What do you splurge on when you travel?

Doug, my value-conscious husband and I travel very much like you do. Our biggest splurge is to hire a private airport car service to pick us up after we fly overnight from the U.S. When you're jet-lagged, there's nothing better than seeing a guy holding a sign with your name on it outside Customs. Public transport is fine for the rest of the trip.

Our other splurge is to buy great seats (online, in advance) to musical performances. Sitting in the sixth row at the Palais Garnier can't be beat. We can always have house wine and tartines afterwards!

Doug:
When I travel out of the country my splurge is to upgrade to Business Class using miles and paying whatever the current cost of that upgrade may be. So, instead of bracing myself for a tortuous economy flight, I can sail right into vacation mode as soon as I board the aircraft. Plus, I have the use of the business class lounges at each end of the travel.
Eve

My splurge is on good food and drink.

Last year, in San Sebastian, we stayed at a modest hotel for < 100 euros. My wife and I went to dinner at Arzak, a Michelin *** restaurant and spent 350 euros.

We still remember that meal and how great the people were.

No shared toilets!

Well, my friend and I are going to Peru this spring and hiking the Inca Trail to Manchu Pichu. We are paying extra to have a porter carry our clothes/sleeping bags etc. so that we only have to carry a small day pack. We have done multi-day backpacking trips before, but this time we're a little worried about the elevation and want to make it as easy as possible. Also, this will likely be my only chance to do this and I want to enjoy it as much as possible.

I am a frugal traveler who will splurge on a fabulous meal or an expensive cocktail overlooking a beautiful countryside or body of water. But my favorite splurges come in the form of getting a reduced rate on any number of travel components. I've paid just $5 more to upgrade from a compact car to a full-size car on a week rental. Last March DH and I stayed in a B&B in the California wine country that was $275 per night - but the off-season special was to pay for one night and get one night free. Luxury and fine dining at bargain rates are the best!

I agree with Suze - no shared toilets! Our travel budget is usually not too big, but we both agree that we always want a hotel room with our own private bathroom!

Our other splurge is that we pick out one fancy restaurant (fancy for us, that is...about $30-45 PP) to try out on our trip. Otherwise, we try to be very frugal with our choices...but it's so nice to have a memorable lunch or dinner...it makes the trip even more special.

I splurge on those things that I just can't recreate at home and don't know if I'll ever get a chance to do again. Examples:

*My mom and I hot air ballooning over Cappadocia in Turkey
*White water rafting in a "so pure you could drink it" glacier fed river in Slovenia
*Taking a hydrofoil from Hong Kong to mainland China for a day-long tour during the Cold War (and almost being run over by a pack of bicyclists in the street during their equivalent of rush hour)

It's those kind of intangible things that are priceless to me and that I don't regret lavishing money on.

Hi Doug-

No need to call yourself "cheap", I like to address myself as a frugal traveler.

I have traveled frugally all my life, way befoe the current economic situation. I take public transportation everywhere I go with very few exceptions. I look for deals, coupons online before my trips.

While I enjoy fine dining, this is something I have cut down when I travel. I find that I enjoy eating at a small ethnic restaurant as much as at a michelin star restaurant.

One thing that I still splurge on is tickets for operas and symphony concerts for world-renowned orchestras or opera companies. Of course, I will try for the cheapest tickets available (no standing tickets though, I'm too old for that). If no cheap tickets are available, I am willing to pay $$$ for expensive seats. However, I am not willing to pay more than face value from scalpers.

And yes, I like the luxury of my own ensuite bathroom.

Doug, I splurge on birthday and Christmas presents for my family. I look forward to finding gifts from other countries that I think they'll really like to me it's part of the travel.I go without the Fine dinning as I am a good cook and can make almost any dish at home, budget hotels, just sleep there anyhow. I also go without new home decorations, electronics etc. in order to travel. Life is so short I want to follow my dreams as best as I can.

Like suzski I splurge on 'experiences' so sometimes I spend more on 'activities' than the average traveller.

Tickets to museums, art galleries, snorkeling/ SCUBA, rafting, horse riding, concerts etc. If there's something a place is renowned for then that's what I want to experience. For example bathing in the outdoor natural hot spring baths in Banos, Ecuador or slipping into the sparkly biobay in Vieques or getting up before dawn to see the sunrise at Bryce NP.

