I want to. I really want to.
Not that I have no money, what I mean is I have no money allocated for ski vacation this year. (I don't want to take it out of other places. EF is EF, ROTH must be funded, etc...)
I have never before been out west.
I am now in planning stages:
1. Free great childcare is arranged between 2 grandmothers (we'll be going without the baby this time).
2. I booked hotel in Vail FREE with points. Hotel room booked with money for those dates totals up for $2400 before taxes, so this is huge savings. But the rest of the expences are challenging. So I am racking my brain as to cut them down and make it happen. So far estimates are not encouraging. (I can cancell my hotel with no penalty and gets the points back for another month or longer)
So my estimate to what is needed:
fees if booking airfare with miles (2x)
$150 (maybe, maybe not)
checked luggage 2 bags each
$25+$25+$35+35= $120
midday lodge breaks (x6) warming up with beer, sometimes snack
$150
food daily $100 per day
$700
shuttle to/from airport -
$51 (4x) +tip $220
ski rental 6 days 2 people
$400 (more if demo skis)
lift tickets $519 x 2
$1038
taxi to and from the airport at home
$100
$3,047
Sigh
That does not sound right considering airfare and hotel is free...
So far I only have $760 in the ski2012 fund (I planned for local skiing only).
I have no money but want to fly to ski Vail for 1 week!
November 16th, 2011 at 09:40 pm
November 16th, 2011 at 10:55 pm 1321484149
A trip away can be just as wonderful at a more local resort. The coziness of the fireplace will be the same, the dining experiences will be the same, and the skiing will be close to the same.
A want will pass. The stress of paying for a trip you really cannot afford (plus those wonderful accumulating monthly interest rates) will not.
November 17th, 2011 at 03:36 am 1321501006
I want to address your believe that "skiing will be close to the same".
Skiing in Vail Colorado and skiing in NYC area is nowhere near the same. Snow here is not plentiful, not powdery, season is short, slopes are super crowded, mountains small and full of teenagers who don't know what they are doing and going above speeds where they have control and end up running into other people. And sometimes ice is so bad I feel like I'm trying to skate on skis. And all that pleasure involves 4-5 hours of driving per day. about 2.5 hours each way to the closest mountain.
To go to Vermont it is 4-5 hours EACH WAY. That is a lot of precious time (and not negligible gas) and than you are tired from driving alone. It is not relaxing. And there are no Marriotts nearby, so we'd have to pay for accommodations or drive 8-9 hours a day.
The situation is nowhere near paying interest.
I'm challenging myself to think carefully and creatively to make it happen and enjoy ourselves to the fullest on the minimal amount of money.
I have not been on vacation in over 2 years. It would be our first since I got pregnant (last ski trip). The baby is now one.
November 17th, 2011 at 04:37 am 1321504644
I don't have any good suggestions; just commiserating.
November 17th, 2011 at 04:42 am 1321504930
November 17th, 2011 at 05:17 am 1321507028
November 18th, 2011 at 12:45 am 1321577156
How about skiing in Cali? We've got beautiful skiing all around Lake Tahoe.
Could you reduce the bag fees and squeeze everything into one bag?
Can someone drive you to and from the airport?
Many ski areas have equipment rental packages that save money. Did you already check that?
November 18th, 2011 at 05:29 am 1321594159
November 21st, 2011 at 06:07 pm 1321898833
"Can someone drive you to and from the airport?"
If we asked, yes. But I don't think it is worth someone's afternoon plans, their driving time and toll/gas to save $40+ bucks on a ride to the airport.
"How about skiing in Cali? We've got beautiful skiing all around Lake Tahoe."
How would it be cheaper (not to forget, I can get free airfare and slopeside hotel in Vail).
Right now I am coming at it from another angle -- I am working on trying to get free roundtrip flight to Asia this summer with miles. I already funded that vacation, so if I reduce airfare costs, I can divert those funds to the winter vacation. It is not an easy task I tell you!
November 30th, 2011 at 08:15 pm 1322684125
But, it sounds like you've got a good plan to take care of it all.
December 5th, 2011 at 05:27 pm 1323106025
I owe you a late apology for my response to your post (Response #1 in this thread). I completely misunderstood your post title, taking it to mean you were trying to resist the urge to spend on this trip, hence my "resist, resist!" response.
I was a guest to this board at the time, via EarlyRetireeTamara, but have since joined and started my own blog.
Anyhow, I see by your later posts that you've now achieved your dream, so good for you!