What do you do "in between" vacations?

[WinniWoman]

Cry. I live for our vacations.

No seriously I still work full time so I have little time (and energy) and so many things that need to be taken care of. I get up at 4 am every morning and I also exercise before leaving for work at 7:30 am. Don't get home until after 5. Lucky to eat dinner, prepare lunch for the next day and do a few things- maybe laundry and take a look at my mail. Then get up and do it all over again every single day until the weekend. Go food shopping once per week after work. Usually cook all our dinners for the week on Sunday mornings. Clean on Saturdays. Then there are the bills and finances.

This is why I already started my 2019 planning for Utah. I am already finished with my plans for vacation for 2018 (long ago) and I need to have something else. I also ordered a new National Parks coffee table book and another on The White Mountains for my scarce down time. My coworkers and friends think I am nuts, but it keeps me going as I really am engaged in travel planning and enjoy it. Can't say the same for work that's for sure.

We had been upgrading the house, but that is pretty much done, except for our garage that needs work. Keep procrastinating on when to start it, but honestly the maintenance of the house- things breaking and upkeep and so on- keeps us busy as well. It's always something. Snow shoveling and snow blowing. Need to have the driveway sealed this summer. Then it's the cars. Then it will be tax time and I have to do the taxes. Only have weekends. Heaven forbid we should relax.

We don't understand how people can ever be bored. One thing - i research things to death for vacations and I continue to read about my destinations throughout the year in case I want to add or subtract something.

PS One thing I do after my vacations are all planned out is I make sure I am signed up for coupon sights like "Jump On It" or Restaurant.com or Groupon or Living Social so if there are special coupons for things where we are going I will purchase them and then check them out when we are there. Like recently I bought a coupon for the Blue Paddle Bistro and a Hard Cider place near the Champlain islands in Vermont near to the cottage on the lake we are renting.

 

[DaveNV]

PS One thing I do after my vacations are all planned out is I make sure I am signed up for coupon sights like "Jump On It" or Restaurant.com or Groupon or Living Social so if there are special coupons for things where we are going I will purchase them and then check them out when we are there. Like recently I bought a coupon for the Blue Paddle Bistro and a Hard Cider place near the Champlain islands in Vermont near to the cottage on the lake we are renting.

I did that when we went to NYC several years ago. I got a Groupon for a four-hour afternoon sail around Manhattan on a 1920's vintage sailing yacht, brunch and drinks included, for something like $40 each. It was amazing!

Dave

 

[Egret1986]

We did a great two week trip last May/June to the Outer Banks, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and DC area. It was excellent! Enjoy!!

Dave

Awesome places! Great trip!

 

[dsmrp]

Ha ha DaveNW, I know exactly what you mean cause I'm afflicted the same way myself
I've on occasion been distracted by reading the websites of airports I'll be travelling to in the future,
such as London Heathrow, for logistics etc.

Now I'm arranging airfare for my mom & brother.

 

[r1lee]

Lol, I’m always planning our trips. I’m waiting for 1 more week so I can finish off dec ‘18 flights, but most of our vacation is booked 2018, 2019 and starting to work on March break 2020.

 

[WalnutBaron]

Forget what I told WalnutBaron. YOU should adopt me instead! LOL!

Dave

Whew! Okay, VF--he's YOUR problem now!

 

[WalnutBaron]

Dave, one thing I like to do--especially if I haven't visited a place in 3 years or more--is to go to Amazon and buy a couple of travel books on the area we're planning to visit. We usually buy both Fodor's and DK's 10 Best books, and then I take some time to go through them, underlining and highlighting recommended experiences, places to eat, or other interesting notes made by the experts. Since these books are often (though not always) updated annually, I feel like I'm getting up-to-date information. By buying the books, I also get online access to any updates that have been made since the book was published. I know I sound like a travel junkie, and I plead guilty. But I do enjoy that aspect of planning before we actually make the trip. DW loves it: I make the plans and she shows up

 

[VacationForever]

Whew! Okay, VF--he's YOUR problem now!

We can share!

 

[geist1223]

You could volunteer at the Local Homeless Shelter or Soup Kitchen.

 

[DaveNV]

Whew! Okay, VF--he's YOUR problem now!

Hey, I'm easy. And I like good vacations.

Dave

 

[VacationForever]

Hey, I'm easy. And I like good vacations.

Dave

Hey, I like your vacations too. Maybe you can adopt me too!