Admittedly some 'experiences ' are fairly cheap or even free such as a gorgeous view at the end of a hike but they are all intrinsically worth more to me than an expensive meal or fancy hotel.

One other thing I consider a splurge is paying a little more for a direct flight (at least on one leg of an itinerary). Vacation time is valuable to me so I try to get to my destination directly if possible.

For my travels to London, I no longer stay in hotels but rent a flat. I could get a Priceline hotel in London for the price of the flats I rent but I sure wouldn't have the amenities such as washer/dryer, full kitchen which saves me money in the long run but where I stay is, to me, more than just a place to sleep so it's a nicer type place than I would have been satisfied with 20 years ago.

I, too have a car service pick me up at LHR. It is certainly cheaper than a taxi but pricier than taking the tube.

I also splurge a few times on black cabs there when I've been running around all day & just don't want to face getting on a crowded tube car. I'm at the age where the failing knees require this extravagance once in a while.

What I splurge on is what suzski and sassycat have already mentioned - activities, or "experiences". For example, a whale-watching tour, a helicopter ride into a valley on Hawaii, a special boat excursion trip in the Caribbean, a private tour of an island, a submarine trip, a great water-park for my child, etc.

We usually stay at mid-priced hotels and eat at less expensive restaurants, although we will eat one meal at an expensive place.

I sleep cheap so I can eat well, although not generally at Michelin star levels! I also usually opt for en-suite rooms. My first mini-splurge for my upcoming trip to Europe was to pay extra for the direct RDU-LHR flight instead of going via JFK - I'll go via JFK on the way back, when it won't matter (so much) if I miss the connection or my luggage doesn't make it. And I just bought 5 tickets for French trains, and I made one of them first class - for an extra cost of all of 14 euros. It will be my first time in first class on a train!

I like to get up early in the morning to photograph before the rest of the tourists wake up when I travel on my own. My priority is a very comfortable room with a private bath with breakfast included starting at 6:00 AM.
I also like to fly business class on the return flight. I tend to have frugal meals and do not shop at all.

Hi Doug, I don't consider it a splurge but I have always had a hotel room with an ensuite bathroom. When I no longer want to walk (and I am a great walker) I take a taxi..it is always worth the cost to me. Wine and meals, I don't need 5 star restaurant but I enjoy good restaurants on some days so I guess you could say I have spent more then necessary at times but I have never regretted spending the money.

Regarding travelling right now, I am trying to figure out if I should or not as I am retired and need I mention my financial portfolio, sigh.

You have started a good thread, thank you!

I think we need a definition of "splurge".

I will pay more for a nonstop flight, for example, but does that count as a splurge?

Does having your own bathroom count as a splurge?

My main compromise is that I have changed destinations & am going more often to Mexico or Hawaii for beach vacations, and skipping my every-other-year Europe trips.

Doug- first off I'd like to say I am looking forward to reading your upcoming posts as this is the way I travel as well.

My splurges depend on where I'm going and can be on experiences, souvenirs or meals.

In Madrid/Seville my splurges were a Majorica pearl necklace, an afternoon at the arab bathes, a beautiful piece of pottery and a fan.

In Alaska I splurged on a Kenai Fjords NP glacier/wildlife cruise

I am also quite adept at getting splurge items at budget prices.I once stayed at the Hotel Martinez in Cannes for $100/night.

We usually stay in medium priced hotels (marriotts and hiltons). I love a nice hotel splurge, but that will probably not happen for a little while since we are tightening our budgets as well. We generally eat cheap for breakfast and lunches and try to have a least a few nice dinners while traveling. I would love to fly first class, but as long as we are traveling as a family of four, we are all in coach. Maybe after we drop these two off to college, we can take a first class trip.. oh wait, then we will be paying two college tuitions! LOL. We have been bumped up and it is nice..
We usually tend to do excursions and buy things we might not buy at home as souveniors.

I consider my entire upcoming vacation a splurge. I've spent the last year working in Iraq and I'm sick and tired of having to hike through piles of gravel every day to go to the bathroom instead of having one in my 15x15 room with a single bed.

So, my main splurges for this vacation will be a king size bed and a private bathroom. And shopping for the latest fashion trends since I've worn maybe two pairs of jeans out here the entire time.

