How Often Do You Go On Vacation?

United States
July 15, 2011 7:47am CST
I went on my first vacation a week ago. I went to Florida with my boyfriend's family. I haven't gone on vacation over the summer like that in ten years because my family can't afford it. It was nice and relaxing. How often do you go on vacation? Where do you usually go? What do you usually do? When do you usually go?
5 people like this
36 responses
• United States
15 Jul 11
I use to take the children on vacation at least 2 times a year. Since they have been grown, my boyfriend and I usually go on vacation to visit his mother once a year. Although last year we didn't. But we will be leaving in about 2 weeks with his daughter on vacation. We always go the last week of July for 3 weeks and depending on finances we generally go once a year.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Jul 11
Sounds fun! How are you?!
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Jul 11
That stinks. I hate summer sickness. My allergies have been bothering me as well. I've got a nasty cough from it and headaches come and go. But other than that, I'm doing wonderful!
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Jul 11
Today I am much better but have been having the nastiest cold. Summer colds are the worse as being hot and humid with congestion is no fun. I was miserable yesterday, but a bit better today. How is all going with you?
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28719)
• United States
15 Jul 11
We haven't been on vacation in a few years. We used to go visit a friend of ours who lived in Ottawa (we live in NY). We went up to visit her a couple of times. The last time we went was probably 2 years ago. She moved last spring to Nova Scotia. The only reason this vacation was affordable was because we really only needed gas money. We stayed with her so did not need a hotel, and she fed us most meals so we did not need money for food unless we felt like eating out. She also bought a lot of things for us such as a dinner out, etc. I would love to go on another vacation, but it is difficult to afford. Perhaps next summer.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Jul 11
That's how it was like for my vacation. I was like a guest in their home. We really only needed gas to get there. His parents made the food and stuff. It's nice that way, isn't it?
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@sender621 (14894)
• United States
15 Jul 11
I can remember going on family vacations every summer as a child. I think with the struggling econonmy that vacations are a lusxury now. i don't take nearly as many vacation trips as i used to years ago.
• United States
15 Jul 11
I bet most people are in the same boat as you are. It's so sad. I wish I could take vacations more often. With t he economy and the loaded stress, people do need more vacations to relax!
@CTHanum (8234)
• Malaysia
16 Jul 11
I can't remember the last vacation we had. It's been a long time we haven't gone on vacation as we can't afford to have one. If we are going to have one I think it is best to bring along the whole family to somewhere we can spend the time together. It should be on school holiday otherwise the kids is not coming with us!!(^^)
@CTHanum (8234)
• Malaysia
16 Jul 11
For me it's better to bring them along. I have a very little experience went on vacations with my family when I was a kid and I don't like it. So whenever there is chance to be with the family, I hope I can have all of them enjoy the holidays with me..The more the merrier.(^^)
• United States
18 Jul 11
I see whatcha mean. But you gotta have private time as well!
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jul 11
Better be without the kids!
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Jul 11
Growing up we never went on vacations. Poverty wasn't really the problem, we just had to much to do on the farm and nobody to cover for us. Now I take my family on 2 or 3 road trips/overnights per year, but only every other year do we leave the state for a "proper" vacation. These bigger trips are usually in the Spring or Fall when it's not too hot and usually based around a Convention or Gathering that we want to attend.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Jul 11
That's a good idea though! So it's not just a boring vacation and it's not too frequent to spoil the family members as well. I'd probably travel in the Fall or Spring as well, the Summer is just too hot. Unless you're going somewhere that has a pool!
• Philippines
15 Jul 11
I usually have a vacation once a year, that is a grand vacation. Usually that will be in a period of 2 weeks but not less than 10 days. Just recently my and my boyfriend went to Puerto Princesa, in Palawan. So beautiful over there, and the highlight of the trip is the Palawan Subterranean River that is a bid to be one of the new 7 wonders of the world. Here is the site, I hope you will vote for the Philippines. Check this out.. http://undergroundriver.net/ The place is just so amazing.. Before, we used to go outside the Philippines but lately, I want to spend vacation here to help our economy boost.
• United States
15 Jul 11
Looks beautiful! Sounds like a good amount of time to spend for a yearly trip! I wish I had that much money to be able to afford going away for that long.
• United States
16 Jul 11
That's a good idea. I'm out of a job for the summer, so I'm on a very tight budget sadly. But I'll see what I can do!
• Philippines
16 Jul 11
Hi Stephanie! We do not spend too much for that lately, because as I said we do not go out of the country. Before when we used to go to other countries in Asia, it was more costly, but our last trip was just here in our country. You can do that with only a little amount, I know your country has a lot of many beautiful places to go. Choose the place that doesn't require a big budget. You need it once in a while, you know. Have a nice day! Happy Mylotting!
