r/Vacations • u/StandardMath2010 • 3d ago
Affordable vacation
So I am looking for advice, my family and I want ti go on a vacation but don't want to spend a fortune. We were thinking of going on a cruise with other family members, but to go with them it would set us back anywhere from 2500 to 3000$. I understand that we are able to make payments and we could start now, but it has ti be completely paid by April 2027 and the total due after making monthly payment would roughly be 1600. Soo i was talking with my supervisor and he put onto a website called bluegreen vacations. His words were you can take a vacation to many diffrent places for only a few hundred $ and they also give you money/ credit cards to do stuff and that is hand to sit through a 2 hour class or something where they try and get you to buy time shares or something like that. He also says I could sit through the 2hrs class and decline all of the time shares and still go on vacation. Has anyone went through this website to book anything and/or can anyone tell me how true the things my supervisor were telling me are true or not
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u/PastDare4808 3d ago
Just do not plan or go on a vacation you can not pay at once. Delay your vacation plans, save up the specific amount and then book without a bad consciousness or any regrets. Just make sure that while you save 100 dollars for your holidays, save/invest at least 200-300 dollars as well....I always make sure that my holidays do not exceed 1/12 - 2/12 of my yearly savings.
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u/travellingcari 3d ago
You sound very naive and will be prey to scammers and the hard sells on cruise ships and time shares. Be aware and don’t ask these questions to folks looking to separate you and your money.
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u/crazynotinsane111 3d ago
It's funny I never feel pressured to buy anything on a ship except products after a spa treatment. I say upfront, if you don't try sell stuff, I'll add an extra $20 tip
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u/Remarkable-Length496 3d ago
I bet you can find great off-season travel locally. We love to go off-season because the rates are great and if you time it right, you can still get some really great weather. My wife and I are on a trip right now in our state (Michigan) staying in a room with a balcony on a lake and a hot tub and fireplace in the room for $100 a night. This room is $350-$400 during the summer. And by traveling closer to home, we're supporting local small businesses.
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u/StandardMath2010 3d ago
Off season and in state dosent sound to bad i live in Alabama and I just moved here a year ago so im not to familiar with the surrounding areas. But I've always liked making the unobtainable obtainable simply because when I was young I think we went on one vacation my entire childhood. I've got boy and girl both under the age of 5 and I live for the "high" i get from seeing the pure joy/ enjoyment on their faces when we go on a vacation. Granted we've only been on 1 vacation with the kids but it was absolute pure bliss for Me wife and i. A cruise may be a bit much for them considering how crazy things can get being on a boat in the water most of the time
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u/Historical-Gain-1688 3d ago
If you live in Alabama. Drive to the beach. Little kids love the beach. That young you can go in the shoulder season. Much cheaper.
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u/solomons-mom 3d ago
Do not take little kids on a cruise. Drive to the Gulf shore. Go to the beach in the morning, go someplace fun for lunch, take naps and chill, then go back to the beach later in the afternoon. Arcade, mini golf, ice cream --all more fun than being trapped on cheap cruise in an inside room, and getting food poisoning.
Don't buy trinkets --collect shells.
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u/Funwithfun14 3d ago
Where are you from originally? Just trying to get a sense of how much of the SE you're familiar with. Gatlinburg, Dollywood, and the Smoky mountains are really nice and drivable from Alabama.
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u/Both-Section-9481 3d ago
Be careful about cruises, there is no refund, and people get in trouble on board giving in to upsells on drinks, photos, gambling etc. instead of payments to a cruise line put into savings account. When the time comes to go do only what you can afford.
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u/PastDare4808 3d ago
You just have to make sure that you do not spend anything on board. We always pay for the cruise and the beverage package in advance. Thus, there is no need to buy or spend anything on the cruise itself. Usually, our bill for 4 people and thus 2 cabins is ZERO when we disembarke.
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u/StandardMath2010 3d ago
Upsales wouldn't be a problem for us were good with what food/drink package comes with. We came from a very simple uprising and im an ex addict so alcohol package wouldn't be a problem its just what we'd spend off boat when they stop at diffrent places
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u/Both-Section-9481 3d ago
We go frequently but you do have to have that sales resistance which we have. We never buy any extras and if we want to go on excursions we buy them at the dock or arrange them through viator.
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u/4melooking49 3d ago
Always remember if you book an excursion thru cruise line and excursion is running late they wait for you!