Okay, done with rant. Back to planning for my Eurotrip! Countdown - one week and one day. Yay!

I probably approach it the other way. There are certain things that I pay close attention to, in order to keep costs down.

In particular, I really, really shop around for airfare. I also use points for the really long trips to save money, and to go business class. Similarly, I am careful with hotels, using Priceline a lot, and making judicious use of loyalty points in high-rent cities.

Once I nail that down, I can spend what I want on food, can take cabs when practical, etc.

Our splurges are taxis (if we're tired of walking or taking public transport during the day) and tickets to concert performances. We're not "foodies" so fancy meals usually aren't important. We've cut out ALL unnecessary spending and we put a predetermined amount into our "travel only" account every month. We may not travel as often, but we sure don't want to give up travel entirely.

I forgot to mention that I tend to splurge on lunches at really great restaurants since I'm usually in my flat with take-away or some good cheeses for dinner. Lunch is usually a lot less expensive than dinners in the same place.

Good idea Doug:

Ironically, in this down market
where folks have no jobs OR homes,
travel is cheaper than it has been
in a while.

BUT...what about our perception?

Today begins the NY Travel Show @
Javits (foe the trade) & wk-end for
reg. folks as I am sure you know.

I have attended the past few years
& did not immed. buy a ticket this year.

So what happens? The New York Times
sent me an invite for TWO free tix.

Could it be that they need to 'paper the house" as folks perceive travel as frivolous?
And, of course, I note that there
are fewer exhibitors too.

And to really answer your question,
my splurge is just to be able to get over the big pond.

We have a timeshare in Maui and go for a week every year. While I shop for the cheapest plane tickets (coach) and rental car, we really only splurge on the "little" luxuries while there. $7.50 for a strawberry smoothie by the pool? Sure, it's a ridiculous price, but we only do this once a year. I never get manicures at home, but I'll splurge on one while in Hawaii. We stock up on our own groceries for the week, but will have one or two really nice meals out. It's those little things that make a nice vacation for us.

When we travel we consider our "splurge" to be rooms with outdoor space more or less adjacent (balcony/patio/rooftop/etc.). We feel like we are bargain shoppers and watch our pennies when we plan for and ultimately travel. Several years ago we decided no more gifts between us at Christmas and birthdays, our presents would be something really special while on vacation. We have done a balloon ride, dined at a spectacular place where the waiter chose our meal, rafted, purchased special jewelry in Florence, hired a special guide, etc. We save and plan for the vacations so really have a year to decide what will be feasible and what we will have to forgo.

Hi Doug

We can no longer be happy in a Motel 6 type room! That's probably the biggest cost for our travels. But, we also don't care much for hotels in general (hubby travels a lot for work).

So we stay in apartments as often as we can. My splurge is to get one large enough so I have a "snore" room away from the noise, as well as two bathrooms. And a great location, too.

We like to have simple things on hand to eat - no fancy meals for us. This way we can make up for an expensive accomodation. I like my tea first thing in the morning and a casual dinner is a baguette, cheese and some good wine. It all tastes better on the balcony overlooking a beautiful city (another typical splurge for us).

We rent cars when necessary in the countryside, but in the city we love to walk and use public transport. If we're too tired at the end of the day, a taxi is well deserved, IMO.

We don't scrimp on museums, castles, cathedrals - and almost never buy a "pass" - I just can't be pinned down to a certain day. I guess you could say that we'll splurge to have more flexibility.

We don't buy much in the way of souvenirs, but I usually like to pick up a couple of fabulous things to remind me of the trip - often a really nice handbag.

I also tend to splurge a bit in European pharmacies for all the wonderful beauty products I cannot get here. Of course, I have to buy enough to last until our next trip

We do spend a little more on a nice car service to and from the airports as it saves us frazzled nerves. Sooo nice to arrive and have someone waiting to collect your bags and bring the car to you.

I've always been a budget traveler. Since my European travels began in 1990, I have stayed in 1-2 star hotels (with private bathroom). These last few years, I have 'splurged' by going with 2-3 star hotels. I too enjoy booking a room with a verandah on a cruise, and instead of taking the local bus from the airport or train station, I'll splurge for a taxi.

I'll eat inexpensively at breakfast and lunch to enjoy a really nice and special dinner.