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
16 Jul 11
I've gone to Europe a few times in the past 10 years, but I don't seem to have any regular pattern to vacations. We take small local trips each year as well.
• United States
16 Jul 11
Europe sounds fun! What places in Europe did you see? Did you enjoy it? How long did you stay?
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
16 Jul 11
well, when I was a kid we went someplace every summer, but I haven't had a real vacation since 2003 until I took the road trip to Kansas in May - while I was gone a week in '07, that was again a family obligation thing...
• United States
16 Jul 11
Well, if the family obligation thing wasn't too stressful, then I guess you can consider it a vacation!
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jul 11
Oh. Well that must have put you guys in a downright depressed mood. Not much of a vacation then. Sorry to hear that.
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
15 Jul 11
Geez, I haven't been on vacation in, let's see now... uhh... hmmm... I'm afraid my memory doesn't go back that far. No, actually, the last vacation I went on was when my oldest son turned seven. I had rented a cabin at a beach for a week and remember making my son's birthday cake. My parents and sister came to the beach on his birthday and we had a party. That was most likely my son's favorite birthday celebration. Of course, now that I think about it, that was 23 years ago! My son just turned 30 on June 29th. Geez. Oh, I've been promised a vacation in Ocean City, Maryland but that was my husband's promise and he has quite a history of making false promises. I'm definitely not holding my breath for that vacation. If it actually happened, I'd probably faint from the shock! You know, I just might check to see if those cabins are still being rented. I'd rent one for next year and take my sons with me. Even if they don't go with me, I just may do it by myself because I do remember it being so relaxing, waking up early to the sound of the ocean, strolling along the beach before other people were awake... yeah, that was so nice! I hope your vacation was awesome and something you remember for a long time.
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
15 Jul 11
True, but I remember that cabin costing only $100 for the entire week! Even though that was 23 years ago, it would still be a much better value than renting a hotel room for a week. Only one drawback to the cabin, though... no bathroom. There were showers available just off the beach but that other bathroom necessity --the toilet-- well, that was an outhouse. Boy, do they get stinky in the summer!!! LOL I had a spray can of Lysol and we'd spray the outhouse before using it and that made it surprisingly tolerable. If I had my druthers, I'd opt for a place with a bathroom but, for the cost, it was a pretty good deal. Even 23 years ago, to have a comparable space in a hotel, it would have cost over $100/day instead of $100/week.
• United States
15 Jul 11
Ah yes. That seems like a pretty good deal! Except, I'd love a toilet! and a clean one at that!
• United States
15 Jul 11
That does sound so nice! Maybe I'll do that when I have more money! Vacations are so nice, aren't they? Too bad they're so darn expensive!
@celticeagle (157281)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Jul 11
My family can't afford vacations either. We have gone afew times when my daughter has gotten some back pay on her child's support or I got my money when I retired. We usually go up to McCall which is a small resort town up in the mountains about a three hours drive away. We drive around the lake, play in the water and eat at the restaurants and shop. We usually go the third week in June which is the Summer Soltice.
@celticeagle (157281)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Jul 11
It was a four day week-end. Didn't want to come home.
• United States
16 Jul 11
That sounds fun! Even a small getaway is nice to have at some point, especially if you can't afford a big vacation.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jul 11
That's what usually happens! At the end of the trip, you're like 'And I have to go back? Why?'
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@maezee (42003)
• United States
16 Jul 11
I know what you mean about not being able to afford vacations very often. I try to find really good deals on them, buying all-inclusive packages and whatnot. I have only taken 2 vacations (except during childhood, we took a few with my parents but not very often - once every 5 years or so). At any rate I went to Sweden last fall, but mostly with the help of my sister who helped pay for my uber-expensive plane ticket... And this year I am going to Las Vegas for my 21st birthday which I'm super excited about. I don't have that much money to spend so I'm probably going to be eating ramen noodles 3 out of the 4 days I'll be there... lol but at least I'll get to see new sites. I wish my job would pay me for vacation as I do work full-time, but eh, what can you do. I'll just be happy to get away from everything for a little bit, for a little good old R&R.
• United States
16 Jul 11
I know whatcha mean. How was your trip to Sweden? I've never been out of my country yet. One day I hope I will though! Las Vegas sounds fun! and since you'll be 21, you can gamble! Play those slots!
@Graceekwenx (3160)
• Philippines
16 Jul 11
Hi Steph! Here in our country, we have an airline that gives budget fares as low as a peso and the only cost for the plane fare is the taxes, the name of that airline is Cebu Pacific. Luckily though, i have a friend is employed there and whenever there are budget fares, he would immediately book all of his friends (of course that includes me) for a vacation! We would usually hit the beautiful beaches here in our country like Boracay, Palawan, Bohol and Davao.
