aliska

OK Fodorites, here is the challenge: I would like to take the kids (17 & 21) away for 5 days in early August and have VERY limited budget. The 3 of us have access to a car, can put gasoline and a couple of splurge meals on charge cards, outside the $500 budget. Will be departing from Central Ohio, I-71 & I-70. Would like to limit driving to whatever is within 8-9 hour driving range.The budget must include hotel, most meals. Would not be adverse to using Priceline to maximize hotel spending budget. The girls are serious urban dwellers, but Chicago is definitely out, we go frequently to visit family. We also visit Cincinnati and Cleveland pretty regularly, so they are out. Suggestions for this trip? Thanks in advance!

AAFrequentFlyer

If you want beach, then head east. You have your pick. Maybe Washington DC for couple of days and few days south of it for beach fun.

If you want a big city only, Atlanta.

Anonymous

$500 for meals and 5 nights in a hotel (i.e., $100 per night for 3 people) pretty much rules out urban areas.

AAFrequentFlyer

but realistically, $500 for 3 people for 5 days?

If you pull it off, let us know.

Good luck!

I don't know how much are the road side motels these days but if you want to stay anywhere near a spot that has something going, you will end up spending around $100 per night just for lodging.

coldkelly

I"m also thinking Washington DC. No charge to see the monuments etc as I recall. Load up your cooler before you leave and refill at stores for drinks and snacks. Eat big breakfast out- it's cheap- buy sub ingredients for dinners sometimes. Just my ideas off the top of my head... At 17 and 21 are they able to help out with a couple of expenses?

Marginal

Go to Salvation Army and buy a used tent, sleeping bags. Go to Costco and buy some bulk snacks. Gas up the car and drive for about 3 hours. Camp for 5 days. That <might> maybe get you under $500.

TxTravelPro

Toronto? Plan on 60 some odd dollars for a room via Hotwire, add Taco Bell and you have a vacation

suze

No kidding. I don't think you can afford hotels and meals for 3 people.

A camping trip really is the only thing that will fit your budget. Are there any state or national parks that are within your driving distance?

Even if you could find a $50/night hotel room that sleeps 3 people (questionable proposal), that leaves less than $17 per person per day for everything else.

mouseRD

If you could find a beach locale that rents out condos, you could eat in & save some $. Priceline/Hotwire might also work.

dsgmi

You might try a cabin in the North Carolina mountains, but maybe revise your stay down to 2-3 nights and plan on bringing groceries. The mountains are so different from urban! Try vrbo dot com. You could even go ruby and sapphire mining in Franklin, NC, and maybe the girls would find something good enough to get made into jewelry!

suze

My thought as well. I'd shorten the trip to a long weekend so you'll have a more realistic budget to work with.

tracys2cents

Nashville?
You could stay at the Best Western near the airport, not convenient to downtown but nice clean hotel and right around the corner from the lake. Less than $70 per night for AAA members.
ooops, just checked and their pool is closed....maybe try Best Western Suites near Opryland around $80. At any rate, there is some good affordable lodging all around Nashville if you don't mind driving a few miles into the city.

www.bestwesterntennessee.com

suze

But if they spend $80/night on a hotel, that only leaves $6.50 per day per person to eat!

starrs

Check into a KOA Kamping Kabin. Toss your sheets and pillows in the car and kamp in a little kabin with beds and electricity. Walk to the restroom/shower. Grill burgers or make sandwiches. Lots of fun and a great way to camp without all the gear.

kayd

No way can you do this in a city. And 8 hours of driving means at least 4 full tanks of gasoline for the whole trip. Have you calculated that cost?

You are within about 4 hours of some nice state parks in Ky and WVa -- lodge rooms can be had for $80-100. Save on gasoline by staying in a bordering state instead of driving farther, shorten the trip by a day, and you may be able to keep it close to $500. (I know you did not ask for this advice, but if there is a balance on your credit card now, do not use it for a "splurge.")

tracys2cents

BW suites near Opryland has a $65 per night rate if you book 14 days in advance, so if you are considering Nashville it's definitely the place to stay, continental breakfast is included and there's a fridge & microwave in the room and a Sonic Burger down the street! 99c shakes!

You can just make this a challenge for your daughters "how low can we go!", like finding the best burger signs with good deals etc. Finding online coupons for attractions ahead of time, searching "free things to do" etc. As long as they realize it's a low-budget trip, you can do it and have fun with it. '
Hope you come back with a trip report all about "HOW WE DID IT ON A HUNDRED BUCKS A DAY!"

P.S. Days Inn Nashville North is one of the better days inns, with micro & fridge, and you can use the ORBITZ $100 OFF FIVE NIGHTS coupon and get a room for 5 nights for $300, all taxes included. This coupon can be used in other cities if you decide otherwise. Note that in some places, the coupon with orbitz comes out to more than just booking directly with the hotel, so check both.

The Orbitz coupon code is EQUALITY100 valid on stays of 5 nights

Marginal

My poor parents took us camping for two weeks every year in an old stinky canvas tent, cooking on a grill and eating pretty basic stuff. Three kids under 10.

My mother later admitted that my dad had to put a bit of brandy in her coffee to get her through the mess from all the dust and dirt.

However, we survived and as kids had just the very best of times seeing America. Blessings to my parents to what they did for us.

starrs

We did it too. 4 kids. One year, Dad took up our family AND a friend's family to set up camp - and then went back from home. Two moms and seven kids in two campsites (and a variety of tents) camping in the mountains for a week.

I still love camping. The KOA Kamping Kabins eliminate the smelly tent and having to set up camp though. It's a great way to "camp" without all the stuff - and still have real beds to sleep in.

dmlove

We did it too. It was what we could afford. We even camped on sightseeing trips (upstate New York, Lancaster County). Those were great trips and tremendous memories. We kept it up, even through grad school. I admit, it is not the way I like to travel now, but I admire my parents for having taken us on those trips and vacations rather than just saying they couldn't afford to travel.

jayne1973

I can't suggest a specific location, but I have used Name Your Own Price on Priceline to get perfectly fine rooms at Laquinta for $39 per night. Those had two beds and included breakfast.

Study up on bidding for travel before bidding, though.