Page 8 | 3k for trip to US

Original poster

UndertheCedartree · 08/01/2025 22:55

APMom6 · 08/01/2025 19:59

In 2023 we took our teen sons to Washington DC in February and then Chicago in late August/september. They absolutely loved both cities.
DC was amazing, all the museums, galleries etc being free made a huge difference and we really need to go back to see the ones we didn’t last time. We stayed in Embassy Suites by Hilton, DC conference centre with free breakfast and they had a free drinks reception every evening with snacks. It was 8 minutes walk to the metro and around 10 to the Natural history museum and National Mall. We ate in restaurants that had a happy hour with reduced priced food, often between 4-6 or 5-7pm. We did the Capitol building tour and took the metro and then a bus to the Air & Space Museum in Chantilly (there’s a smithsonian air and space museum on the mall too). We bought snacks, drinks etc in CVS, walgreens etc and had early nights as we were so busy in the day. You can hire bikes too to get around, very handy. We also felt very very safe in DC.
Chicago was also fabulous, public transport excellent too. You have to do the architectural river cruise, science museum, art gallery, natural history museum and Sears (now Willis) Tower. We stayed at Hyatt Place Chicago downtown/The Loop, again free breakfast and a few minutes walk to public transport and a famous Deep pan pizza restaurant. Again we tried to do happy hour at restaurants if it suited our day. We found the people in Chicago very friendly and food was probably more bang for our buck than DC. We also went to the zoos in both places, DC zoo has Pandas at the moment I think.
Sorry for the essay, my sister is cabin crew and she recommended both these cities ahead of NY and she even thought the hotels I picked were at great locations. Have fun deciding.

They do sound really great. If your boys like a city trip I can recommend Frankfurt. Loads to do - lots free for children (and that means under 18s not under 10s like in Florida!) Also amazing public transport.

OP posts:

Original poster

UndertheCedartree · 08/01/2025 22:56

Quitelikeit · 08/01/2025 21:44

@APMom6

Your post was amazing! The type I think the op was looking for! So detailed

Yes, absolutely- a great post and really helpful 👍

OP posts:

samedifferent · 08/01/2025 23:15

I think I would recommend DC if you like museums and Chicago if you want a shopping city with a beach.
Neither would need a car although Chicago has better public transport ( I live there so am a bit biased!)

EconomyClassRockstar · 08/01/2025 23:36

Lordofmyflies · 07/01/2025 20:03

Hi OP, with regards to food costs..we got back from DC and NYC 2 weeks ago. Costs for 4 people.
Breakfast was a coffee and a muffin takeaway from a local cafe and ate in the room = $60 plus 20% tip = $75 or £60
Lunch was usually a bagel and a soft drink $80 plus tip = $96 / £75
Dinner if eating out at a pizza / pasta place was $200 / £160

So about $100 dollars a day per person. Thats without any treats, drinks. Ironically, the supermarket and fresh food was as expensive or even more expensive than the street food.

Where the heck were you eating?! $90 for 4 bagels and drinks?! And why are you tipping 20% for takeout?!!!! At my local bagel place (best bagels on the planet) bagels are around a dollar each. The most expensive bagel they sell is $5.50.

Lordofmyflies · 09/01/2025 14:19

As I said, this was NYC, 2 weeks ago. We would find a bagel or sandwich shop for lunch (didn't find anything cheaper than $15 per filled bagel for the week we were there). We paid a tip because it was -3 degrees and we sat in the back of the shop to eat them.
I did notice though that even the coffee shops where i asked for a take-out always added the option of 17.5%, 20% or even 22.5% to be added to the bill as matter of course. Do people ask for it to be removed?

CulturalNomad · 09/01/2025 14:33

I did notice though that even the coffee shops where i asked for a take-out always added the option of 17.5%, 20% or even 22.5% to be added to the bill as matter of course. Do people ask for it to be removed?

Those iPad payment devices are used almost everywhere now and they all have a tip screen that comes up before you actually pay. If you're just picking up coffee and a snack to go there is no reason to tip like you're dining in! There's a "skip" option on that same screen.

I'm in the US and very accustomed to tipping culture, but it's getting out of hand! You tip for dine-in service but not necessary for take-out. It's good to have some $1.00 bills on hand to leave in the tip jar (if they have one), but that's it.

socialdilemmawhattodo · 09/01/2025 14:35

Could you delay your trip until Sept 2026? That would give both you and the DC another 12 months of saving. So spend 2025 planning and early 2026 booking! It should still work with uni start of term.

Original poster

UndertheCedartree · 09/01/2025 19:15

socialdilemmawhattodo · 09/01/2025 14:35

Could you delay your trip until Sept 2026? That would give both you and the DC another 12 months of saving. So spend 2025 planning and early 2026 booking! It should still work with uni start of term.

It's a thought but DD will probably start college then (Y10/11 programme) so September won't work for that.

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socialdilemmawhattodo · 09/01/2025 19:57

UndertheCedartree · 09/01/2025 19:15

It's a thought but DD will probably start college then (Y10/11 programme) so September won't work for that.

Show quote history

College start dates tend to be later than schools in Sept, so you might just get the 2 weeks in after Memorial Day. You could check last year, this year and next year to see what the pattern might look like.

Original poster

UndertheCedartree · 14/01/2025 18:07

Update

Thank you to everyone for all the ideas and information. I decided to go with Florida as my DS didn't want a city holiday.