• Philippines
16 Jul 11
For this year, he had us booked twice! We were in Boracay last March and we paid around 15 USD only( and that's a two-way trip)! He had us booked this October in Palawan at 15 USD also!
• United States
18 Jul 11
What a deal! Can we trade?
• United States
16 Jul 11
Wow! That's great for you! I wish I knew someone who worked for an airline. Or had a cheap and good airline in my country! How often do you usually use that airline to go on vacations?
@akp100 (13640)
• India
15 Jul 11
I am not talking about long vacations. But We used to go on mini vacations like 2 to 7(a week) days many times. And specially these days I am traveling much much more. And mostly we used to go to any hill station.
• United States
15 Jul 11
Hey, a vacation is a vacation, right? No matter how small!
@akp100 (13640)
• India
15 Jul 11
Yeah of course.. And I am going for it very frequently in this year.
• United States
15 Jul 11
I'll try to do the same!
• India
16 Jul 11
Vacation times and it makes me a lot happy. Its that time to enjoy and relax and forget about all the worries and sorrows. Hey nice to know that you went to Florida and i'm sure you must have had a ball of a time out there. This sure was your first vacation and i'm sure plenty will come your way. There was a time when I used to go at least 3 times a year on vacation and since I stay in India I used to go to Goa and its a nice place to relax and sit by the beach side and have a drink. The atmosphere is just so nice that you wish it will be the same forever. However as time went by and as I got a new job and had to move abroad I can only afford a vacation twice a year now and many a times my own hometown Mumbai is become my vacation spot. But my last vacation was in Thailand and will also be planning Brussels soon and hopefully if I get my visa for the states I may get to come to Minnesota St. Paul's in the month of May 2012. Thats only if things go as per plan. Will keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best..
• United States
18 Jul 11
Sounds fun! Good luck on your trip!
@GardenGerty (156813)
• United States
16 Jul 11
At the lake. - Hubby and I out on the lake in our canoe.
We do not go on vacations as such. We go visit family over various times of the year when we arrange for the money. We have been to New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Minnesota, to see family members. We ran off for the day and met another MyLotter in Dodge City in May this year for a day trip. Other day trips here would be things like going to the lake. We did that last week while my daughter was here.
• United States
16 Jul 11
Sounds like fun! I guess that's the benefit of having family members that live in different states! For us, we sometimes go to the shore near the border of our state as well!
@blue65packer (11826)
• United States
16 Jul 11
I really have not gone on vaction in a long time! the closet I got to vacation was up were mmy sister lives to see her get married,for the second time! That was last August and it was for 3 days! If I could really learn to save some money up I would love to got on a longer vacation! Like going to Nashville,Tennessee or the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington,Kentucky! Maybe someday!
• United States
16 Jul 11
Let's hope someday you can visit the places you want! Sounds like fun! Good luck!
• Philippines
15 Jul 11
When I hear vacation, I hear outing, picnic, swimming. I don't normally take it as just relaxing and chilling. When I go to vacation, I wanna go to somewhere exciting and fun. I wanna spend energy instead of keeping them in.
• United States
16 Jul 11
I understand where you're coming from. I did actually swim. I dis spend some energy but you don't want it to be a hectic vacation either. To me, that's not a vacation.
• United States
15 Jul 11
I usually go annually on vacation. Sometimes twice. I'm not that kind of person that likes flying though. I enjoy it when I get there but its monotonous and boring when you wait to get there.
• United States
15 Jul 11
Driving isn't much better. It's tiresome. I'd rather fly.
@Dominique25 (9464)
• United States
15 Jul 11
We don't go on vacation that often because of finances as well. We try to go away for a weekend when our anniversary comes around. I look forward to this time when we can get away for little while. It is always so enjoyable. We generally try to go to scenic areas. We have never flown anywhere or gone outside of the USA. I hope though to save up and go on a cruise in the future to Alaska. My husband would really enjoy going to Alaska. He doesn't think that he would particularly care for the cruise, but I think once we are on it he would really enjoy it.
• United States
16 Jul 11
I have never been out of the USA either. I want to though. Alaska sounds nice, but a bit cold for me. And the whole thirty days of darkness isn't exacly my cup of tea. But I must agree, the state is full of beautiful scenery. I love scenic areas as well.
• Philippines
15 Jul 11
Good for you... I haven't been on vacation right now.. Im very busy at work.. I think my last vacation was last two years in Hongkong with friends... The place is great.. we went to macau..etc.. Food trip is my hobby when I'm on vacation.. I want to taste their foods.. yummy!.. I usually take my vacation on holidays with my family or friends, whenever we have free time.. I Hope I can take a leave this year...=)
• United States
16 Jul 11
Oh! Hong Kong sounds fun! What kind of foods did you try? What was your favorite? I've never been out of my country and I hope to eventually! Good luck! I hope you go on a vacation soon!