We just got back from 2 weeks in Atlanta/ Savannah /Myrtle Beach and it ran just over $2000.
Could you please detail how you spent only $2000 vacationing in Atlanta, Savannah and Myrtle Beach for 14 days?
How many people are in your party?
What types of lodging did you stay in?
What types of activities did you partake in?
No Trouble researcher.
We are a family of 4 with a 6 yr old and a 9 yr old.
We drove down from Toronto
We keep a plug-in cooler in the van and bring along road food, so no cost for food on the driving portions of the trip. We booked hotels that included breakfast, and usually skipped lunch. Portions in the US are larger than we are used to, so any extra food goes in the cooler, and we usually find that a dinner out lasts us for two meals. We do not buy alcohol at restaurants, but will get a bottle of wine (or rum) at a package store and enjoy a drink on our balcony after dinner. Also we are big fans of water with dinner (even at home) so our meals out do not usually include drinks.
By Using a combination of Airmiles, BMO Rewards Points and Groupon deals, we were able to keep our hotels under $50 per night. We stayed for 11 nights - accommodation is about $550
Day 1: drove Toronto to Ring Gold GA - Stayed at a Holiday Inn - AAA discount - $130 for the room. (Not prebooked - this was a how far can we get before we need sleep day.)
Day 2 - 4: Atlanta
In Atlanta we toured World of Coke, Fernbank Museum, and the Zoo - these were our most expensive outings. Each was about $100 for the family - $300. We prebought tickets and compared the citypass to online priced and hunted for coupons. Turned out we were able to beat citypass by a wide margin since we weren't interested in all the venues on the pass, and didn't care for add-ons like iMAX movies that we can get locally anyways.
Our Atlanta Accommodations were at Stone Mountain Inn for 2 nights - bought through Groupon. Our first day was spent hiking the mountain and enjoying the park after a long drive.
Day 5: Macon Ga
We spent one night in Macon at the world's crappiest no-tell motel. It was gross. And the pool was closed. Walked around town, but there was nothing there to do. We had ice cream. I got boiled peanuts.
Day 6-8: Savannah
In Savannah we stayed at a Best Western with a pool for 2 nights. When the kids got tired of walking they swam. We bought a walking tour book for $5, and paid to tour Mercer house and Davenport house. Mercer house cost us $45, and Davenport was around $50. - We'll say $100 for house tours. Meals included a dinner at a Korean BBQ (pricey!) and a chicken dinner from a take counter at a downtown grocery store that cost us about $20 and lasted for three meals. They ran out of sides so doubled our meal portions on everything and gave us macaroni salad instead of a side. We ate a LOT of chicken tenders.
We visited Tybee for a day. Free!! The beach was fun! I got Boiled peanuts. Toured Fort Pulaski - Free! Kids loved hearing about slaves escaping - asked loads of UGRR questions. Dinner was Fish Tacos at a restaurant near the beach - Momma had wine and I had a beer. It was so beachy we had to. Dinner was $60 - Pricey!
Day 8 - 10 Myrtle beach
Drove to Myrtle beach and stayed at Doubletree (Hilton) for 2 nights - no breakfast - had breakfast at Shoneys. It was bad and expensive. Vowed not to do that again. Played at beach all day. Had a round of minigolf. Cost us $60 to play golf. Momma won by 1 stroke. I think she cheated. Went to a buffet for dinner, skipped the $30 per plate all-you-can option and had the $15 per plate a-la-carte menu instead, kids meals were $6.50. Still brought home leftovers.
Day 11 Still Myrtle beach
Moved to the hotel next door with waterslides (Crown Reef Resort) - unit came with a kitchenette. Bought food at WalMart and cooked in unit. Corn on the cob, Pork tenderloins and Pillsbury rolls! Baked goods for breakfast! Yum - real food not laced with salt and sugar!! Spent ENTIRE DAY on waterslides/lazy river/pool/hot tubs. Bought boiled peanuts.
Day 12 Drove home.
Stopped on the way and got hermit crabs for the kids. Also gave each kid $5 to get a souvenir. Bought boiled peanuts. Got home at 04h00.
BTW - if anyone can tell me where in Canada you can get peanuts to make boiled peanuts, I'll be forever indebted to you. I think I may have a chance at Picards, but I'm not sure what to ask for.