Like sassy_cat, I'll pay more for an airline ticket to fly non-stop. It just makes things so much easier than having to change planes and waiting at airports.

Monica

PS: Here's my budget information: http://luvtotravel.homestead.com/tips.html

Monica

Taking a car service to and from the airport is definitely our biggest splurge. DH always uses a service for business, and we have found ourselves using it more and more for vacation travel.

This year, when we arrive in Paris, we are going to rough it and try and figure out how to use the metro from the airport to our hotel. If a person is to get lost, may as well get lost in Paris!

I'm cheap. I admit it. I find the cheapest car rental. I don't stay in hostels, but I would rather spend 45 minutes on public transit getting into a downtown area, then spend an extra $50-200 per night on downtown hotels. I'm not a foodie, so I pick simple inexpensive restaurants for my meals. I don't want inroom massages, or chocolates, or gyms, etc., I just want a bed to sleep in and a private bath. I fly economy.

However, I always make sure I have enough money to visit all the sights that interest me, and I don't skimp on my souvenirs/gifts.

If I can't see what I want to see, then I don't go to that destination.

we try to save money on airfare & hotels, using priceline & other sites, as long as hotel is clean & decent

no shared toilets. oh, we do splurge on getting suites when possible so kids can be in living room & we have a bedroom.

we love eating at small inexpensive places or casual places unique to the area.

willing to pay extra for wonderful food, tea, coffee,

willing to pay extra for castle tours, coffee plantation tours, or where the money is going to support worthwhile things & not just augmenting hawkers, etc

spend extra money on something special for our teens if they really like something a lot---something that they (or occasionally me) will have special memories as they remember our vacation

splurging on surfing lessons, pina coladas in hot springs by volcano, musicals, buying tickets in advance for plays & shows, & not worrying about the money if we're fascinated/excited by something

repeating mantra to myself, it's only money, when spending a lot for good tickets, etc.

pleasure ranks high, & totally happy to spend whatever if it brings a kid or spouse or myself a high amount of pleasure

rafting in costa rica. expensive. fabulous. loved it. never looked back on the money.

Hi Doug, You also asked for topics to cover. How about out of the way places that are less expensive just because they are off the beaten tourist path. It could be a small village in Paris or Italy that is a good base for other sightseeing in Europe, a smaller town near a big US city where you might be on a business trip anyway and stay the weekend or maybe someplace in Asia or Africa that just no one would know why it is so interesting to go there but it is so cheap.

I'm not sure I call it a splurge, but I don't consider price when deciding which dive shop to book on holiday. Safety, equipment quality, how the boat is kitted out and full service are critical. I have a back injury and a shoulder injury, so I only dive with "full-service" shops (where they carry your gear and help you in and out of the water) that use larger, stable boats.

I also splurge on premium economy for long-haul trips or use airline miles to fly in business class.

I sometimes splurge on taxis on arrival in a new destination, especially if I'm arriving on a red eye. Usually, though, I'll return to the airport using a less expensive option, now that I know my way around.

I will happily pay a few hundred more for direct flights.. however 1000 extra per ticket for the convenience is over the top, so instead of flying United direct to Paris this coming spring and summer... I opted for a connecting flight which literally is saving a grand a ticket.

I'll happily pay more for a hotel with a great view or great location. For instance, 250E in Venice will get you a Bacino di San Marco view right out your window. I'm finding though that paying more will sometimes merely save you the time of research. I know of some travelers who have found really stellar locations and views (and less spendy to boot) by dint of really researching heavily. I guess that makes me lazy!

I also have been known to splurge on shopping in general. Oh, Florence... city of beautiful shoes and handbags... Many trips will see me come home with a new suitcase just for the loot.

My favorite "extra" is having pre-arranged transportation after a longhaul flight. The man with a sign with my name on it ready to take me to my hotel without any directions, discussion from me is lovely. He also shows me the ATM and anyother needs I might have.

I love to buy cheap air fares and then upgrade to Business Class.

Because cheap air fares sometimes require longer layovers, I purchase an Admiral's Club membership every year and lounge in luxury during the layovers. If my wife is traveling by herself I tell her to buy a "day pass" to a private airline club if she has a layover of more than 3 hours. I save that much money in keeping her out of the airport shops!!

I will pay extra for a private tour guide if I think I will get a lot of value out of it in regards to seeing things that I wouldn't see with a large travel group.