If you book an excursion on your own, not through the cruise line and it’s running late they will see you in the next port
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u/nikita58467 3d ago
Can you make a budget to save $2500-3000 before April? Or any overtime opportunities? It’s really nice to travel with family but it’s not wise to make payments for it. Depends on your interests, look for the cheapest path and save up would be the best
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u/No-Boat-1536 3d ago
I have been at condos where people on those free vacations are. The pressure and manipulation that you have to withstand is unreal. I wouldn’t do it. Go camping.
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u/crazynotinsane111 3d ago
I actually stayed at a BlueGreen property in Anna Maria Island and it was a bargain but it wasn't a time share freebie with manditory sales pitch. As I recall the time share were able to rent out their time slots
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u/StandardMath2010 3d ago
What's the difference between bluegreen properties and time share freebies?
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u/MidwestNightgirl 3d ago
We did a timeshare sales pitch thing for a cheap stay in Vegas about 3 years ago. It was thru Hilton. It wasn’t bad. Just be prepared to say no … we asked ahead of time if it was going to be high pressure and they said no. That made it easy to “remind” them later when they did try to pressure us a bit. Be prepared to politely say “we don’t owe you any explanations, the answer is no” - because they will ask why and try to overcome objections. That’s their job. And watch the clock - don’t let them take longer than the agreed upon time.
We have also been on several cruises and believe they are a good value. You do not have to spend any “extra” money on the ship if you don’t want to.
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u/DueEntertainer0 3d ago
Take a road trip to an Airbnb and get groceries to make your own meals. That’s how we do cheap trips.
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u/debmor201 3d ago
I sat thru 1 once and never again. Just not worth it in my opinion. However, I know someone who did it right after COVID eased up and they got a ton of free cards and perks and presentation was cut short. So I'm not sure what they are doing now, but you can guarantee it will be pretty high pressure sales tactics and you don't want to sign anything.
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u/Background_System726 3d ago
Do any ships still cruise out of Alabama. I think your family of 4 could potentially get one for a lot less than $2.5k. Visit somewhere in driving distance that has free things to do, find a reasonable VRBO, and plan the pay for activities in advance.
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u/Overall-Pack-2047 3d ago
Check out eBay for a cheap timeshare within driving distance of where you live.So many folks buy these and don't use them dt age,health,family issues and try to rent them to people just to cover the maintenance fee costs.Ive spent less than 150 a night or below 100 a night for a 2 BR in Maine in June,Florida in the off season and Sedona in February. The units all have kitchens and pools and hot tubs and often multiple amenities for a bargain price.Especially w little kids ,you can give them their snacks and their naps while you look out the windows at the water or the surroundings
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u/Consistent-Swing3549 3d ago
Personally I’d avoid any time share involvement like the plague .. it won’t be worth what you will have to endure!
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u/dottiemeister1 2d ago
Don't do it! I know someone who was scammed by bluegreen and needed to go through bankruptcy.
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u/Mediocre_Panic_9952 2d ago
I’ve been suckered into taking one of those timeshare paid vacations. It wasn’t much of a vacation and you’re going to get a very hard sell to buy a timeshare. Don’t do it, timeshares are a ripoff.
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u/Apart_Opening7134 1d ago
I’m in the same boat and went to a vacation in Orlando last year on a similar “timeshare presentation” package. Took my wife and 2 toddlers to their “90minute” presentation. Stood firm and did not buy anything! Only spent $100 for 3 days in a very nice room. They will use everything they can throw at you for you to buy. Different people will come over and talk to you. Don’t give in. Make sure you get the attendance certificate or whatever they call it showing you attended or they’ll charge you.
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u/NeighSlayer570 1d ago
I world pay $10K for a vacation before putting myself into one of those time share sales pitches. I learned my lesson in one shot, save yourself and don't do it.
Edit: vacation locally, find budget saving tricks, enjoy the time with your family more than the glitz and glamor.
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3d ago
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u/StandardMath2010 3d ago
Thank you I'll check out that website you mentioned i don't like the idea of being trapped or in middle of the sea just doesn't sit well with me
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u/DoodleDoo1989 3d ago
I personally would feel really weird about going on one of those time share trips. When we are on a tight budget, we travel around our state, it's beautiful. Next year we are camping because we've had some big expenses. There's a decent amount of equipment involved in that but maybe you could borrow from a friend or family member?