How do you all afford travelling in style?
 

I admit sometimes I read topics and I'm jealous at the money some of you can shell out for meals or hotels. As a recent graduate, 100 euros is a lot to spend on a hotel room. I am lucky to have the opportunity to travel to about 5 new european cities a year but you can bet I'm not staying at the Four Seasons. At what age or point in your life did you travel in luxury?

I disagree with your basic assertion, seems like most fodors posters spend under 175E a night for hotels and around 30Epp for dinner. Not exactly luxury.

To oversimplify - If you want to travel in luxury, you could travel say 1/3 as much and spend 3x more when you are traveling. As a recent graduate you are indeed lucky to go to 5 new cities per year.

First off, you aren't going to be staying at the Four Seasons for 100 euro a night -lol!

I don't travel in luxury, never have, wouldn't want to, never will. It is not a goal for me. I love to travel but do so within my budget. Yes I stay at a tiny bit nicer places then I did when I was kicking around in my 20's but not by much. So you are a new graduate, no big deal, travel within your budget. Stay at a hostel or 1-star hotel or pensione or rent an apartment by the week.

I am not jealous of people throwing around a bunch of money on fancy hotels (just my opinion) because that's not my style or preference.

depends what level you're starting from whether it's luxury or not. 100 euro to me is very luxurious for a room and i rarely can afford to eat out in Europe or else i couldn't travel there...but i love by park bench lunches which i find as appetizing as any three-star Paul Bocluse (sp?) restaurant, because of my extremely limited travel funds - to others it's maybe slumming it a bit.

Go to LonelyPlanet's web site and the Thorn Tree posting and you'll get a whole different impression of what luxury has.

And i've nothing against luxury - if you can afford it fine...go for it...no jealousy here.

Thorny, I spent a good deal of my youth traveling in Europe and the West Indies. When newly married just out of college, we had little money and did not travel except between NYC, where we lived, and a lake house in the south. DH traveled to conferences presenting research papers, but I could not accompany him with small children.

Traveling is sometimes more fun the "looser" it is. Things come in stages at different ages. Budget traveling is okay for a young person, and you are VERY lucky to be able to travel as much as you do. Be grateful for your opportunities and anticipate the better hotels and luxuries. They'll come, and you'll appreciate them, and perhaps even be nostalgic for the shoestring traveling you do now.

Happy New Year, kswl

"I am lucky to have the opportunity to travel to about 5 new european cities a year but you can bet I'm not staying at the Four Seasons"

Stop feeling sorry for yourself - you got it pretty good gal!

TIP: get some rich sugar daddy to bump you up a couple of stars! Just kidding.

As suggested already by Palenque Bob, get yourself over to The Thorn Tree at Lonely Planet's website for a different style of travel. No one there will be suggesting 100 euro hotel rooms.

Suze, I don't find that to be the case. I've seen a number of threads at Lonely Planet lately with subjects like what would be a good Paris luxury hotel for a special occasion, etc. That's not to say it's a majority, but the higher-end posters don't seem out of place either.

OK, maybe that was over-stated. But overall wouldn't you agree that Fodor's posters have a more generous budget than LP/TT folks?

Five new Cities a year is more than most of us see.

Common sense: work hard, save, retire early and travel monthly, but not to the US et.al. expensive chains.
M

Suze, yes, as a general tendency, I'd agree. But you can get good advice both places, so I look both places, keeping in mind what I want to spend. Neither has the market cornered for any budget level, IMO.

Thornyroses, I consider 100 Euros a lot to spend for a hotel room. In fact I've never done it. Nonetheless, many times I've still been able to stay in double rooms at nice, well-located 3* and 4* places, if not the Four Seasons, by using various booking deals.