I like a nice breakfast and sometimes that means paying a little more for a very nice breakfast buffet in a nice hotel.

Other than those, I am a cheapskate!!

Splurge - hotel, resort through priceline or at least 2 rooms,one for kids, one for adults. We do enjoy nice dinners, skimp on breakfast or lunch.

The real skimping comes in at home -no beauty salon, no nails!!, 8 yr old vehicles, nice restuarants for birthdays or special events only, fast food & Starbucks once/wk at most. Clothes are basic, we like Kohls & Target.

Read your story, Doug & had to laugh at this:

and why the worst time (but most expensive time) to travel to the Caribbean is Christmas.

It's known down here as hell week for good reason.

We splurge on restaurants (dinners).

Good coffee and good ice cream/gelato.

I would rather save on lodgings if I'm not spending much time in them, and spend on activities and food. I will use Priceline and Hotwire to get a resort hotel rather than paying the full rate.

I do spend a lot of golf, too. But that isn't real money.

Unless the hotel is a destination, like a resort and we'll have time to enjoy those aspects, I don't see the point in spending a lot of money on a hotel room. I'd rather put extra money into my home.

Once in a while we'll spend a bit for a meal. Not that we eat junk food but we're happy to make a meal at of farmer's market purchases. I have to admit that I have some impatience for restaurants while on vacation. There's so much I want to do and waiting for food makes me a little antsy. Fortunately my husband agrees.

Like others, we'll spend on entertainment. If we go to an opera, we want as close to the front as possible. We'll drive miles out of our way to see an exhibit.

I also don't mind forking it over for a piece of art or jewelry that is unusual. Luckily, my lifestyle doesn't call for extravagant pieces of jewelry or art.

If we have done a home exchange for a week or two, then we will splurge a little on our next apartment, ie one from Paris Perfect.

..or kayak to an exclusive hotel in Kauai and drink one of their very expensive mai tai's overlooking the pool, the na pali cliffs and the ocean.

Food or meals that you can only get there. Seeing sites or experiences that can't be duplicated and are the main reason to go there in the first place. Well priced crafts that are not available here or are really discounted there.
I'd rather spend the money for gelati in Rome and make up for it with a week of eating pasta at home.

Hotel rooms for the most part should be conveniently located, safe and clean. With these criteria, we save on lodging, mostly staying in small European style hotels or at B&B's. Oftentimes we do a self-catering rental and shop for food that we cook ourselves or take out for picnics.

When we splurge it is for exceptionally good food and fine wine, at Michelin four stars restaurants. If we are celebrating a special occasion, birthday or anniversary, we sometimes book a one or two night stay at an historic location, such as the Parador's in Spain.

I agree with LSky about hotel rooms~it's just a place to shower, sleep, and leave my stuff....as long as it's clean and safe, I don't require alot of luxury.
My splurge is the cheesy guidebooks...I often find myself trying to remember the name of a place I visited and can't remember; the handy dandy guidebooks are a great reminder!

I am with atp. Food you can only get there as well as doing things you can only do there. For example, I only go white water rafting in North America - it can be done all over. However, I do go truffle hunting in Croatia.

Most of our "splurges" are food related. We are major foodies so seek out the most unique, atmospheric and intriguing spots. Not only restaurants but specialty food shops as well.

If you can call it a splurge we always rent a car for flexibility. Then we often encounter plenty of free things such as festivals, pressing olives, making wines, etc. with local folks.

After reading all these posts, I bet we can all agree that "one person's splurge is another's routine." We each probably see as routine what someone else considers a splurge.

So after thinking about that for a minute, and deciding it's a pretty subjective topic after all, I guess my favorite splurge is a prearranged car service or grabbing a taxi to and from any airport. Nothing is worse than the hassle of dragging baggage, finding public transport, negotiating foreign currency, desperately trying to decode the bus/metro map, staying cognizant enough to recognize your stop, and hoping you end up at your hotel before you collapse from exhaustion, frustration and the frazzled post-flight mind. I do this after short domestic flights as well - it just makes things easier.

My second splurge is renting a car and using up a lot of gas exploring back roads and less traveled destinations. The freedom of going where I want on my own schedule allows me to meet more people, enjoy more local culture, and always leads me to an "adventure" or two.

