5 Spring Vacation Destinations That Middle Class Families Can't Afford Anymore
Gone are the days when young families would pile into minivans and make the trek south on I-95 to visit the most magical place on Earth. A Disney World vacation has become cost-prohibitive for many middle-class families in 2025.
Explore More:
Trending Now: 4 Subtly Genius Moves All Wealthy People Make With Their Money
A 'baseline' Disney World vacation at a value resort cost $6,865 for a family of four in 2024, as previously reported by GOBankingRates. However, it's not just the famed Mouse House that costs too much for an average middle-class family. Here are other destinations you might want to re-consider for a spring break getaway if you have a limited budget.
Hawaii has always been considered a pricier excursion than mainland U.S. tourist destinations. But tourist fees proposed in 2024, along with an already-high 18% hotel tax, could make this tropical paradise cost-prohibitive in 2025.
Tim Choate, founder and CEO of RedAwning.com, Inc. said that Oahu and Maui are most likely to increase in price. 'Demand has traditionally come from beautiful beaches, energetic local culture, and the idea of a perfect paradise. But rising luxury resorts, a levy on rental cars, and more flights from most major American cities help to guarantee that rates stay high.'
Find Out:
Aspen, Colorado, is another pricey U.S. destination that's more suited for luxury travelers than families seeking an affordable getaway.
'Rich visitors and celebrities today have turned Aspen and adjacent places into a playground for the well-to-do,' Choate said. 'Smaller middle-class families find themselves paying premium rates for lodging that is either too big for their requirements or just too expensive.'
If you hope to escape the U.S. looking to find regions less affected by the inflation of recent years, you'll still need to comparison shop. Alonso Marly, travel expert at SkyLux Travel pointed out that islands like St. Bart have become spring break destinations 'for the rich and famous only.'
Pointing out that accommodations can cost an average of $1,770 per night, the gourmet restaurants, world-class spas and exclusive nightclubs also drive up entertainment costs. 'It truly comes to life at night with its beach parties and exclusive nightclubs welcoming A-list celebrities and some of the world's wealthiest people,' he said.
That makes it hard to find an affordable resort in the region for a budget-friendly spring break.
Marbella, Spain, is a coastal city that used to attract families and students on spring break who were interested in its gorgeous beaches, sports activities and vibrant culture. Yet, Marly said, a typical vacation in the city could start at $5,000 per person, while luxury waterfront villas start at $2,500 for a week.
'While the Southern coast of Spain is still a popular choice for American spring breakers,' he said, 'most middle-class travelers now opt for more affordable coastal cities such as Malaga or Cadiz.'
For decades, Mexico has been recognized as a relatively low-cost spring break destination. However, today, spring break prices in certain cities have skyrocketed, said Choate.
'Tulum in Mexico was originally a peaceful beach town where you could rent basic cabanas for $40 a night, but with the flood of boutique hotels, Instagram-famous yoga retreats, and high-end cuisine, Tulum's total cost might feel more in line with luxury U.S. resorts,' he said.
More From GOBankingRates3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000
Find Your State: The Best Banks of 2025 For Each State
9 Things You Must Do To Grow Your Wealth in 2025
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Spring Vacation Destinations That Middle Class Families Can't Afford Anymore
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Southwest Airlines, Delta Among 1,609 U.S. Flights Delayed
Global air travel suffered some hard hits on June 13, with airlines around the world canceling or delaying thousands of flights due to the turmoil in the Middle East. Weather further disrupted air travel in the U.S. Many passengers on flights to and from the United States are experiencing delays on June 13, with 1,609 flights in that category being delayed by mid-morning, according to FlightAware, which tracks air travel. That's down, though, from 8,952 the day before when inclement weather hit some areas of the U.S. The June 13 delays included major U.S. airlines, including Delta, American, United, Frontier, and Southwest. Some of the U.S. flights that were delayed or canceled originated or were flying to the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, which was experiencing severe weather from June 12 to June 13, according to WCNC. There were also a number of U.S. cancellations, although smaller in number. Worldwide, there were 15,964 delayed flights with 928 cancellations, including 168 into or out of the U.S., the site was reporting. As of mid-morning, FlightAware listed these delays and cancellations for U.S. carriers: American: 243 delays and 44 cancellations. Southwest: 219 delays and one cancellation. Delta: 183 delays and 12 cancellations. United: 71 delays and 17 cancellations. Frontier: 48 delays and seven cancellations. As disruptive as those delays are to passengers, they represented a small percentage of each airline's overall flights, especially compared to some major international airlines that were more affected by the Israeli strikes against Iran. Three major airports were closed in Israel, Iran, and Jordan, affecting air travel as air space emptied out over the Mideast region. Weather has also affected air travel the week of June 13. In the U.S., 43 flights were delayed at Charlotte's airport on June 13, FlightAware Airlines, Delta Among 1,609 U.S. Flights Delayed first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 13, 2025
