Vacation

[Bernard]

I'm an immigrant from Europe (Swedish dad, German mom, Danish grandfather). I've lived in 5 European countries before moving to Florida in 1986. Since 1991 I live in Southern California, since 2001 in one of the nicest areas on the planet (the Ojai Valley).

I was a big spender for way too long, discovered MMM and fire about 4 years ago, and it has changed my life. I adapted quite well and while I still spend more than I'd like to, I'm trimming it down as time moves on and substantially invest in retirement now.

I got married in 2006 and my wife had never been out of the United States. In 2013 we flew via Turkey (1 week) to Germany (1 week) and had a 2-week vacation. I had to travel to Europe for business a few times since, but the only vacation my wife had was a trip to North Carolina where "our" daughter lives. I promised her a "real" vacation every 2 years. Since I know Europe inside and out, I agreed to 2 weeks in Italy coming spring, and 2 years later we'll do what I'd like to do, going to Thailand or Vietnam for a couple of weeks. In 2024, it would be Europe again.

I try to be as frugal in regard to finding cheap flights, then Air B&B's, a cheap rental car, etc., but that Italy vacation will cost us about $6K to $6,5K, including a houses sitter ($20 a day) for our 2 dogs and the cat. I'm trying to justify that to myself, but it's basically $250 a month, on average, as a constant monthly expense for vacations.

What are your thoughts?

[Chrissy]

Start hacking.  A good credit card sign-up bonus in the way of travel points would help a bunch.  Plus, you could probably both do Capital One Savor cards:  that's $1,000 right there.

[mm1970]

Hi neighbor! ( just up the coast)
We do not travel expensively often, so I am fine when we do. I do not have patience for travel hacking, plus our credit is frozen.

Airfare is always the big expense for us, so I would focus on that.

[jeroly]

Even without hacking, a two week trip for two to Italy in the spring does not need to cost $6,500.

Airfare: $1200 (currently available from LAX TO ROM in April)
AirBnbs: $67/night x 13 nights = $870
Transport: $300 including airport transfers (4 train trips @ $30 each)
Food @ $50/day x 2 =$1300
Total $3870+$20x14 for petsitting = $4050

...and that's without any real economizing like cooking for yourself, using travel points, etc.

[blingwrx]

I 2nd opening credit cards for the sign on bonuses and learning to utilize travel points to cover your hotels and airfare. You can each open a hotel chain credit card like the IHG card and receive a sign on bonus worth 3 nights, plus get a free night each year. If you both open one that will cover you for about a week. The annual fee is pretty reasonable as well about $89 bucks. Then the next year you can open up another hotel chain card and do it again.

Also since your both FIRE'd, you can wait for airfare sales and get a good deal during the off seasons, but do check the weather in those regions during those times before booking anything, some places may have monsoon season when it's cheaper.
 
I would also venture out to other countries besides Europe. Travel to poorer countries where the dollar will go a long way. You'll find things are a lot cheaper in Thailand, and Vietnam, the most expensive thing is the flight once your there everything is probably less than a quarter the price of Europe and here. A lot of places in Asia and South America your dollar will go a long way so do some research.

[dodojojo]

I don't know why I feel this way, but I do...

Do you ever feel guilty cancelling a credit card once the free part of it is done and the annual fees kicks in?  I don't travel enough to justify paying an annual fee for a credit card so I always cancel.  I always feel bad or at the very least, sheepish about it. I don't know if it feels worse if I've used the miles or am sitting on them.

It's irrational.

Edited: it's one reason why I travel/credit card hack at a minimal level--like 3 mileage cards in the last decade.

[BECABECA]

I am a fan of cruises and if you’re flexible on when you go and where you go, you can get them for $50 a night per person. There are lots of options that set sail out of SoCal so you don’t need to pay for any flights. I really like cruises because the lodging and meals are all covered, so the only unexpected expenses of your vacation are your entertainment when you’re in each port, and that can be as mustachian as you like. Here’s upcoming cruises departing out of LA:
https://www.cruisedirect.com/search-results?DeparturePort%5B%5D=505528

If you like that type of vacation format, you can get fancy and find some repositioning cruises that take you to the other side of the world over a few weeks, and then you could travel around over there and only have to worry about a one way flight back home. That’d be a long vacation though, so really only feasible if you’re retired.

[Chrissy]

Do you ever feel guilty cancelling a credit card once the free part of it is done and the annual fees kicks in?

Shit, no!  This is a "get yours" situation.  Credit card issuers are paid a percentage of each charge by the vendors.  They also charge annual fees.  They also charge interest, late fees, fees for balance transfers, etc.

They're making money off of everyone--sometimes two and three times for the same transactions.  The only way they don't make money off of you is if you default, so, avoid doing THAT, and you're good.

[dodojojo]

Do you ever feel guilty cancelling a credit card once the free part of it is done and the annual fees kicks in?

Shit, no!  This is a "get yours" situation.  Credit card issuers are paid a percentage of each charge by the vendors.  They also charge annual fees.  They also charge interest, late fees, fees for balance transfers, etc.

They're making money off of everyone--sometimes two and three times for the same transactions.  The only way they don't make money off of you is if you default, so, avoid doing THAT, and you're good.

Damn, it's exactly a year since I activated my AA card.  I better call them to see if the annual fee kicked in.

[JoJo]

sign up for Scott's Flight deals emails.  every few days they send you cheap deals on flights (sometimes a mistake, sometimes the airlines competing on a route).  It's not unheard of to get international flights less than $500 RT (but be ready to buy as the offers don't last long), and maybe be flexible on your departure or arrival airports.

[Igelfreundin]

When I had pets, I saved money on pet sitting by making friends with other pet owners, and we traded pet care duty. It can take time to find people who are a good fit for you and your pets, but daily fees really add up and it's worth trying to make it work. I also had more success finding friends who liked cats and different friends who liked dogs - this really is a divide for some people.

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[MrThatsDifferent]

Life is short, go on vacation and make it as romantic, stress-free and loving as possible.