Vacation spending has taken a huge hit in the last year or two, with many people taking shorter and cheaper trips. In an effort to maintain vacation budgets, you may be cutting back on small splurges throughout the year, like massages or dinner out at a nice restaurant. When you finally do take that vacation, we think you owe it to yourself to reward your hard work and thrifty ways.
In a new photo gallery on Bing Travel, we’ve highlighted a dozen of our favorite vacation indulgences — ice cream, spa treatments, room service and more — that make vacation feel like a reward for our hard work and sacrifices.
What do you indulge in when you’re on vacation? Share your favorite splurges in the comments section.
I love the Outer Banks (Avon, NC). It's the best place I know of to do absolutely nothing. The ultimate indulgence.
When watching the slideshow I could relate to a lot of things: the ice cream, spa treatments, room service, ... Something else I do is, before I get on a plane, buy a few magazines, a new book to read for on the flight, but also for during my vacation. It's not a big thing, but it's become a vacation splurge :)
travelling the whole world would be best idea to know this planet. there is lots of culture and natural elements. i would try my best to experience this world,,,,,,,
some channels like national geographic , discovery , they are doing the same thing . people can see this earth through their channel,which is really great. ...
i live in bangladesh, its a small country , here people are not financially rich but our heart is rich and we are happy enough .......dispite of all the anxities, we likes to live a happy life. our natural beauty is also very wealthy.
here all the comments i have made about my country is true. I travelled every placees of bangladesh. everybody should try to explore it. and now i have a strong desire to explore the whole world. god knows whether i could make it or not......
When on vacaction I dine out, eat ice-cream and go on guided tours. I also splurge on beauty products, coffee and chocolate:)
Hai
this is really interesting topic and very nice post
I guess my vacations are a little shorter, but i splurge on what i want. fine dining, spa services, the best lodging. I love bed and breakfasts, and the Maine Stay inn in kennebunkport (www.mainestayinn.com) is my favorite. excellent breakfasts that keep me full til lunch, afternoon snacks, and tea/coffee when i want it. plus the innkeepers know all the secrets on how to save you a few bucks - like which restaurants have prix fixe menus that aren't to be missed and are steals, how to get the cheapest lobster, and the like.
After a hard work it's finally time for vacation.
The best add on to my vacations is massages. When I cruise I always end up at the spa at least once getting a massage.
For me it's dining out... I save my dining out for holidays so I can make the most of the exotic cuisine's that are hard to find in your home city
Variety while vacation, ie. dining and a movie either before or after, a sunset cruise of a harbor, a tour bus ride would summarize the highlights. We haven't done a cruise, ie. Alaska or Caribbean yet but when more people use www.ytb.com/rxmhiebert and www.ytbtravel.com/rxmhiebert ; www.mymonavie.com/drink2betterhealth I'm sure it won't be long.
I can't emphasize these enough.
1. First-class air travel
2. Laundering
Especially on a long trip, that first class ticket goes a very long way toward comfort. You get to board the plane first, so no fighting for overhead compartment space. You also exit the plane first, no frustrating waits for the crowd in front of you to disperse. It's much easier to relax in the plush, wider seats, and enjoy better meals (or any meals at all, nowadays), and get that free drink...and if you need the restroom, it's right there in front of you, no tripping over people for a long hike down a narrow isle. Especially if your flight is 3 hours or more, do this!
And laundry...splurge on that on your last day of the trip. it is SO much nicer to arrive back home with a suitcase of clean clothes than of dirty ones. And if your trip is a week or more, clean your clothes twice. Not only will you feel better coming back, but you won't have to pack as much or deal with the baggage claim crowd and the chance that the airline will lose your luggage.
My own two cardinal rules of vacation for maximum enjoyment are these: Never pack any more than you can carry on the plane, and always budget for twice as much as you think you'll need for spending.
"Spas are somewhat recession-resistant," Ellis added.
That is THE most ridiculous statement that I've ever seen and really makes me angry. It just proves how disconnected that Ellis is from the spa industry.
ISPA spouts the same drivel (a.k.a. - propoganda) and show they are only listening to a very elite portion of the spa contingent. I work for a company that sells spa supplies. Our clients (day spas, resorts, and destination resorts) all report declines in revenue of 30% or more.
If you want proof, go to one of the premiere Las Vegas Casino Spas and ask any of the staff this question - "How's business?".
For every spa business that is surviving this recession, there are dozens failing and losing money.
Your best bet for a wonderful experience (and to support the spa industry) is to visit the smaller, personalized spas where owners have poured their heart, soul and experience into creating a wonderful and unique environment.
For the experiential spa trip - try someplace like Osmosis in Freestone, CA.
For a great day spa experience - visit Gadabout, who is listed in this post.
You will get the most unique and wonderful spa experiences at a fair price.
I run a massage and spa business in a small town and business is very busy. I agree with "spagal" that more likely the large coroporate spas may be declining but I have been pretty busy since I opened two years ago. I am a self employed business owner of massagebymisty.com and have poured my heart and soul into my business and my clients have shown their appreciation by being loyal customers and given me great word of mouth. By offering affordable prices locally I have been able to give my clients just what they need for a break or "staycation" and they can destress without taking an expensive vacation. Everyone in town keeps asking how I am staying so busy in this tough economy and the only thing I can say is every body is really stressed and so far my hard work has paid off.
My boyfriend and I go somewhere each year for our anniversary. We just returned from five days at the Excellence Playa Mujeres. I would have to say splurging for me includes gorgeous accomodations, great food, and a nice pool and/ or beach area. Just laying by the pool with a good book is an indulgence. My boyfriend however, looks at relaxation as alternately eating and watching tv.
When I vacation, a trip to the spa is an almost daily indulgence. I like just lounging around the steam room and hot tub after a relaxing workout( Slower than usual!) The Hilton Waikoloa on the Big Island of Hawaii is a wonderful spot. I do reccomend avoiding the sports massage unless you want to return home in traction!