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
American tourism to Quebec may have dipped, but visitors are still coming — apologetically
In 25 years working at a Quebec hotel, Stephan Comeau says he's never seen so many Americans come in apologizing for "the political situation in their country." Comeau is the front desk manager at Ripplecove Hôtel & Spa in the Eastern Townships. He said some Americans even call ahead to ask if being from the United States will be a problem. But not everybody is worried. "I feel welcome and I want to support Canada," Daisy Benson told Radio-Canada while having a drink with her partner outside the Hovey Manor in North Hatley, Que., in late May. Border crossing data shows fewer Americans are coming to Canada, and some theorize tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump may be the problem: travellers may fear they won't be welcome north of the border. The number of trips Americans took to Canada by car declined 10.7 per cent in April and 8.4 per cent in May compared to the same months last year. Air travel was also down, with a 5.5 per cent drop in April and a slight 0.3 per cent decline in May, according to data from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Despite the dip compared to 2024, the number of American air travellers over the first three weeks of May remains nearly seven per cent higher than in 2023. Travel was at a near standstill in 2020 and 2021, and remained quite low in 2022. Looking back to 2019, about five per cent more U.S. travellers arrived by air than this year. Encouraging Americans to come visit At least one tourism association, Tourisme Cantons-de-l'Est in the Eastern Townships, has launched an ad campaign to reassure their neighbours they'll be warmly welcomed. It aims to dispel fears as the summer season gets underway. The ad is playing on YouTube and on TVs in northeastern United States. The organization's head, Shanny Hallé, said the exchange rate "is very favourable for Americans right now, so they can experience luxury vacations inexpensively." The campaign emphasizes affordability while "reaffirming our values of hospitality," she said, to help Americans feel welcome. Between January and April, she said, entries at the Quebec-U.S. border fell by a little more than four per cent. Montreal tourism expected to be around par Yves Lalumière, president and CEO of Tourisme Montréal, said the slower start wasn't unexpected given recent tensions, but he expects American travel to remain around average — plus or minus three to five per cent. "We're not looking at any decline that is drastic," Lalumière said, noting the Grand Prix is expected to bring in two million visitors. It's not going to be a record year, he said, but it won't be a bad one either. He called it a stable positive and said there are no signs of a significant slowdown. "We're still early in the game for the summer," he said. "August, September and October are good months for American clientele as well." With fewer Canadians travelling to the U.S., he said Canadian organizations and businesses are planning conventions and meetings in Montreal instead. At the same time, the city is working to attract more international visitors. The Montreal airport has continued diversifying its routes to reduce reliance on any one market. Lalumière said the city is now connected to 156 markets, with flights from places like India, Dubai and Tokyo. "We've added a lot of flights. A lot of countries," said Lalumière. Like Lalumière, Glenn Castanheira said there was a downturn in American travellers, but momentum is returning. He's the executive director of downtown Montreal's merchants' association, which grew concerned when the trade war began and Trump started threatening Canada's sovereignty. While he remains cautiously optimistic, Castanheira said efforts by groups like his — along with the Montreal Chamber of Commerce, Tourisme Montréal and others — suggest Americans aren't particularly worried about crossing into Canada. They know they're welcome, he said, but they're saying "sorry" so often that he jokes Americans may be becoming Canadian. "Add to the mix that the American dollar is to the advantage of the Americans, that's a huge player," said Castanheira, who studied at Harvard University. "What I am trying to say is, we're not that concerned because Americans know how welcome they are, especially here in Montreal."
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Summer Food Series: Martina Allen is back with a tasty look at ‘Take 2 Cafe'
School's out for means our favorite foodie and blogger extraordinaire– who's also a history teacher by profession— Martina Yvette Allen is back with her weekly for a limited time only! Today, she takes us to Take 2 Cafe, a Savannah soul food restaurant with a twist. Click the arrow in the video box above to watch our interview. Keep up with through her blog, A Dash of That/ A Dash of History, here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
