How much has the price of gas affected your vacation plans?

**Spirit Deer** · 05-10-2011, 04:55 PM

I don't think we have an upper limit when it comes to $$$/gallon. We've waited too long to be able to travel. Although if it goes over $10/gallon, I suppose we'd have to give some thought to canceling.

We travel with our dogs so we don't have to pay kennel fees, and so our special needs dog is assured of proper care.

We tow a pop up camper rather than a travel trailer, to reduce wind resistance and improve gas mileage and to avoid buying larger than a half-ton truck.

We tow with our 8-cylinder truck to reduce wear and tear on the engine and drive train of, and to get better mileage than, our six-cylinder van.

We have a full tenting set-up, which we don't use, but which is there in case we need to cut travel costs further.

We rarely eat out when traveling, and try to take as much food as possible from home, another advantage of taking the truck since the payload rating is so much higher than the van.

So what frugal things do you all do to cut vacation costs?

How high would the price of gas have to go before you actually canceled a trip?

**sunshine** · 05-10-2011, 07:03 PM

We only travel to see my son, who is in the military. . . not sure what the cost would have to be , for me to cancel a visit with my son, dil, and grand daughter. . . but it would have to be mighty high. I'd do without just about anything else first. . . I'd even give up internet first.

**Debbie-cat** · 05-10-2011, 08:54 PM

We don't vacation....and we have been married for four years. Just not in the budget. The only travelling that is done is for me to go and see my Mom and son which is about a 3 hour drive. It wouldn't matter how much gas was....I would go anyway.

**Contrary Housewife** · 05-11-2011, 12:50 AM

Gas is still the cheapest part of our vacations. I don't mean that the rest is expensive or extravagant ( well maybe by some people's standards) just that when all the costs are looked at, gas is the least of it. We spend more on a hotel (just have to have 'real' beds at our age) and eating out (we enjoy fine dining with friends as a special part of the vacation).

I have sure cut back at home though. I used to shop across town 1-2 times a week. I cut back to every other week. Lately it's been once a month or less.

**frugal is fun** · 05-11-2011, 11:22 AM

I would hate to even think of cancelling a vacation because of gas prices.

One of our vacations is we camp about an hour away from home. Its $120 for the week to camp, plus food, which we would need anyway so overall its an inexpensive vacation on the beach.

We do go to Maine for a week which is about a 5-6hr drive for us. Thanks to a family member, we stay for free on a lake so again, overall its an inexpensive vacation considering what it would cost if we had to rent a cabin. We cook our own food with going out to eat maybe once or twice during the week.

**nodmicks** · 05-11-2011, 04:18 PM

Our vacation is a 4 day music festival. We will be sleeping at home but driving the 50 miles round trip each of the 4 days. Nothing we can do about the price of gas ad thankfully the tickets are already bought

**Ceashels** · 05-11-2011, 04:43 PM

Greebo and I might do a weekend getaway this year and that would most likely include driving within a 3-4 hr radius of home. We hadn't really discussed anything else as we have a lot of home projects lined up and we might spend his vacation remodeling our basement. LOL

I will most likely be traveling to Oregon with my Mom to visit my Aunt (her BFF of 60+ years) and most of that money has already been collected and set aside. Driving would be limited as there is a hotel close to her Assisted Living Setting and her home is only 20 mins away if need be.

**Neeley** · 05-11-2011, 05:22 PM

We have been doing our vacation from December 17th-27th for the past ten years. Even if gas prices are still up, it will not have any effect on our plans. Never has, and the good Lord willing, it never will. We normally spend about $300 for gas (it is 476 miles from our driveway to the entrance archway of Disney World) and that is such a small percentage (only 5%) of the total vacation cost it really would not make a difference at all. Back in 2007 or 2008 when gas got up over $4/gallon here, we still took our trip.

**itsahumanzoo** · 05-11-2011, 05:45 PM

Two years ago we took a big road trip and had a great time as a family. This year we're doing more mini stay-cation type things. We try to pick something that's free or cheap to do (usually outdoors) and within an hour or two drive. I think it's important to show our kids other places and people, but we have to really limit it now.

**krbshappy71** · 05-11-2011, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by sunshine

We only travel to see my son, who is in the military. . . not sure what the cost would have to be , for me to cancel a visit with my son, dil, and grand daughter. . . but it would have to be mighty high. I'd do without just about anything else first. . . I'd even give up internet first.

Give up internet? Let's not get drastic now!

I am totally following you. I am taking a trip to see my daughter in the military and haven't seen her for 6 months by the time we leave. I'm hoping my graduating teen sticks around locally so I don't have two people to go visit!

I do turn down a lot of other events, due to cost. But a simple visit to see the daughter I really am holding onto.

I was balking at $4.00 per gallon of gas for my daily use, I'm a wimp when it comes to gas prices, but family does win out.

**Spirit Deer** · 05-11-2011, 08:07 PM

I think gas is going to go a lot higher over the next ten years. That's one reason we're just going to bite the bullet and take whatever trips we want. We can't fight reality, so may as well accept it and adjust. I don't think it'll be that long before we look back fondly to the olden days when gas only cost $4/gallon.

This year however, we're staying home for the most part, not because of gas prices. We were gone camping forty nights and over 9,000 miles traveling last year. Our summer season is short here, so a lot of things got neglected especially since winter came early so we couldn't get stuff done in the fall. We decided to put a week's vacation money into a new deck instead.

**gapeach** · 05-12-2011, 09:11 AM

We just built a new home so this year vacation will be day trips to places that are close by. We have been invited to spend a week in Florida but I just don't see it happening with the expense of the house and gas.

**Ali Lee** · 05-18-2011, 09:07 AM

Our camper is a diesel pusher. Hubby says..we'll just pay it. We've got this far in life... we "ain't" gonna sit, just because of fuel. Too much to see & do before we bite the bullet.

**Momto5RN** · 05-18-2011, 04:39 PM

no real vacation plans this year - between owing uncle sam- and HS tuitions this year starting in july and dds cheer camp she has to go to and stunting classes she has to be part of the schools competition team etc just not in the cards .
i never really do a full week anyway because i dont get paid time of so i usually work monday and friday and we leave monday afternoon come back thursday so i can still see my cts 2x a week .

anyway probably a day trip or two planned - nothing more than a 2 hour drive away though so not a ton of gas used