Every year since we live together (3 years now) me and my husband go on a 9 day ski trip (one week plus 2 weekends).
It is more than a vacation - it is a winter tradition we established for our young family and don't want to give up. We drive through VT, from one ski mountain to the next all the way to Jay Peak and we always look forward to it.
We do long ski weekends here and there, but we only do the 9 day long one once a winter. This is the first winter I kept track of our expenses. Naturally, the total was more than I thought it would be. But this is helpful in order to plan for the future - if we buy a house and don't want to give up this tradition, we have to plan and save for it.
So here are our totals and my justifications for it:
Day 1
gas $21.51
Brooks Brothers suit for DH - he really needed one for work - the only one he had died from old age. On sale and with 10% off coupon on top $291.15
dinner $83
anchini (softest towel set and a bath mat at gigantic clearance - store closed 3 days later) $28.89
rite aid water $2.98
rite aid other $14.1
motel $93.38
Day 2
Breakfast $32
Dinner $57
Luxury hotel at the government rate $134
gas $26
Day 3
Breakfast $30
B&B 2 day package - included lift tickets and breakfasts $478
Dinner $76
water $4.49
beer at ski lodge $11.5
2 arctic weight ski thermal tops (it was cooold) $85.12
Day 4
gas $16.05
diner $76
2 beers at ski lodge $12.5
Day 5
water, snacks $8
drinks at pub $17
Thermal bottom for DH and hat for me $63.82
Thermal bottom for me and hand warmers $65
ski socks, warmers $23.23
2 day slopeside hotel package - included 3 day lift tickets, 2 days of breakfasts, dinners, and tips!) $466.44
2 items of clothing - one is a gift for mom $71.98
Day 6
ski wax $30
private ski lesson $94
bar $21
Day 7
dinner $44.73
motel $84.75
Day 8
breakfast $30
maple syrup $14.75
crabtree and evelyn shaving soap for DH $19.26
ann taylor (amazing sale for everyday work clothing) $69.3
Escada (2 beautiful vibrant red items at 90% off) $80
Normally I could not shop at Escada, but this time sales were just unbelievable!.
coffee shop with wi-fi where DH wated while I was shopping) 8
Burberry (causal pants and 2 shirts for DH and 1 shirt and hairband for me) $186
gas $23
dinner $35
starbucks break on the long drive back $5
We did not ski on that last day and went home a day earlier because of bad weather condition - it suddenly warmed up and rained.
So $3,034 is the total. It could have been around $2,300 without the shopping - but it was such an opportunity - I've never seen these prices in NYC and we are set for spring season now.
It was a very enjoyable vacation. I will plan $2,600 for the next year (less shopping).
Back from our ski week. Spending and its justification.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
March 9th, 2009 at 05:29 am 1236576540
March 9th, 2009 at 07:36 am 1236584195
sounds like you guys had a great 9 days. i don't think you did too badly at all with your spending, especially when you consider the shopping tacked onto that! DF and I spent over $1k for two nights away on our last big weekend before we bought the house.
March 9th, 2009 at 03:45 pm 1236613558
Some hotels explicidly allow it. Others (for example starwood) have a policy that a government rate should only be used on official travel and do not even offer it on weekends. But when we called the luxury hotel that was part of the Starwood directly, told them honestly that we are on a ski trip but would like the rate, and they responded that while they could not offer that rate on a weekend, they can offer us a special rate of $100 off the lowest available fare - which was also a good deal.
To large hotel chains like Marriott business travellers are bread and butter of their business, and they offer insentives to encourage loyalty.
So as far as hotels, these policies are decided by the hotel. When it comes to things like car rental, it is different - you are not allowed to do it (and for very good reasons such as governemnt liability and subsidizing of the insurance).
March 10th, 2009 at 09:56 pm 1236722161