12perfectdays

I do all of the planning for our vacations because I love it & last year was hubby's pick (Kauai). He wanted upgrades and our 12 perfect days were set for 7 to accommodate the expense since it was "his" year. Worked the phone and my p.c to the bone and found some deals and we got my 12 perfect days with his upgrades at a great price.

This year is my year and our first trip to Europe (Ireland). Because I will not go for less time, we are roughing it a little (okay, a bit)and will do as you said...Pub food, picnic lunches. This is not something he is super excited to do but always willing to try anything once.

Next year he wants to cruise to nowhere and just veg. out and I will accommodate even though it is so NOT me. Besides, when it's my year I ALWAYS put forth the extra effort to keep him...ahem..very happy and next year is a sure bet that I will be treated like a queen!

Saying that, I guess it's compromise. I agree with Marilyn, take one less trip, do one your way, one her way and one where you meet in the middle.

ira

Hi P,

>...we have gone quite a few times to europe which were successes.<

For whom?

If they were so successful, why is wifie unhappy.

>... i thought we prefered to get away to europe cheaply every few months,than have to save for years to go on a all expenses included vacation.<

A. What did she think.
B. Why is it only one or the other?

>... we should do as much *travelling* as possible now as we wont be young forever.*relaxing* can be done at any age.<

I infer from this that you would prefer to see 9 cities in 7 days than 1 city in 7 days.

>..buying food from the grocer instead of eating out means we can stay 15 days instead of 12..<

Who does the shopping, the cooking, the cleaning up, taking out the garbage?

>...i dont skimp on paying entrance fees/museums/using tour guides etc <

Quite frankly, I would rather eat out than pay for a tour guide, especially after I have been dragged around to museums that I didn't want to go to all day.

>...do you compromise?<

Is the Pope Catholic?

The fact that you have asked this question is a good sign. You are beginning to understand that a successful marriage takes some work.

Good luck to both of you.

SuzieC

And I'll retract my first response to this question. I just read something about Hostelling in Iceland and I reacted to that one, "Jeez why go" eliciting a response from the voices in my head, "Uh-oh" Now I see what perhaps Mrs. PaperBag was thinking! I had made certain assumptions...

sandi

Has anyone noticed that "paperbag" hasn't had any comments to all your comments!!! Troll!!!

jay

I agree with you. We always stay at less pricey hotels so we can stay longer. We stayed at a hotel in Rome with a shared bath so we could save 50E a night. Over 10 days that bought alot of food and allowed us to stay longer. We do eat in restaurants but who says they need to be expensive to be good. Over the years I have brainwashed i mean convinced my wife into thinking like I do.

hipvirgochick

i don't think one has to be uncomfortable in a $100/night hotel. using internet saavy and cross-referencing reviews it should not be a problem. being a foodie myself, part of the thrill of travelling is the local food, however, most hotels include breakfast buffets in their price so why not have an inexpensive lunch and let your wife choose where for dinner. i'd also rather hop on the bus or train with locals, but that's just me. i just realized i didn't help you at all! it really all comes down to compromise. fodorites, please don't kick me off the europe board because i'm planning a trip back next year, but just returned from thailand and had an absolutely fabulous and enlightening experience and where your wife can have everything she ever wanted AND stay within your budget good luck!

paperbag

just because i am quietly reflecting on the advice given doesnt make me a troll.

i think i dont like cabs as i was ripped off by one and see them stereotypically as tourist trapping theives. when i have mastered public transport i feel i have achieved something and am getting the good deal, paying what the locals pay.

one suggestion amongst others which i intend to follow is to give the splurge option a go and see what kind of a holiday results.

in the end our next holiday will cost the same,be more confortable in lodging/food/transport but will be shorter.if this makes the missus happier then i should be happier too.

walkinaround

since when does "foodie" = not cooking? since when does "grocery store" <> local cuisine?

I enjoy a combination of cooking and eating out when travelling. When I browse a produce market or even a grocery store while travelling, I get a desire to cook. I have cooked many memorable meals from local produce that i could not get at home. I do not do this to save money, I do this because i love food and i love to cook.

Perhaps many of the negative comments about the grocery store and the assumption that this means not trying local cuisine are from those who generally stay in hotels rather than apartments/houses so "grocery store" means cold cuts and other simple things that can be prepared without a kitchen.

i do not view spending a lot as a badge of honour so conversely, i do not view "cheap" as shameful.

RufusTFirefly

Some of the most comfortable and enjoy able hotels I've ever been in cost under $100. As to cooking and doing laundry on vacation--not the Fireflys.

Chacon a son gout.

dsm22

I don't think anyone said that "foodie= not cooking" I simply don't want to cook whilst on vacation since I work in a restaurant. Time for someone else to pamper me. I love to cook, just don't want to on vacation. And hipvirgochick
also hit the nail on the head for me part of the thrill is experiencing the
local cuisine, the best way is by having someone cook for you. It is one of the reasons I love to travel.

I think maybe you have come around then paperbag? Which is good, because everyone knows that if "momma aint happy ain't nobody happy"

walkinaround

dsm...i certainly understand why some people don't want to cook while on vacation...especially people who cook for a living! However, I was just a little surprised that the generally consensus seems to be that cooking on holiday represents the ultimate in cheapness and severely comprimises the holiday. Obviously there is no right or wrong to this, I was just surprised at the negativity towards.

ira

>..if this makes the missus happier then i should be happier too.<

An excellent philosophy, Mr P.

kamahinaohoku

ttt,
because I'm hoping paperbag's alter ego will tell us what happened on their next trip. Did mrs bag enjoy it with the extras? Did he? Was the compromise a success? What happened???

kamahinaohoku

ttt

propertravel

Thats an interesting and nice topic.
Either one has to compromise seems the solition ? It is NOT...

Personally speaking a holiday should be the time you do out of ordinary and pamper yourself and live the moment so you can have nice memories and return home with high motivation. I would go rather 4 days instead of 10 and have best of all possible. However sometimes you want to go simple. Thats fine too, but cooking on holiday is out of question.

HOW about choosing a location where you can efford more luxury than elswhere and still stay as long as you planned ? Its just another opinion I have;

In Turkey you can have a semi luxury hotel for between 100-150 Usd incl. breakfast, depending on location you can have same luxury for 75 Usd. You don't eat Deli's sandwitch in Turkey. You eat good food. Variying a meal between 5 Usd to 50 Usd. per head.
Getting a guide, driver, and a luxury veichle probably would cost as much as a taxi fare in western europe.

So planning is the key element to fit your budget to desires of your vacation.

Happy travelling

Murat