I also hadn't thought of ensuite rooms or direct flights as splurges, but I guess they are. I am a cheap/frugal traveler, so paying the additional cost for a private bath or direct flight would qualify as splurges for me and I do pay for them (sometimes).

I tend to splurge on admissions, events, experiences. We occasionally go skiing and that entire experience is a splurge for us because of the cost of rental equipment, lift tickets, housing during high season, etc. Have also spent large amounts (for us) on boat tours, kayaking, concert tickets.

The other times I have splurged have been for private guides and drivers in less developed countries where I don't speak the language and don't feel as comfortable travelling independently. Sure, I could have jammed myself onto overcrowded buses and hoped I was headed in the right direction, but I thought it was worth it for safety and time efficiently to pay more.

car service to and from airport
direct flights
now that we have teenagers, if the hotel is not too expensive we might book three rooms, so that DD has her privacy from her brothers...

ensuite bathrooms are a necessity for us, not a splurge!

The fact that I can travel IS my splurge. Beyond getting to go some place, I try to keep costs at a minimum in all categories. And actually am a person who prefers the more simple things, less fancy places to stay or eat, activities that don't cost any extra, taking the bus instead of renting a car, etc.

Even when super low budget was the only kind of travel I could do I hated sharing a bathroom and will pay extra to avoid it.
Ditto on the car service or taxi for transfer on overseas trips (except Hong Kong, where the train into town is so simple and easy.)
For leisure travel we have become accustomed to renting an apartment rather than a hotel room, and I am willing to pay more for a convenient location - e.g, single digit arrondissement in Paris versus a place out near the peripherique.
Like others, I also tend to splurge on an "experience" - hot air balloon ride at dawn over the Masai Mara is one I will never forget.

I like to splurge on a day or so of luxury, especially if I've been travelling a bit rough: tea at the Peninsula in Hong Kong, a lovely stay at the Trident in Gurgaon after five nights in a $5 a night guesthouse in Ladakh. I'll also definitely splurge for an experience that I can't have elsewhere (boat trip to a village in East Greenland) or if I have limited time in a particular spot. (i.e. getting a car and driver for a day in Madeira)

And en-suite, always.

For the last several years, we have used FF miles to upgrade to Biz Class. Even after paying anywhere from $250 - $300 per person each way, it is money well spent for us.

This year, we are traveling to the UK with "free" FF tickets so we won't be able to upgrade. However, with the US$ going a little further these days, we'll probably opt for a few nicer restaurants than we would have otherwise. Being retired, we are in the same financial mess that many others are in so we must spend our money wisely if we want to continue to travel.

Another thing we like to do is use a car service to/from home to our local airport. Saves having to hassle with parking, taking the bus to the terminal, etc. Since most of our trips now are 2-3 weeks, it isn't much more expensive than paying longterm parking.

It varies and it depends on where I'm going and if I'm going alone. (I usually do travel alone.) I live near a city that's an NWA hub, so I do quite a bit to amass FF miles. I do use those miles, so that helps. When traveling to Europe, I make it a point to usually travel in "off-season" or shoulder season when possible. I will often only meet one meal a day and have a snack once or twice. I've only once stayed in a "luxury resort hotel" and paid full price. (That whole trip was fairly splurge-filled, as I had a couple of spa treatments at that resort hotel.) I've formed a great relationship with a hotel in Rome, so always get a discount when I stay there. I use public transportation when traveling within the city I'm visiting, if they have a reliable system. I usually do have one very high-quality meal at a nice restaurant. In America, I never pay the rack rate at hotels and do all I can to book myself at the cheapest possible rate, but I'm able to stay at 4-star places at literally a fraction of their posted rack rates. I will get whatever I can in terms of museum cards, public transportation cards, etc., to make the trip as inexpensive as possible.

BC

Sorry, I should have added to my post above that I, too, do not care to share a bathroom. If I'm traveling with a friend, I'll share a room and a bathroom with them, but I'm not too into "a hall bathroom" shared in a small hotel or B&B with several other guests.

BC

How do I splurge? I take more family members with me! I can always count on my Mom or my Dad to join me and the kids. My husband comes whenever he can get away from work. Sometimes my sister and her kids make it too. There is nothing better than sharing those beautiful places in the world with the people you love. We love to get together and talk about our adventures abroad.