When I was a recent grad I worked two jobs to afford basic, budget accommodations in Europe and I sure as heck didn't get to see 5 new cities a year.
After I got married and we were in our 30s, we stayed mostly in 3 star hotels but again, no way could we afford to go to 5 different spots per year.
Now we're in our 40s and we've moved to Europe and have a car, so we don't have to allocate any of our travel budget to airfare. So we generally stay in 4 or occasionally 5 star hotels if we can find good discounts (why should *we* spend 140€ for a 3 star hotel when we can stay in 5 stars for just 15€ more per night?). And we don't think staying once in a while at a luxury spa or city hotel detracts in any way from the "fun" factor of our trips nor do we think it's just "throwing money around."

Please don't equate the Four Seasons with the best that any given European city has to offer. When were on our honeymoon, we stayed in a charming room in a charming small hotel; I woudn't have traded that for a room in a large modern hotel for anything.

As far as food, there's little that can beat a crepe freshly made on a street corner in Paris.

Face it. Some people have lots of money. This summer, DH's aunt and uncle paid for their entire family - kids, spouses and grandkids - to go on an African safari. They're loaded.

As far as we are concerned, I am a professional who makes a good living, but am by no means rich. We have three kids and still live in the house I bought in 1986. We could "afford" a house that costs twice as much, but none of us want to give up travel to live in a bigger house.

"some of you" are the key words in your question. Not ALL, but SOME. Not everyone here is a luxury traveler, everybody pays what they feel is right FOR THEM.

Trust me, the sun shines as bright on budget travelers as on luxury travelers. Just enjoy what you have now, and stop counting somebody else's money.

Most posters on this board are 'fully matured' adults, that is to say, most have raised their families or are at least more advanced in their earnings capacity than is a 'recent graduate'. There is no comparison of your station in life to that of most posters here. Check back about 20 more years into your career.

You are indeed very lucky to travel, period. So be happy about that.

DH and I are probably in the minority of some of Fodors travelers; we travel luxury and we always have. But I come from a hotel background and I am a chef and cookbook author and going to the latest greatest restaurant and experiencing some of the best hotels ( and best to us usually does mean 5 star, but it has to meet good requirements for service, location and decor, not just any 5 star)in the world is what alot of travel is to us, in addition of course to meeting new people, discovering new cultures and enjoying all of our destinations' present and past histories.

For example, even as a teen I spent time in hotels most people would only dream about, but that's just how I was raised.

We are very fortunate and very blessed to have high incomes and have invested extremely well. I also set aside funds in CASH to pay for all the vacations. We live well at home, but certainly not over the top and we do have a budget.

So I've always been this way ( and DH when we married loves the lifestyle, so he goes right along).

Enjoy and cherish all of your travels, whatever money you have to spend... the point is to go. I always say, Don't dream, go.

Thorny, I agree that seeing 5 new cities a year as a recent grad is pretty great. When I was in my 20s, I usually shared rooms with people I was travelling with and that cut the cost a great deal. That being said, in 1985 when I was a recent grad travelling in Europe was much, much cheaper. Most pensions had shared baths and I usually paid about $10 - 20 per night for a shared room, including breakfast, all over Europe. In my 30s, things had become more expensive and many places were converting to ensuite bathrooms which I wanted at that stage of the game anyway, I usually stayed in a 1 - 3 star place for under $80 per night. And I also got engaged then married and shared with my husband. Now in our 40s, we, like btilke, usually stay in 4 star hotels, splurge on a really great 5 star experience if we can get a good price. It also depends on where we are travelling. In Amalfi, paying more for a salt water pool and a terrace was worth it to me, in Berlin I didn't care about a terrace, I just wanted to be near the S-Bahn. Sometimes I'll take a chance on a nice looking, very reasonable 3 star and then splurge later in the trip on something more expensive with what I've saved that looks really worth it. We are also more into atmosphere then every conceivable amenity. I must admit that a very comfy bed and nice sheets and towels mean more to me then they used to though....

I have always wanted to travel that way but one person's "luxury" is another person's dump.

Be grateful for your ability to travel AT ALL.

