Ha Ha Ha. I make more money in interest in a minute than all of you do in a year.

My husband & make about $80,00 combined. We have a 13 year old son in private school. We do a trip each year to Europe, a trip to the Caribbean & several long weekend trips in the USA. We travel ultra budget - we either camp, rent a place, or find a motel with a kitchen in the room. We do not stay in "dumps", but cannot justify spending exorbitant amounts of money at resorts - can't afford it & you miss out on too much of the local flavor. A room is just a room - a place to sleep. We don't camp much anymore - we want a little more comfort than that! Travelling off-season & self-catering makes it more affordable.

The problem for the average American is not if we can afford a vacation , but who has the time!? We live in a small town in the Middle West, I get 2weeks paid vacation and my husband gets none. Most people I know, get either very little "paid" vacation or none at all. As most of you know by now, we Americans get on average 12 days paid vacation versus 6 weeks(at least) that the average worker is entitled to in Europe. The vacation time we do get is usually spend catching up on things left undone or visiting family. - Now that is very depressing!

Hello!! People!! Remember, 100k a year income in New York City is not the same as making 100k in Canton, Ohio. You have to take cost of living into consideration. 100k in Manhattan, Boston, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, etc. is BARELY middle class.

Okay, if it makes you feel better, think that some of us are exaggerating. The question is, why on earth would someone exaggerate on an anonymous board? Still trying to figure that one out!<BR><BR>Also, our 230K puts at the definite LOW end of all or our friends. You can accuse me of lying about that too.

To Author: nottelling <BR><BR>Just out of curiosity what is your profession?

Well, as I said, I am the low earner. I'm a former systems engineer who now does IT consulting on a fairly limited basis. My husband is Senior VP of business development for an international advertising and market branding firm.

Apparently each one of us makes a lot more ... are we slumming, I wonder ... fodors may be too touristy for us. Thanks for the insight.

Obs, you may indeed be slumming! Many times I find the hotel recommendations here too expensive for our budget, so apparently this site is geared towards an audience with a higher income than mine!

I make 29,224 a year and in the last 6 months, I have taken vacation trips to Helsinki, Finland/Estonia, Italy, Portugal, and Italy again in a week.

700k and more than half goes into retirment. Hubby is killing himself with his job (80+hrs per week). Our big expense is vacations, the only thing that keeps us sane.

shh, Hopefully hubby won't kill himself before he gets a chance to enjoy that retirement!

no kidding too much! I still shop with coupons and only buy clothes when they're on sale. He works 7am to 830pm MTW, 7 to 630 WTH and one out of 3 weekends. Whenever he burns out it will be fine with me I'd rather have him home. He's my angel =)

Obs & nottelling - have you thought of checking frommers budget travel website, or lonely planet or rough guide or lets go? Or even Rick Steves? You don't have to pay $250 a night for a room, or even $100, nor do you have to drop $150+ per meal to eat well. Some people travel to be pampered & relax, some people to immerse themselves in a country's culture. Both are legitimate, but the latter usually is much more affordable. if you can do without caviar, champagne, spas & turn down service, you can travel - it does not have to break the bank! Stay at guest homes, hostels, or rent a place - it saves a ton of money!!

Now, Olive, you know I've enjoyed a certain level of travel, and we skimp at home to save for those trips south - why, just recently we've dispensed with those lovely Yukon Golds in favor of the humble Idaho. gt;

I have the same problem as Maria: much less time for vacation than I'd like. Even though I am officially entitled to four weeks per year (generous by U.S. standards) I rarely get to take that much time off. There's too much work and too few people to do it. And my vacation does not roll over, nor do I get to "cash out" on the time I've not used. Too bad, as I'd have about 4 months worth saved up.

Oh Olive I know that! I'm an incognito regular here. I'm just always amused when people ask for hotel recommendations in say, Lake Como and ten people respond with Ville d'Este. Somehow I doubt that that many posters here are forking over $ 600/nt for hotel accomodations. <BR><BR>Seeing as how I wouldn't dream of spending that much on a hotel room (well at least when the company isn't paying), rest assured, I know how to travel for less.

Yikes! Do you know that the average salary in the UK (where I am from) is around &pound;20,000 (about $30,000 I think). Those posting on here should think just how privileged they are to be in such comfortable financial positions. (ok, so maybe I'm just a little jealous...!)

I don't find it at all odd that people on a travel website would fall in higher income brackets than the national average. After all, that's certainly Fodors' desired demographic. I'd expect to find exactly what's reflected here in terms of people who can afford to travel, whether through budgeting and saving or because they have comfortable incomes. My fiance and I made about 300k last year. However, we live in Fairfield County CT and can't even afford a decent house! Hopefully that'll happen next year... after the wedding. We manage to take two or three nice trips a year: a week on Nantucket, a week in Europe, and a week in the Caribbean. This year we won't splurge as much. Travel is important to us.

My husband and I each make about 32K a year as writers/educators and we live in NYC, where living expenses are insane. Still, we somehow manage a trip to Europe about twice a year... and we love every inch of our lives!