My splurges are definitely mostly all food related--I plan meals out in advance and come prepared to shell out money for the experiences. Sometimes I opt for just lunch though---sometimes I save that way.

When it comes to hotels, I'd be more likely to stay at a cheaper hotel and then stay in the nicest room I could afford at that hotel than to take the worst room at a really expensive hotel. This worked for me on Provo-- I stayed at the Sibonne but opted for the honeymoon suite. In Paris it was a hotel in Montparnasse and on a whim we upgraded to a room with a balcony. I could see the Sacre Coeur! Some views are worth the money---as flygirl noted above.

I'm also fascinated by public transportation--if I have the time I'll take it from the airport. I rarely take a cab.

I splurged on a digital slr camera for my trip last year to Alaska---definitely worth it. I think if something had happened to that camera on that trip I would have bunkered down and bought another camera. Taking pictures when I travel is that big of a deal for me.

I have never paid to fly first class or business class---though I've been lucky and have been upgraded 2 or 3 times. I'm sure it's worth it but I'm usually trying to use any extra cash I have to stay an extra night or two. Of course, I have had my share of miserable flights---but never so bad that I swear off coach travel. I have not been good about collecting FF miles though I finally wised up and joined a loyalty program two years ago.

Hard times or not, I am and always will be a thrifty/frugal solo traveler. However, because I am a solo traveler and female, I will pay extra for lodging for easy accessibility and safety.

I will buy one expensive item for myself (shoes or jewelry) before I return home (USA).

Although I have frequent flier miles, I never upgrade (on overseas flights I go to sleep anyway) as it will be a waste. I use my miles to purchase roundtrip flights within the US.

In Europe I take the shuttle into the city and then the Metro or Tube to get to my lodging (apartment, B&B or university dorm).

While in the city, I take the bus, train or I simply walk to different destinations. The splurge in lodging comes in handy.

Dining is never an issue, since I am a solo traveler, I just purchase what I need at the Monoprix/store and either eat on the go, at the park, or cook it at the apartment. I will splurge if I meet other travelers and we'll go to a restaurant or an event.

I try and catch museums on free days or use coupons.

My splurge is the location of my hotel but not the actual hotel.

I'll pay to stay in Manhattan but I refuse to pay for the St. Regis or Mandarin Oriental.

Being that my husband is in the restaurant business a $150 dinner is not something I'll splurge on even though I have in the past.

I'm happier at Pomme Frites than at Daniel however Gramercy Tavern is my favorite restaurant.

It all depends on a few factors: if i am alone or with a friend or amour, if i am in the USA or abroad and if it's a sun and sand/outdoorsy type vacation or urban. But usually i try to save as much as i can on a direct flight but will connect if the price is right. flying ( these days ) is so irritating to me that it doesn't matter what class i fly. i will stay far from center of town and use public transpo, i like experiencing how the natives live. i rarely shop or buy anything other than gifts for family. i will stay at a clean well kept hotel but no fancy stuff, but i won't share a bathroom. i will rent a car or take a tour but usually i don't bother. my biggest splurges are mostly food and drink ( wine ) and certain venues like the private tour of the vatican i took with the vatican mosaic expert who works there. in the tropics i tend to do the opposite for hotels and food, i'll spend more on the hotel and less on food, i find the warmer climes have cheaper good food.

Experiences - #1
Example - biplane tour over Sedona at sunset
I have NO idea what I ate on that trip, but I'll remember that experience forever

Taxis - #2
To and from the airport. To and from locations in cities. I want to SEE the city while I rest my tired feet. I really didn't know this was considered a "splurge" until Fodors
For me, my vacation time is valuable and a taxi ride gets me there quickly and I get to see new things along the way.

Thursdaysd, Your upgrade to first class on the train, please don't expect a big difference. As Rick says, you are traveling at the same speed as 2nd class and depending which countries' train system, you might not notice the difference. Unless you are traveling in Switzerland, Austria or on the TGV, don't expect too much.

In my book, the most logical splurge is using FF miles to upgrade to either Business or First Class while flying. You are getting the most for your miles that way, more than just 2 cents per mile which is pretty normal.

"please don't expect a big difference." I don't, lol. But for 14 euros I thought it was worth the upgrade, just to check it out. It was a longish ride, without reservations, too.