The Best Vacations Don’t Have to Cost a Fortune

There is a viral video circulating of a Florida man who journaled the cost of one day at Disney World with his wife and three children.

Their day consisted of parking, tickets, snacks, lunch, and dinner. The video, which now has over 8.4 million views, shows the day costing $1,400 for his family of five. That’s not quite the cost of the average monthly mortgage payment in America—but it’s not too far off.

Of course, if you have to travel to attend a Disney theme park (as I would have to do from Phoenix), you would quickly surpass that number. Add airfare, hotel, and extra meals, and the cost increases significantly.

But this family’s experience included none of those things. They had no travel expenses, received Florida resident discounted ticket prices, and simply drove to the park in the morning and home in the evening.

The video’s popularity reminded me of another relevant news story that circulated last year. According to a recent study, 45% of parents who visit Disney with young children go into debt to take the trip.

That number is a 50% increase from just two years ago. And it’s not just parents going into debt for the trip—24% of ALL visitors to a Disney theme park take on debt for the experience.

With the summer months quickly approaching, now is a helpful time to remind ourselves: The best vacations don’t have to cost a fortune.

In fact, the best summer trip doesn’t require added debt at all. The best summer trip is the one you can pay for.

Statistics show that 1 in 5 of all summer travelers will pay for their travel on a credit card and not be able to pay it off in one billing cycle.

It doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t have to go into debt to create memorable experiences for your family or for yourself. A change in mindset on summer vacation spending needs to start with each of us redefining what makes for a great summer vacation.

No doubt some of the increase in vacation debt in recent years has to do with the prevalence of social media. When our friends and parent-peers brag on social media about the extravagance of their summer adventures, we fear missing out and are tempted to provide the same for our kids (or ourselves)—even if our bank account doesn’t have the margin.

We also want our kids to have amazing memories and stories and experiences to brag about with their friends. Add in our own pride and desire to prove to our friends that we’re doing well financially, and you have a recipe for disaster.

But here’s the reality: You don’t need to spend a lot of money on your vacation to make great memories with your family. In fact, in the long run, you’ll be better off not going into debt to fund your trips. The best summer trips don’t add stress to our lives, they add peace and rest—both during the trip and afterward.

The most common summer vacation I remember taking as a child was a six-hour drive my family would take from our home in South Dakota to my cousin’s house in Minneapolis. We would stay at their home, grill out in the evening, go to a Twins baseball game one night, and visit Valleyfair another of the days.

We cousins would try to stay up all night in the basement, eating potato chips, sneaking soda from the fridge, and playing Atari. Our parents would play cards and talk upstairs in the kitchen.

And those memories are just as precious to me as any character I would have met at Disneyland. In fact, now that I am older and able to look back with the advantage of life experience, they are even sweeter to me. Not only are the memories and extended family relationships precious to me, but I am grateful my parents didn’t go into debt to take us on extravagant summer vacations.

Going into debt each summer would have added stress to our family and their relationship all year long. Even more, I learned from those experiences that bonding moments don’t require a lot of money, and I learned the joys of keeping my tastes simple. These are lessons that served me well as a young parent and brought more joy and stability into my family life than a fancy, expensive trip ever could.

I know the temptation to keep up with the Joneses and their summer trip itinerary is great, but it is not necessary.

The best summer trips don’t have to cost a fortune. The best summer trips allow you to invest yourself—your time and your money—into the people you love.

In fact, the most meaningful elements of a summer trip don’t have to cost anything. They include:

• Something Out of the Ordinary: It doesn’t have to be elaborate. A day trip to a nearby park, a hike, or even camping in the backyard can create lasting memories.
• New Experiences: Try something new together as a family. It could be as simple as visiting a local museum, trying a new park, or a day trip to a place you’ve never been.
• Simple Joys: Sometimes the simplest activities—playing board games, staying up late, having a picnic, or sneaking an extra soda late at night—can be the most memorable.
• Time to Rest and Recharge: Taking time away from work during the summer months is a great idea and provides a natural rhythm to the year. But these trips should provide rest and time to rejuvenate our energy around the work we bring into the world.

And if you have kids a meaningful trip will include:

• Time with Family: The most precious gift we can give our loved ones is our time. Focus on being present and engaged, creating moments of connection.
• Kids Receiving Our Full Attention: Put away the distractions and give your kids your undivided attention. Engage in activities they love and create shared experiences.

Include those elements in your summer trip, and you’ve had a successful one!

This summer, rather than spending a monthly mortgage payment at Disney or going into debt to afford a trip, be intentional about your spending and time. Your summer plans shouldn’t bury you in stress for the rest of the year.