cheap, but fun vacation ideas???

[MalloryGrace]

ARGH!

OK, my daughter is graduating from high school in May. She was homeschooled all the way through school and has done very well.

So. Hubby lost his well paying job over a year ago. He had severance and we'd saved a great deal so we weren't devastated but it was a tough time in our lives. He finally got a new job (yea!!!!) at a huge, huge pay decrease (not yea). We have discussed off and on what to do for dd's graduation gift. He decided that she and I could have a girl's vacation, since he doesn't have any vacation time yet.

She would love to take a Disney cruise. I don't think there's any way on earth we can afford it. She would love to go to New York, if we could see a Broadway play and do a lot of shopping. Dh is convinced that we could take a discount cruise and actually pay the amount they advertise, and that we'd be safe. I'd be safe, I'm not a size 4 or 17 or blonde. I worry about dd on a cruise. We would both love to see Disneyland (not World) because we're both sentimental. We did consider a short trip to WDW but didn't know how special it would be (we're an hour away and have had annual passes for the past few years until dh lost his job).

I asked dh how much he was thinking of spending and he won't give me a straight answer so I'm thinking $1000 or less. Maybe $1500.

The good news is that we haven't discussed it with dd so she can't be disappointed if we don't do what she'd like to do.

Any ideas for something fun and CHEAP? But memorable and special?

Stupid recession...

[OneHotMomma]

I'm not sure about the cruise thing (I've never been on one) but maybe you could ask her what she'd enjoy. She sounds old enough to understand the financial situation. Explain what you want to do.

If it were me, I'd be happy with a 4 day weekend in Gatlinburg or something. There are tons of coupons if you call and request the travel brochure things and stop at rest stops on the way. I think a road trip would be fun and something she'd remember because it's just you and her. Maybe see a show, do a little shopping, and just have some time with her.

[MalloryGrace]

Gatlinburg - great idea! Thanks!

[fungirl2727]

I know I can do a cardival cruise for 600 bucks! I drive to location so you don't need to fly. My mom is taking my 7 yr old on her 5th cruise next month. My mom is doing a 6 day cruise with her and it will be less then 1,000 for everything. There is also a lot of bigger people on cruises. So you talking about weight that be not issue at all. I would say 90 percent people on cruises our bigger. My hubby and me also do road trips for 10 days. Have you ever done name your own price on hotel? Last time we did this we saved about 1,000 on our road trip. We did New York, Maine, and other places. We got some of our hotel as low as 30 bucks a night. You also don't need to eat expensive meals well on trip. New york you just stay outside it and travel in on bus thing.

[Gardencook]

Don't know if you could get cheap transportation up there, but Washington D.C. can be a reasonably priced trip if you plan it right. Hotels right in Washington are expensive, but if you stay in one of the suburbs, you can get a room that is reasonable and the subway system there is great. Make sure you ask how close the stop is when booking a room.
The great thing about Washington, is that many of the sites are free. If you contact a Congressman from your state, you can get VIP tickets to the White House and Capitol building that are more extensive than what the rest of the tourists get. (Of course, the "cost" is that you have to be willing to swing by the Congressional office building and shake hands with your Congressman to pick them up! )
Most of the other sites are free, as well -- Smithsonian, Lincoln Memorial, National Archives, National Portrait Gallery -- the list goes on and on.
You can buy a ticket for the Tourmobile and hop on and off it all day long as many times as you want. It will take you to all of the major tourist attractions and give you a narrated tour all along the way. I assume things haven't changed, but we were even able to arrange a reasonably priced trip to Mount Vernon at the Tourmobile kiosk.
Of course, if you aren't a big fan of history, it might not interest you. However, if your daughter was homeschooled, it might be exactly her cup of tea!

[fungirl2727]

I just have a big passion for traveling places! We prob won't be going on any big trips for 3 yrs. My hubby starts class for work. So well in training to move up you don't get vacation. I just know your daughter and you could have amazing trip for 1,500! Heck my hubby and kids just went mrytle beach for a day. We got a 200 dollar hotel for 40 bucks. Room right on beach plus had a indoor water park.

[fungirl2727]

Have you ever tried to do the cruise 90 day or less deals? They our last min cruises they our just trying to get rid of for a huge discount. You might be able to find a cool disney cruise on there for cheap. I am not sure how flex you are.

[frugalfamilymom]

This may not be what you had in mind, but since it was a good price, I will mention it. We have 31 year old learning disabled twins and an 8 year old. I always find it hard to find something they will all like. Two years ago we went to Hershey, PA. The older boys enjoyed the park as much as my little one. There is a water park as well as regular amusement rides. Here is how we saved: we stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn, which was only a few minutes away. We had a room big enough for six but they have smaller rooms for less money. All rooms have a kitchen so you can cook your own food. We had a bedroom, loft with a queen sized bed and a pull out sofa in the living room. We paid about $200 a night, but all other hotels wanted us to book 2 rooms, which would have been about the same.

Here's the best part: Monday through Thursday they not only include a full buffet breakfast but a dinner as well. Dinners were plain, for example one night was hot dogs on the grill, but they had chili for them, a full salad bar and yogurt and fruit. We all managed to get enough food and didn't pay for dinner. They even served beer for three hours.

There were caverns nearby and a bowling alley that we used. The hotel had both an indoor and an outdoor pool so the kids always had something to do.

[MalloryGrace]

Just decided to update...

We decided on a cruise to Key West and Cozumel with Carnival. It's fairly inexpensive. We're just doing one shore excursion in Cozumel and just plan to walk around Key West and take pictures. We're also saving money by having bunk beds. Woohoo!

We're both excited.

[Sherri1480]

[QUOTE=MalloryGrace;3270081]Just decided to update...

We decided on a cruise to Key West and Cozumel with Carnival. It's fairly inexpensive. We're just doing one shore excursion in Cozumel and just plan to walk around Key West and take pictures. We're also saving money by having bunk beds. Woohoo!

We're both excited. [/QUO

I haven't been on a cruise, but you are going to love Key West!