nbodyhome

Oh - and various friends I have who like to travel sometimes live at home. I have friends in their 20's, and mid to late 30's who still live with their parents, which is how they don't have to make a lot of money (and still travel).

Those who go in luxury tend to do it on airmiles and with Priceline - or get great deals elsewhere.

Carrybean

Patrick, my response was in answer to this post by Cigalechanta who thinks asking what a person earns is an American thing:

Author: cigalechanta
Date: 12/27/2006, 06:57 pm
walkinaround,I find that An American thing when someone asks you how do you afford something, <b>how much do you make, what did you pay for that dress.</b> Not a one of my French or English friends would ever ask a question like that.

mjs

Short answer; Work, Hard work, Long work. Making (usually) reasonable financial decisions, Saving and investing. Time. Did not spend anywhere near E100 a night for a hoel room as a recent graduate nor 5 new European cities. Most people peak their incomes in their 40's and 50's.

FauxSteMarie

I don't travel in style. I home exchange. On the occasions when I have to stay in hotels, I look for inexpensive ones. I do not need antique furniture in the room and a concierge hovering about. I need a clean room, a shower that has pressure and a toilet that flushes.

Also, I think many people here are older. Older people--whose children are grown (if they have children)--have more disposible income. If I really want to go on a trip, I can always put it on the equity line knowing I am eventually going to downsize to someplace smaller and take the money out of the house--meaning everything will get paid off.

Additionally, some people earn more than others (while I am a lawyer, I have never done work that has brought in a blockbuster salary)or have inherited money. I am very conservative about how I spend money and never pay credit card interest. If I don't have the money, I don't purchase it in the first place.

Of course, there are those who do not have children at all (I have two who are grown) and that certainly increases disposible income.

Home exchange, because it almost entirely cuts out the need for hotels, dramatically diminishes the cost of vacations in Europe. Of course, you have to commit to staying in one place. You use it as a center for day trips. I do not see it as a great sacrifice not to be in small cramped hotels in exchange for an apartment or house that costs nothing.

I do take occasional package tours when I want to go to places that are not amenable to home exchange (where people have to get visas for the US, for example, and cannot be guaranteed that they will get them).

yellowbyrd

I hate that I need to travel in luxury........it's much more fun to be spontaneios, get your transprotation and accommodations on the cheap and just let the trip happen. But at a certain age the old body won't sleep on a lumpy mattress, the stomach needs regular meals with some special considerations and the hubby, who is quite tall, will not fit in a coach-class seat for 7 hours. I would be much happier to see 5 new European cities a year on the cheap! Enjoy it now!