travel, food, and drink, especially with friends and loved ones. Not to mention the ability for it to give you a better understanding about people, places, and things that are different than yourself. I truly believe that the world would be a better place if more people had the desire to travel — not just to theme parks and their own country’s national parks, but all over the world.
Not trying to sound like a MasterCard commercial here, but to me, travel is priceless. I’d be first in line for a ride to Mars if they offered it.
March 23, 2009 @ 11:51 PM
I’m with xbox, I don’t get
I’m with xbox, I don’t get the travel thing, especially to cold places or third world countries. I used to drag my kids along on far away adventures and one time my son asked me “everywhere smells like poo and why does the resort have an army man with a machine gun at the entrance.” Poetry from the mouths of babes. Eventually they got older and everytime we went somewhere new they compared it to hawaii or a resort in palm springs, somewhere warm where they bring you drinks to your chair and you don’t have to tolerate the open sewage aroma or political unrest just to be cool.
March 24, 2009 @ 2:25 AM
Smart son you have there, TG!
Smart son you have there, TG! 🙂
————–
For those who like to travel with a significant other, sans kids…enjoy it while you can. Traveling with kids will kill the travel bug in a great majority of people.
For us, we have at least two camping trips planned, and might do a multi-day Disneyland trip, but that’s about it.
March 24, 2009 @ 3:26 PM
CA renter wrote:S
For those
[quote=CA renter]S
For those who like to travel with a significant other, sans kids…enjoy it while you can. Traveling with kids will kill the travel bug in a great majority of people.
[/quote]
Having been an avid traveler pre-kids, and post kids… I’d agree it’s different. And more difficult during the stroller/diaper years.
But I’m enjoying the post diaper, pre-sullen-teenager years. My kids are good travelers and it is really neat to see the world through their eyes. Travelling with kids requires slowing down a bit. Not as much time in museums, more time people watching in parks or shopping in open air markets. I’m enjoying traveling with kids. Maybe I’m the exception, but I want to travel MORE with my kids.
March 24, 2009 @ 8:29 PM
That’s awesome, UCGal, and
That’s awesome, UCGal, and there’s always hope that your kids won’t be one of the sullen teenager types. 😉
We’re still in the 3-7 y.o. range, and are just starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I agree that travel (especially international) is one of the best experiences parents can provide for their kids.
Like the OP said, it’s important for our kids to realize how very fortunate they are.
Here’s hoping you have many, many years of happy globe-trotting with pleasant kids! 🙂
March 24, 2009 @ 9:28 PM
One thing not mentioned that
One thing not mentioned that does affect kids, especially teenagers and some adults is the fact that many of these travel destinations allow indoor smoking and smoking in restaurants and hotels.
I could care less, I grew up before this country declared war on smokers so I am desensitized, plus the occasional cigar smoking makes me immune. But my teens have been so protected from smoke in public that they are borderline allergic and can feel ill if they have to sleep in a hotel room or eat a restaurant where someone smoked within the last month, they are like bloodhounds, I blame the government. The next generation are smoke wimps and many of these countries take public indoor smoking to casino like levels.
It just ends up the same way, with the same phrases, “Dad, was Hawaii closed for repairs again?” or my favorite “Dad, couldn’t you find a closer place we could get diahrrea?”
March 25, 2009 @ 7:59 AM
urbanrealtor,
angor wat is
urbanrealtor,
angor wat is where i would like to go. it has been my childhood dream to visit there after seeing an archealogical documentary.
any travel tips? when is the best time to go, now or in december?
March 25, 2009 @ 10:24 PM
SDowner
[quote=SDowner]urbanrealtor,
angor wat is where i would like to go. it has been my childhood dream to visit there after seeing an archealogical documentary.
any travel tips? when is the best time to go, now or in december? [/quote]
Honestly, I am probably the wrong person to ask.
I was last there in 2001.
At that time, Cambodia had no rail service and no paved roads.
Landmines were prevalent and the Khmer Rouge were still active near Siem Reap.
The only 4 wheeled vehicles were generally the de-mining equipment (which usually said “gift of Japan” or something similar on the side).
For 5 bucks I hired a “driver” (a dude with a motor scooter) for the day.
It was truly incredible.
Ancient palaces and huge empty reflecting pools.
It looked like Raiders of the Lost Ark.
At one point I rounded the corner of an outlying building edging on the jungle to find an orange-clad Monk sitting smiling (in ecstasy I guess?).
At that time you could see the unregulated commerce and corruption slipping in.
Lots of amputees sitting outside half-completed casinos with Australians in 3-piece suits.
It was a weird asian Oliver Twist scene.
On the positive side, there is nothing like checking out ruins strait out of tomb raider.
Lots of those columns with faces on 4 sides.
Also, fried crickets are delicious when you are really stoned.
My real point here is that it was very much full contact traveling.
I suspect it is easier now.
I have actually heard that a lot.
I cannot stress enough the importance of the Lonely Planet guide.
Here is link to the online version:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/cambodia
Truly one of the most intense trips I have ever taken.
Simultaneously, troubling and incredibly beautiful.
March 26, 2009 @ 12:34 AM
I’ve spent far too much
I’ve spent far too much travel time taking my kids to see their relatives. Time to see the world…all of it…..1st, 2nd and 3rd world. But following on TG’s guidance of where to start, I just pricelined myself to Hawaii next week. Aloha!
