The less frequently individuals travel, the more likely they are to overspend when they finally get a chance to get away. The vacation spending mindset is affected by numerous external influences, including marketing from some wealthy international hotel corporations. However, if you take a step back and adopt the mentality of a contrarian traveler, it doesn’t need to be this way.
“Yes, we’re really thrilled,” the woman said, gripping the cart with four oversized suitcases meant for two people. “This is our first genuine vacation in four years.”
It seems they required significantly more clothing than I did for their trip to Los Cabos, a destination that rarely experiences temperatures below 75°F. However, the extra baggage fees weren’t the main concern. I calculated their rare vacation’s probable cost based on present flight prices and their stated accommodation and concluded it likely amounted to at least $5,000, perhaps much more.
“We reunite with our long-time friends every four years at a beach resort. We always promise each other to go somewhere else on our own in the meantime, but there’s always something else demanding our spending. So it seldom occurs. Fortunately, this plan is set, which compels us to leave the house and depart.”
Goodness. I was merely overhearing this dialogue in the customs line at the airport, so I didn’t interrupt, but I had a multitude of questions I would have loved to pose. Such as, what are you allocating your finances to that allows for a vacation only every four years? Why not opt for a shorter getaway each year within driving distance? Or visit a different location that costs a fraction of what Los Cabos charges?
What happens to all that accumulated vacation time from your job? Do you just lounge around the house and watch TV?
Based on various studies, the average vacationing American couple spends between $3,800 and $5,200, with the majority of these trips lasting a week or less. This seems like an astonishing amount of money to me. Most of those average couples could enjoy two or three vacations with that sum if they simply became more adept at uncovering great travel deals and refining their choices. Even standard vacation packages offer much better values than that.
More Travel on a Small Budget
No true travel enthusiast would wait four years to escape. During my travels across the globe, I’ve encountered individuals with very modest incomes who manage to spend weeks on the road. I’ve met bartenders, social workers, and teachers who have experienced dozens of countries. The difference is, they’re not booking stays at places like this:
I do stay at such establishments at times due to my travel writing responsibilities, but those instances have been few when I’ve opened my own wallet for them. Like most contrarian travelers, I am skilled at using a calculator and wiser than to follow the crowd.
I don’t take it for granted that the way “most people” travel is the most intelligent approach. If a million individuals are ready to spend $600 a night for a hotel in a location (in Los Cabos this won’t even be a lavish option), then I’ll utilize points or locate where I can have a similar experience for $150 a night or less instead.
Such hotels are not difficult to discover. They might not feature six pools with swim-up bars and rooms larger than your apartment, but they can be quite pleasant if you’re in the right locale. In the World’s Cheapest Destinations book, I’ve pointed out numerous places where that price is actually on the higher end. Even in neighboring Mexico, I’ve frequently paid under $50 for a cozy hotel room complete with a private bath, daily maid service, and air conditioning. Here was my $36 room in Playa del Carmen, which included a swimming pool:
On the subject of Mexico, selecting Mazatlan or Puerto Escondido will halve your beach vacation expenditure compared to the premier resort areas. Venture inland and your budget could decrease by another third or half. Travel down to Guatemala or Honduras, and it will reduce once more. Relax on the star rating of your hotel, and before you know it, that $5,000 could provide two people with travel for a month or more, rather than just six nights of sunbathing and paying for inflated excursion tours.
I completely understand the allure if your goal is simply to relax and destress for a period. I’ve personally spent my money on an all-inclusive resort to keep the family happy. Additionally, when I won stays at such resorts in Puerto Vallarta and Ixtapa through travel writing contests, I was pleased to accept. We had a fantastic time, and few things bring me more joy than an endless open bar.
However, if I had to wait four years to take a vacation just to experience that kind of isolated environment?