One more footnote as to affording travel -- my husband and I live in NYC, both work, don't have children and cook a lot at home! We rarely order in (OK, good asian takeout once in a while) and go to reasonably priced, small restaurants when we go out (we live in the East Village, and there are lots of places like that), except for special events (I did go to Union Square Cafe this week, but it was my birthday). We don't have a car, walk or take the subway for work and going out, and don't really have expensive hobbies except for travel, and that is our emphasis.

Well - first of all - I think you'll find that the people who are spending more are not "recent graduates". When I traveled - once in summer before my senior year and as a recent graduate - we stayed in simple pensions and B&Bs - not 4* hotels.

We no longer do so - but we've been working very hard for 25 years to develop careers that would allow us to afford living in Manhattan, paying for 2 univeristy tuitions - and still stay in nice hotels. (But the hotels we stay in are still usually 4* - the 5* is only when the company pays - or points cover it.) And even then - the money isn;t limitless - I drive a 7 year old sub-compact, not a brand new $50,000 SUV.

So - part of it is working your way up the ladder a little bit - and a lot of it is how you choose to spend your money. (Even when I was working only 3/4 years I traveled - but I did it by not spending half my pay in bars every weekend. It is possible to enjoy yourself on a budget - at home and on the road - if you do some planning and exercise a little self-control.)

I was twice as old as you before I could afford to travel and 5 new cities in a year. Forget that, I'll never have the time off or afford to do that. You are very lucky to be able to do that. Saying that, I have never traveled in luxury but am very happy traveling in (very) semi luxury.

heck I was 40 before I went to Europe for the first time.

i traveled quite a bit but cheaper places like Caribbean islands and Mexico.

Thornyroses:

Travelnut hit it on the head when she said: "Check back about 20 more years into your career".

When most graduate, ...

1) ...they haven't seen their own country yet. They travel domestically for years (I did skiing--lots, beaches, major cities, 41 states in all. Throw in Mexico, Canada and it took a few years before the europe cravings hit me).

2) ...they raise their families.

3) ...they have not made that big career move yet---mine was about 30 years later---then it was time to fund retirement! Finally, in my late 40's I travelled to Europe for the first time.

3) ...they buy a house, maintain it, furnish it, fill the garage...sell it, buy another house...

4) ...After all that, aging parents can interupt one's plans.

So, if you're going to 5 euro cities a year, count your blessings that you're getting in the experience before all those other life obligations tie you down. Having been bitten by the bug, it's likely you'll start travelling again when family demands allow it. And you'll have a big head start on most of us!

Most people here do not consider 100 eu a lot for a hotel. I'd say the average budget here is around 130-160 eu. (That's not a lot either). Most posters spend a LOT of time getting the best value for their money, regardless of their budget.

Well, duh! NOW I discover thornyroses lives in Europe!

Never mind...

It's true, that puts a different slant on the question since our OP lives in Europe.

Hi t,

> At what age or point in your life did you travel in luxury?<

I haven't gotten there yet.

Fly cheap, sleep cheap, eat well.

((I))

Interesting replies to this interesting topic.

My wife and I have always just traveled in the style we could afford at that stage in life. I was sent to Germany in 1970 compliments of Uncle Sam and the draft. We were married, had no money, but wanted to see Europe while I was there. We did, by staying in pensions, eating at cheap places, driving a VW Bug and having a great time doing all of it. We wanted to see the sights and we did not care how we ate. You remember Paris...you seldom remember the restaurants. We took our food with us on many trips by stocking up at the PX. This is still some of our greatest memories.

Now we are bumping 60 and I have done well in business. We have been back to Europe over 25 times and also many trips to Asia, India, Australia area, etc. We do not waste money on travel, but we do travel better than we did in the Army days becuase we can. Better rental cars, nice hotels, better seats on planes and the restaurants do not bother us as to expense.

But you know? We still laugh and remember those early years. No matter how we travel now....the early Army years exploring Europe and eating peanut butter sandwiches in the car were the best years.

Worked hard, paid off home, paid for car, no debt = happy, comfortable travels now.

