GoTravel

My splurge is the location of my hotel but not the actual hotel.

I'll pay to stay in Manhattan but I refuse to pay for the St. Regis or Mandarin Oriental.

Being that my husband is in the restaurant business a $150 dinner is not something I'll splurge on even though I have in the past.

I'm happier at Pomme Frites than at Daniel however Gramercy Tavern is my favorite restaurant.

lululemongirl

It all depends on a few factors: if i am alone or with a friend or amour, if i am in the USA or abroad and if it's a sun and sand/outdoorsy type vacation or urban. But usually i try to save as much as i can on a direct flight but will connect if the price is right. flying ( these days ) is so irritating to me that it doesn't matter what class i fly. i will stay far from center of town and use public transpo, i like experiencing how the natives live. i rarely shop or buy anything other than gifts for family. i will stay at a clean well kept hotel but no fancy stuff, but i won't share a bathroom. i will rent a car or take a tour but usually i don't bother. my biggest splurges are mostly food and drink ( wine ) and certain venues like the private tour of the vatican i took with the vatican mosaic expert who works there. in the tropics i tend to do the opposite for hotels and food, i'll spend more on the hotel and less on food, i find the warmer climes have cheaper good food.

starrs

Experiences - #1
Example - biplane tour over Sedona at sunset
I have NO idea what I ate on that trip, but I'll remember that experience forever

Taxis - #2
To and from the airport. To and from locations in cities. I want to SEE the city while I rest my tired feet. I really didn't know this was considered a "splurge" until Fodors
For me, my vacation time is valuable and a taxi ride gets me there quickly and I get to see new things along the way.

agilepagile

Thursdaysd, Your upgrade to first class on the train, please don't expect a big difference. As Rick says, you are traveling at the same speed as 2nd class and depending which countries' train system, you might not notice the difference. Unless you are traveling in Switzerland, Austria or on the TGV, don't expect too much.

In my book, the most logical splurge is using FF miles to upgrade to either Business or First Class while flying. You are getting the most for your miles that way, more than just 2 cents per mile which is pretty normal.

thursdaysd

"please don't expect a big difference." I don't, lol. But for 14 euros I thought it was worth the upgrade, just to check it out. It was a longish ride, without reservations, too.

erinannie

My personal policy when traveling is to live as much like the locals as possible. But I do have a few standards I have to keep! I will always pay what is required for a private bathroom. ALWAYS!
And I always splurge to eat and try everything.
And like travel2live2 mentioned, I will pay to do the things that can only be done in the one place. My most unique experience was bungee jumping in Romania, which, btw, I would NOT recommend to anyone. It's a little too close to a brush with death to be fun.