I got flights in the BA sale for approx 1k (most basic) just going to add a hold suitcase there and back for £110.
A hotel in Orlando for 13 nights approx 1k (free shuttle to Disney, breakfast included, fridge, microwave and coffee machine in room).
A air bnb condo in Clearwater for 8 nights approx £650.
Leaving me approx £850 towards Disney tickets (approx 1.2k for 14 days).

Family paying for a couple of other days out for their birthdays. Their uncle and my partner is giving them some spending money. They can save pocket money if they want more.

Got to pay travel insurance (got quote for approx £200). Esta cost (approx $20 each). Transfers also.

Not going to lie I will have to save hard. Planning 2k for food/ubers. Will only need dinner as will have big breakfast then will bring snacks for the day.

OP posts:

socialdilemmawhattodo · 14/01/2025 19:28

Sounds like you have organised a fabulous holiday! Have the best time!

Pootle40 · 14/01/2025 22:25

Got to be honest I paid almost 4k for 4 return flights to Canada although that was July.

Quitelikeit · 15/01/2025 07:31

Great update op!

You could always get a bank loan of say £1500 and paying that back over 12 or 24 months wouldn’t be too bad to repay

I hope you guys have an amazing trip

YourNimbleOchrePoster · 15/01/2025 08:16

I actually didn’t find prices in NY too bad, I thought Florida (a few different anreas) and Los Angeles more expensive.

Oriunda · 15/01/2025 18:53

G
We were in Florida over October. 10 days, hand luggage only. Totally doable given the weather. Portions were huge. Food might seem expensive but you don't need a starter (or just share), and you'll have a doggy bag with the next day's lunch sorted.

SnakesAndArrows · 15/01/2025 22:05

Great news OP - enjoy!

TizerorFizz · 16/01/2025 00:16

If you have money for Disney, you aren’t hard up! What a huge expense that is!

Takoneko · 16/01/2025 07:52

Hope you have a wonderful time OP! You’ve clearly shopped around well.

Your budget for food and Ubers isn’t huge (just over £30 each per day) but like you say, it only really needs to cover one meal and you’re happy for it to just be a sandwich or fast food, so that should be achievable. If the kids have their own money for snacks and treats then I think you’ll be fine.

Please come back and tell us all about it.

Original poster

UndertheCedartree · 16/01/2025 20:10

TizerorFizz · 16/01/2025 00:16

If you have money for Disney, you aren’t hard up! What a huge expense that is!

I didn't claim to be hard up and acknowledged that a holiday is a luxury.

However, this holiday is a huge stretch for me. But I want to do it as a special holiday for my DC's 13th and 18th (will be their main present.) Yes, it is a huge expense but I think the lovely time we will have away, the bonding and the really special memories we will make, make it worth it for us ☺️

OP posts:

Original poster

UndertheCedartree · 16/01/2025 20:12

Takoneko · 16/01/2025 07:52

Hope you have a wonderful time OP! You’ve clearly shopped around well.

Your budget for food and Ubers isn’t huge (just over £30 each per day) but like you say, it only really needs to cover one meal and you’re happy for it to just be a sandwich or fast food, so that should be achievable. If the kids have their own money for snacks and treats then I think you’ll be fine.

Please come back and tell us all about it.

Edited

Thank you so much, I will!

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Moglet4 · 16/01/2025 20:12

UndertheCedartree · 04/01/2025 21:31

I want to take my DC to the US for a special trip as they turn 13/18 this year.

I'm looking at travelling in September. On a tight budget of 3-3.5k for flights and accomodation.

I'm clueless as to where to take them. Not New York but aside to that I am open to anywhere but would need to be able to get about without a car.

Boston, definitely. You don’t need a car and there are also plenty of places you can go for day trips on the train (like Salem, for example). Food is really good and doesn’t have to be expensive in the area.

TizerorFizz · 16/01/2025 22:46

@UndertheCedartree Full on hyperbole! The underlying question is I’m having to save up soooo hard and I cannot afford much. You absolutely can. You can afford a big splurge. That certainly wasn’t what most thought the thread was about!

Greyrockin · 17/01/2025 09:54

TizerorFizz · 16/01/2025 22:46

@UndertheCedartree Full on hyperbole! The underlying question is I’m having to save up soooo hard and I cannot afford much. You absolutely can. You can afford a big splurge. That certainly wasn’t what most thought the thread was about!

Oh bore off, it isn't a race to the bottom. I can only afford a holiday every few years or so, in fact my last proper holiday was the Boston trip that I mentioned above, which was around 2016!

OP cleared up all the ?'s people had and family will help with day trip costs, no need for snarkiness just because you are struggling.

chipsandpeas · 17/01/2025 10:10

also look into Lyft - very similar to uber but sometimes a bit cheaper, think you can download the app here but you cant set it up until you are in the USA but i got quite a few emails from them with offers off ride costs so made it a lot cheaper

get a uber/lyft to a wallmart and stock up on supplies, especially drinks as they cost a fortune in the parks

Lomoto · 18/01/2025 16:30

I have literally just come back from Atlanta and was in New York in May last year. It is incredibly expensive now.
New York was actually less last year than Atlanta this year. What shocked me was the cost of food the most. Eating out is insanely expensive.
I imagine that if you go somewhere less touristy it would be less but I'm not sure. Idaho, Utah maybe. I think otherwise you will struggle with your budget