I bet we'd all like to hear more about your travel club-
Is it more entertaining than Fodors?

I'm like most of the people here. The trip itself is my treat. I always stay in comfortable, pleasant-looking hotels with my own bath. By that I mean that I tend not to look for a cheap, candy cutter type hotel. I prefer 2 or 3 star hotels because I'm not comfortable in very elegant, expensive hotels, even if I could afford them on a regular basis.

I tend not to pay attention to what things cost, except hotels, which I try to keep around $100, if possible. Most of the time I have to pay more, but I try to keep the cost below $150.

I eat whatever I want, without regard to calories, fat, cholesterol, etc. I stop at sidewalk cafes and have coffee and pastry, which I don't do at home.

I sometimes think the most enjoyable part of the trip is having no responsibilities. No house to clean, no cooking, no one wanting anything from me.

What IS a "travel club" exactly? Yes I'd be interested to hear more about what that entails. Something like a book club?

I eat whatever I want of the local cuisine. All of it! I like to close every night with a glass of champagne.

I might get a spa treatment or two if it is more laid back destination, like Hawaii. I like to get something that reminds me of the trip, if possible.

my travel club - a group of 18 ladies - some of whom have gone to exotic places, others the European route and others who have never left the states. Great group... we meet again in a couple of weeks... They will be asked the same question..I will share their responses with you.

Thanks , I particularly loved the lemon tarts.

No judgement but...
Figured it must be all ladies in yr travel club, because "pamper" is a verb NO man would ever use in connection with himself.

Another one who believes the vacation in itself is pampering.

Other than that, I'm busy doing only what I want or need to negiotiate with my husband. We are often in a different country and instead of feeling pampered, I feel invigorated.

I pamper myself at home.

Flying first class to Europe. It kills me to give delta my money, but an overnight flight with flat seats is heaven. I used to be able to upgrade with miles on NW airlines, not so with Delta. With the fees so high this year my pampering may have come to an end.

IF I had the money for "pampering" kinds of things (which I think of as using room service, hotel laundry service, private drivers, spa, massages, facials, etc.) I wouldn't do any of them but instead would use that money to extend the length of my trip!!

Upgrading to Business Class. Getting my hair done. Ordering champagne with lunch.

Like suze and a few others, I pamper myself BY traveling when I can, not by doing things to pamper myself while traveling.

I'm with most everyone in that the trip itself is the indulgence. Also, while I do set a budget for a trip, I am much more lax with it compared to normal life (without getting too crazy).

There's also that phenomenom I like to refer to as "play money." I try to make an effort NOT to do the math all the time if it's something I really want - like sitting on the terrace of a cafe, rather than standing at the bar where I know it will be cheaper. At home, the practical always wins out - not so on vacation (thank goodness!).

I sleep in.
I don't have a schedule
I don't call work.
I eat whatever I want (tarte tatin with fresh Cream follow with salted caramel at 3 in the morning, no problem, frito misto for lunch and dinner everyday and coke light, yes plse.

I eat pastry. At home I am always having to watch every calorie because I am 4'10" so anything over 1200 calories (1350 or so with exercise) and I gain. But on vacation, I walk alot and dont' really eat much dinner so I indulge in pastries, crepes, etc

I do whatever what I want, whenever I want to do it. I just have to remember to ask my wife if I want to do it.

I love it, ziggypop! You gave me a good laugh!!

Splurge isn't the same things. Some of the things I consider pampering don't cost anything (a slow pace and cafe sitting in the afternoon are really free).

YankyGirl, Good point. I always set my budget for more than I would actually spend. That way we don't have to think about extras.

Yes, nytraveler. As much as I like to have a packed itinerary I trim it as needed. If I want to do it all, fine but having options is good.

Splurge or pamper; that is a hard line to draw. I usually don't do either but I'm more likely to do things on a trip that are outside my normal range of spending. I will take taxis, and have occasional room service, and maybe get a little laundry done, depending on costs. I'm older and not in perfect health, so I guess I do consider those sorts of things as pampering. If it is a matter of walking back to the top of Keswick from the center of town, you can bet I'm getting a taxi after dinner. Just an example.

I don't do spa treatments but we have had a neck massage at the airport between long flights. Pampering? I guess.

I've been known to get my haircut in a big city.

My mother and I once had lunch at Barneys in NYC and we felt we were splurging; we totally loved it. It was quite different from when I had lunch at Daniel... That was a splurge but lunch at Barney's felt a bit pamper-ish.

One way I prepare for all of this is by not spending much at home. I can relax in a warm bath or with a cuddly throw and a good book. Relaxing seldom involves spending for me.