 

[DaveNV]

But I do enjoy that aspect of planning before we actually make the trip. DW loves it: I make the plans and she shows up

I like the idea of the travel books. I should try that. And the rest is totally what happens at my house. I do all the work, and just pass the word: "We're leaving at such-and-such a time for the airport." The rest is pretty uneventful. Most of the time we even end up on the same flight. (Kidding. I've only threatened to book separate flights. I get tired of sleeping on the sofa...)

Dave

 

[heathpack]

I'm in a bit of a travel slump. I'm sure I'm not the only one to feel this way, but how do you handle the time in between trips? What do you do when everything is in place, and all you can do is wait?

My maintenance fees are paid, exchanges are made, plane reservations and rental cars are arranged, I'm waiting on escrow to close on my most recent timeshare purchase, and "everything" is in place. I've read Tug and my timeshare resort home pages, and every travel site I know of, until the words have faded from the screen. My coworkers are sick of me talking about my next trip, last trip, future trips, and anything related to vacationing.

Now what? I find myself wanting to do something - anything - to get ready for the next adventure, to get more out of it all, but I'm running out of ideas. Help me turn a new page. I need inspiration.

Dave

Haha, I ride my bikes.

 

[Panina]

I'll retire in a few years, and that's when the fun truly starts.

Dave

Start thinking of all the last minute treasures you will find when you retire. You could look on RCI/II now and say one day. Imagination can keep you busy.

Simply your a travelholic, timeshareholic, whatever you want to call it....just like me

 

[WinniWoman]

I know! Something else- my husband when we get back from special vacations (of course, they are all "special")-he always makes a CD with the pictures we have taken through Movie Maker- relevant soundtrack, transitions and everything- even credits! (LOL!).

For example- for our Yellowstone trip he put the soundtrack to Dances With Wolves on it. This is a nice project for him when we get back that he enjoys doing and then we can watch them as we have the time throughout the year. And, of course, subject any visitors that come by to watching them as well. Hey- they are a captive audience! Lol! The we can chew their ears off with all our adventure stories!

I know the younger generation hates these things. Our son gets so annoyed when we ask him if he wants to see the latest one! Ha! Ha!

 

[ronandjoan]

We are retired and it is my JOB to plan for our vacations. This year we will spend 100 days away from our home. 2 trips to Singapore, one South East Asia cruise, from Singapore to Hong Kong, adding 5 nights on each end, one cruise from Rome through Greek Isles etc, several timeshare stays to Newport Coast, Scottsdale and Palm Desert/Rancho Mirage, 3 trips back to California to visit my son, golf in-between all of these trips and some during the trips. My 2019 planning has started, with a booked cruise from Florida to Europe, ending in Copenhagen in April/May We have to use up our Marriott Vacation Club points, which means most likely a Collette land tour in Australia and New Zealand at year end of 2019.

Yep! We were out full-time for 7 years - (no house to retreat to during all that time - totally "homeless",) and enjoyed it, obviously had to plan ahead or not have a place to lay our heads. - still could do it, except wanted to be closer to the grandchildren in Seattle, so we're only out now for 6-7 months of the year now. (Yes, we stay longer time in places too, 3 months in Hawaii last year; we're 2 1/2 months in FL now.) And therefore able to enjoy Seattle summers more now.

VF -- You've sure done some great trips! Timesharing has allowed so many TUGGERS to do that!

 

[pedro47]

I just love to plan and research our next vacation. Now, if the Commander In Chief, would just want to fly to the West Coast or Hawaii? Wow! Traveling would be become an adventure in our universe.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Dave, that’s funny. My first thought is I plan our next unplanned trip. My DW jokes that I may have more fun planning our next trip than going on it. We are all set for 2018, so I am working on our trips for 2019. In fact, we are in Cancun at Lagunamar this week and I was looking at some new options for 2019.

Me too!!!

 

[Patri]

I know! Something else- my husband when we get back from special vacations (of course, they are all "special")-he always makes a CD with the pictures we have taken through Movie Maker- relevant soundtrack, transitions and everything- even credits!
I know the younger generation hates these things. Our son gets so annoyed when we ask him if he wants to see the latest one! Ha! Ha!

This reminds me of the Travelogue Series hosted back in the day by Rotary clubs. They were formal presentations in various communities every couple months highlighting countries and tourist destinations. My parents would make it a family night out. I thought they were so boring. Now, of course, I would truly enjoy them.

 

[jme]

I am very similar to you and the others here who plan way ahead, do homework, research, etc. on all upcoming trips and those beyond.
Those trips are the big trips, the timeshare trips.

But in between, or after the big trips, those are the times when
I get antsy to "do something", as you do. It's a natural feeling.

There IS an answer.