I worked in hotel management for several years. Now I rent flats when I travel to London but when I go to the States (I'm in the Caribbean) I always stay in very nice hotels. I have connections so that normally I don't pay full price but won't go if I have to stay in a not so great hotel. But that's just the way I like to do it & not everyone's ideal.

Work, work, work. We love our jobs but with 5 kids we don't find it easy to save. What we've done is borrow the money 6 months ahead and now we're paying it off before we go.
I also agree with a lot of other posters. Some of my happiest memories are of cheap travel when I was in my teens and twenties when I had no clue where I was going to stay or where I was going to go next. I studied hard, worked at not very glamourous jobs while I was studying and I took whatever opportunity presented itself while I was travelling. I had so much fun!
Enjoy the "now" moments instead of feeling jealous. The luxury will come later and you can enjoy that for the different experience when you do it.PS 50 next year

For myself, I didn't travel a lot before a couple years ago, except for work. But after we got over the milestone of buying a home, we can focus on other things like travelling. Still, no Four Seasons for us :) We went to Germany last summer and spent an average of 90 euros on hotel rooms - not cheap, but not extravagant either. All of our hotels were interesting places and we liked them. At this point, we don't have the funds for a European vacation every year, so we are planning every other year with a US vacation in between.

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How do you all afford travelling in style?
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to put it nicely...this is none of your business...no more than how my neighbour can afford his bentley would be my business.

you should worry only about your own finances. your question about when people started travelling in luxury implies that you are looking for some age when people 'should' stop travelling on a budget.

this is non-sense, you travel how YOU can afford it. many germans and scandinavians travel with rucksacks and tents into their 60s and 70s. there is no age when you should start staying in a four seasons or spending €100 euros per night or whatever your measure of luxury travel is.

Isn't Fodors a budget travel site?

I think the majority of people here are pretty value conscious if not just straight-up cheap. Generally, the wealthy (who spend it) hire others to take care of the details and they stay, eat, and visit where their social circle goes. They're not on a chatboard debating the merits of tube vs. cab, carnet or Carte Orange, or even asking, "what's the better 5 star hotel in X city, the Four Seasons or the Mandarin?" They have the cultural capital to already have access to the (ostensibly) right answers. Even when people shopw up here asking about a luxury hotel or a 3 star Michelin restaurant, it generally sounds like an exceptional splurge and they're looking to make sure they make the best choice for their money.

walkinaround,I find that An American thing when someone asks you how do you afford something, how much do you make, what did you pay for that dress. Not a one of my French or English friends would ever ask a question like that.

<i>Isn't Fodors a budget travel site? </i>

I've never thought of it that way. I think of it as a place for &quot;value&quot; travelers---those who seek a good return for their travel money, whether they're spending 80 or 300 euros (hotel).

I'd bet you would consider many posters here &quot;wealthy&quot;...but I'd also bet they're the ones all excited about the <i>deal</i> they got on a suitcase at TJMaxx!

Well this poster lives in Europe

We travel comfortably when we go to Europe because the rest of the time we rarely go out to dinner much, spend very little on entertainment, keep our cars for years (one is now 19), and usually take a major trip only every other year.

cigalechanta, that's true :) No one would ask that here in Spain either.

The question..a 100 euros hotel is not the Four Seasons in most places :) In fact, in most cities is just a 3 stars.
I can spend it because I don't travel alone but with friends, so it is a shared room. But I would prefer to find nice and suitable places (I have a disability) very much cheaper. I only do a couple of city breaks (weekends) a year so...you see much more than I do. I'm from Spain , if I were American with the costs of planes..I probably would only travel every two or three years :)

The way we compensate for a 150 euro a night room is that we eat on the cheap. We love street food and seek out inexpensive cafes when at all possible. The few times we have splurged for an expensive meal, we regretted it because the food never quite lived up to the cost. We can't afford to travel to Europe every year, but try to make it every 2 years. So, you really need to put it all in perspective.