mireaux7

This thread is to solicit votes among posters to see what type of vacation option they would prefer to take given the options presented below.

Lets say you had at your disposal a large sum of money to burn on vacation, how you would spend it? For all purposes, I wont state an exact amount, but lets just say, somewhere between the ballpark range of $8,000-$15,000.

Now, there are some rules to this. Each vacation "or individual trip" is one week long. That's 7 days and 6 nights per trip. In each scenario your trip doesnt start until you check in to your hotel, and the trip terminates when you check out on the 7th day. (basically, what Im saying is that airfare isnt deducted from your monetary allotment for the trips presented below)

So, how would you spend this money?

Option A: Take a luxurious international vacation to any country of your choice. All the lavish aminities are included in this trip. A complete full body massage-three times a day by a professional massage therapist,pedicures, manicures,fine italian wine, country club access, 500 count thread egyptian cotton sheets, saunas, gourmet meals delivered to your room, limousine rides to all nearby attractions..or if your prefer, a luxury rental car of your choice,.be it a lambourghini diablo, or rolls royce. The finest shopping for this trip, 5 star restuarants,..you get the idea.

Option B: Instead of taking just one luxurious international 7 day trip, as in option A,.you decide to take 10 individual domestic trips,.each trip is 7 days. These trips can be taken back-to-back, or spread out over the course of one year=your choice.

Now these domestic trips are not luxurious at all, in fact, they are pretty much your average all-american middle-class style trips. No 5 star hotels, no fancy dining.

So you would be lodging at say Super 8, or comfort inn every night-none of the hotels you stay at are gross or disgusting..in fact, they are all nice,clean hotels,.just on the cheap side of things. Your rental car would be something like a Hyundai accent, Kia Spectra, or Ford Focus. Your meals would be at places like Denny's & IHOP, maybe youd grab some McDonalds or Taco Bell along some attractions and sights.

But these would be 10 individual trips, anywhere in America you wanted to go..all 50 states (no Guam, Puerto Rico or other territories)

Option C: You take just one international trip, not as luxurious as the one described in option A,.but still a nice trip, with average expenditures., then upon returning from this trip,.you take a budget domestic trip,.like the one described in option b.

Option D: A reversal of Option C, the international trip becomes the budget trip, and the domestic trip is a luxurious trip.

*****Pick just one option and tell why you chose that option.*****

For me, I would choose option b because i love to travel a lot. Im not picky when it comes to lodging accomodations, as long as i have a nice bed and TV it pretty much suits me. Im the type of traveler that likes to get out an explore areas, not stay inside a luxurious room with my feet propped up on imported French pillows eating truffles all day.

J62

I choose, E, none of the above. I'd take a single 3 week moderate but very comfortable trip to Europe for my family.

mireaux7

there is no E, likewise there arent any modification permitted to any of the options presented in my aforementioned post. sorry guys.

HowardR

I'm with J62!
I say that unless you're paying for the vacation(s), I'll do it my way!

virginia

none of your plans work for me either. my choice is 4-5 weeks on a caribbean island. for my 3000 to 3750/wk i would get a nice villa and snorkel every day.
i never vacation for just a week now, frankly 2 weeks always seems short to me.
unless this vaca is your treat then i'll take option 1 and stay on for an extra couple weeks at my expense.

highflyer

You've chosen option B because it suits you but none of these options would be my first choice.

I don't want or need luxury all the time as it feels wasteful and unnecessary but some luxury or splurge during a trip is important to me. Option B would be a nightmare foodwise and I'm not a foodie.

As a treat I'd take option A but would dilute the luxury by skipping most of the pampering and fancy meals but I doubt there'd be much change left over after a wild hour or two of shopping (not something I normally do on vacation).

BarbaraS

I agree none of the options would be my first choice. I like the other options suggested better - but to play along I will pick C.

adnil1962

Ditto to none of the above!!

MikeT

The whole premise of this post is kind of goofy. I'd also vote E, even though the OP says it isn't a choice (or maybe because of it).

jayne1973

OK-- I'll play it your way, mireaux!

I choose "D." I'd take the week in Europe, possibly flying into Munich and out of Amsterdam. I'd either use Priceline for hotels or book with some of Rick Steves' budget recommendations. I'd take public transit, eat great street food and just wander and see the sites.

Back in the U.S., I'd go all out in either New York City or San Francisco.

I think budget travel is much more fun in Europe, and I'd love to splurge on some great NY or SF spas and restaurants.

Thanks for encouraging some travel fantasies...

SAnParis

None of the above as well. I think this points out (so far at least) that we all tend to like to travel comfortably, but not extravagantly. For that kind of $$$ I could easily spend a month in Europe (actually more like 6-8 weeks) if I'm not including airfare. I'd probably rent a flat in Paris for a month (for starters) & go from there.

beentheretwice

I'll play.

I choose C. I don't need the spa and massages, but I do need a good night's sleep. So moderate lodgings in Italy, and then be able to take a trip in the US. The Grand Canyon is the next "to do" on places I need to take my kids.

Given a menu substitution option: C, but longer in Europe and dropping the US trip. We're very well traveled domestically.

cd

None of your plans work for me either. I just want to be confortable and travel history or the beach.

suze

None of the above. I only need $2000 for a one week vacation to Mexico or Hawaii. I couldn't possibly spend 15,000 in a week (but could do a month in Europe nicely on that sum).

nytraveler

I would take the luxury (but not super luxury) international trip. (I don;t think 3 massages a day is luxury - it's mind-numbing and I would no doubt strangle the masseuse.) Although I do like to relax for limited periods - I need to be doing/seeing/ learning something most of the time. I want the luxury international hotel, a car at my service and all the nice meals/fine wine - and one or two massages in the week.

The rest would be spent at relatively low cost at the beach house (keeping in mind that I don;t cook - so all the lunches are gourmet take out and all the dinners are eating out.)

mireaux7

kudos to barbara, and a couple of others out there on their sportsmanship.

if you have to folks, just pretend your on a game show. you get your choice of these four vacations.

the option E that some of these posters are choosing is actually a lifetime supply of jiffy-pop popcorn.

iamq

I'd go to Hawaii for a month.

HowardR

Sorry, OP, but I don't think I'd be watching that game show, so I can't put myself into that imaginary world too easily.

carolyn

I'd choose C, but does it include the whole 10 U.S. trips or just one? And could I use ten weeks back to back in Hawaii?

NeoPatrick

Since I'm on an imaginary game show and you have to pay taxes on your winnings, I would refuse all of the above and take the money option so I could do a trip I really want -- not including what to me are wasteful luxuries. Who wants to pay taxes on a "free" trip that isn't to your liking?