I see you live in the Seattle area. Been there a few times because my BIL lives there, so I know there's a lot to do around the area even if you're not officially "traveling". I love short spontaneous nights away, short weekends, etc.....something easily drivable. The short unplanned trips are the really FUN ones, and half the fun comes from coming home and saying, "Guess where we're going this weekend?"

You can start by looking at a google map, say anything in a 3-hour drive's radius, and start looking at any and all options.

If you haven't been to Paulsbo, or even if you have, do a spontaneous weekend there. It's small, a beautiful drive, it's fun, has many great restaurants, lots of shops to walk around. And there are similar places around Seattle. Spend a weekend on the coast....two simple nights!
Use Rewards points, cash, promotion trips, etc. DON'T VISIT RELATIVES, that doesn't count, and that will definitely not address your need.

Or, do an easy day trip to Victoria via small ship---- great city, gorgeous in fact.
We did a day trip years ago and it was very memorable, and cheap.

Or try this, which we do a couple of nights a week AND every weekend......
CLOSE THE KITCHEN! Dine out. Pick fun places, trendy places, and check the ratings and comments online for those.

Wife will obviously love it, and so will you. It's like a date. Even if you simply go somewhere for a drink, then walk to dinner.....even just appetizers, but get out, do something different, and you'd be surprised how much you'll look forward to the weekend instead of so far ahead to your next timeshare trip.......and the timeshare trip will roll around soon enough.

We try to visit NEW restaurants as much as possible---
(we think we're out of town, LOL).
We go to breakfast on Saturdays, then lunch, maybe a movie occasionally---------- but the dates, the short trips, those are the "first loves". Always something. My wife's friends are jealous of her "lifestyle", but we simply have fun and spend time together.

The best trips are frequently the spontaneous trips. Can be simple----three hours, or a weekend.
You WILL see things in a new light, and the antsy feeling will be satisfied. I would say it's even addicting.

 

[dominidude]

I do a lot of things, I'm sure, but the only ones I remember are:
1) being on vacation
2) planning my vacations

Everything else is a blur.

 

[DaveNV]

I know! Something else- my husband when we get back from special vacations (of course, they are all "special")-he always makes a CD with the pictures we have taken through Movie Maker- relevant soundtrack, transitions and everything- even credits! (LOL!).

For example- for our Yellowstone trip he put the soundtrack to Dances With Wolves on it. This is a nice project for him when we get back that he enjoys doing and then we can watch them as we have the time throughout the year. And, of course, subject any visitors that come by to watching them as well. Hey- they are a captive audience! Lol! The we can chew their ears off with all our adventure stories!

I know the younger generation hates these things. Our son gets so annoyed when we ask him if he wants to see the latest one! Ha! Ha!

I'd enjoy that, except that I'm married to a photography nut who has this "Hey! Step away from the photos!" thing. I've given up. I have a good eye with a camera, and can take some nice stuff, in a snapshot sort of way. Spouse has this incredible artsy-eye for things, and can see a magical photograph in the most unlikely situation. After 20 years, I've learned to quietly back away, and wait for the magic to be delivered. (Which is why I created a network attached storage device for our home network, that currently houses something like 4 Terabytes of photo files - tens of thousands of images. If we ever have a house fire, the single-most important thing to grab is that little black box.). Maybe I could make a little movie thing of my own photos, and leave the fancy-schmancy stuff to my better half.

I can relate to your son - I never did the slide carousel thing, but my parents did. I hated having to sit through another of those boring vacation photo trip things. Funny, now that I'm the parent, I wonder why my kids never seem to be in the room when the photos come out... LOL!

Dave

 

[VegasBella]

Right now I'm definitely looking forward to the next trip but man o man there's so much to do here at home. It feels all-consuming and never-ending, which is why I want to get away so badly so often.

If you're really looking for something to do here are some thoughts:
- home renovation
- new fitness goal
- treat your (nearest) city like a tourist does and make sure you go see all the fun things near you
- spend time outdoors hiking or gardening or just sipping tea or coffee
- start volunteering with a local charity

 

[Tacoma]

I'm usually good at recognizing places but sometimes all the abbreviations makes it tough. I now get OBX means the outer banks off of North Carolina I believe (watching beachfront bargain hunt has helped) OTA? I tried googling it and still nothing.

Joan

 

[DaveNV]

I'm usually good at recognizing places but sometimes all the abbreviations makes it tough. I now get OBX means the outer banks off of North Carolina I believe (watching beachfront bargain hunt has helped) OTA? I tried googling it and still nothing.

Joan

OTA = Wyndham Old Town Alexandria.

Dave