March 26, 2009 @ 1:04 AM
sd, good for you, you sure
sd, good for you, you sure you want to start out with warm weather, bikini clad women and mai tai’s. You sure you want to save the landmines, crickets and limbless villagers for last. I wish you had mentioned it earlier, I would have been your wing man, we could tear that island up. Two eco uber geeks, loose in the land of the milfs, discussing income to median housing ratios, it would be like fish in a barrel, ha. But alas, my travel plans for spring break are already set, greens fees are already paid, so have a blast, I’ll be green with envy. More than likely I will be saying to myself “couldn’t I have found a place in California to slice my ball into the trees, did I really need to pay this much to golf badly in another state. sdrealtor probably paid less and he’s in hawaii, they have golf plus women in bikini’s are in hawaii, thong bikini’s are popular these days, I like thong bikini’s more than I like golf, once again, what the hell am I doing here.”
Have Fun.
March 24, 2009 @ 2:05 PM
temeculaguy wrote:I’m with
[quote=temeculaguy]I’m with xbox, I don’t get the travel thing, especially to cold places or third world countries. I used to drag my kids along on far away adventures and one time my son asked me “everywhere smells like poo and why does the resort have an army man with a machine gun at the entrance.” Poetry from the mouths of babes. Eventually they got older and everytime we went somewhere new they compared it to hawaii or a resort in palm springs, somewhere warm where they bring you drinks to your chair and you don’t have to tolerate the open sewage aroma or political unrest just to be cool. [/quote]
Well considering that you like temecula, we will agree to disagree.
I love to travel, primarily in the third world.
I love it because its cheap, not terribly dangerous, and always an adventure.
I like the water taxi in Bangkok for 10 cents, the 4th floor walk up in old Delhi for 5 bucks a night, the Pad Thai for 20 cents at the temple, the streetside pizza and beer in Havana, eating crickets and smoking weed down the road from Angkor Watt, and sleeping next to the camels in the desert on the border with Pakistan.
Though right now, I could really go for some Bavarian beer an sausage. No wonder I am such a fatass.
March 24, 2009 @ 2:42 PM
Traveling has been a life
Traveling has been a life changing experience for me. I absolutely agree the world would be a better place if everyone saw the rest of the world.
Aside from all the great places, experiences, and memories – by and large the biggest eye opener for me was the appreciation of just how good of life we Americans have.
When the day comes and I do have kids, I’m absolutely taking them to third world countries where places smell like poo, etc. I can’t think of a better way to teach them to be thankful for what they have, and the opportunities before them.
(Taking multiple trips this year while prices are so good, and we still have jobs. 🙂 )
March 25, 2009 @ 1:46 PM
Definitely agree that salary
Definitely agree that salary percentages don’t make any sense. When I was a grad student, a $1200 trip to England (mostly crashing on friends’ couches) was about 7% of my salary. My last trip (Switzerland) cost about $4000, but was less than 4% of my salary. I’d have trouble spending 10% of my salary on vacations without running out of vacation time.
March 5, 2013 @ 4:27 PM
Travel has always been our
Travel has always been our passion as well, so I completely understand how many of you feel.
Even though we’ll always have free travel through the airline–even in retirement–with positive space available for a very small fee, over the past few years, we’ve been traveling with friends who own jets, and it has been a real treat.
Even though I could never justify that cost, you’d be surprised how many people can. Sales of “PJ’s” are, literally, soaring. (I’m not justifying the expenditures of the 1%-ers–just stating facts–so don’t shoot the messenger.)
March 6, 2013 @ 7:56 PM
flyer wrote:
Even though
[quote=flyer]
Even though we’ll always have free travel through the airline–even in retirement–with positive space available for a very small fee, over the past few years, we’ve been traveling with friends who own jets, and it has been a real treat.
Even though I could never justify that cost, you’d be surprised how many people can. Sales of “PJ’s” are, literally, soaring. (I’m not justifying the expenditures of the 1%-ers–just stating facts–so don’t shoot the messenger.)[/quote]
You know, that’s one thing I wish we had was one of us working for an airline or something where we could get free travel. Back when I was single, I’d still spend a small fortune flying around. When I got married it doubled. Now with 2 kids, it’s a small fortune to fly abroad on an international trip. Even in coach you can spend $6,000 to $7,000 + on COACH class tickets for a family of 4 traveling overseas.
I wish I had friends with private jets. Man, that would be the way to travel! Yes, I read that private jets and fractional leasing of them has really skyrocketed.
We’ve spent over 100+ days a year traveling the past 4 years. Even after the kids were born. Our kids have 3 passports @ and were born abroad. People always are amazed when they see their passports. They are only 3 and 4 years old but have been to 25 countries around the world.
There are good ways to make traveling a bit more cost effective. For example, we love love love home exchanges and been on over 30 home exchanges (www.homeexchange.com) over the years and have stayed in some fabulous properties. It’s almost impossible traveling and staying in hotel rooms when you have young kids.
We have some regular exchange partners so it’s fabulous always having a place in cities like Manhattan, Paris, Monte Carlo, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, etc.
When we are fully retired, my wife and I plan to probably spend a few months a year in Europe. If you can do home exchanges it makes vacations amazing.
Now if only I can meet some of flyer’s friends with a private jet to cart us off on our trips and we’ll be set. 🙂
March 6, 2013 @ 4:45 PM
We always spend 7%-10% of net
We always spend 7%-10% of net (assuming 40% goes to tax) on travel. Sounds like a lot, but when you add up what you’ve spent over 10 years and compare the memories and experience to if you’d bought a luxury car (or two) ten years ago, the travel looks like a better deal IMHO.