One year ago, at this very moment, we were having the time of our lives at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa (see my trip report here and here). Lazy river, sand beach pool, longhorns, spectacular fireworks…what’s not to love about a getaway like that?
So naturally, as July 4th rolls around again, my kids have been asking if we are going back to Hyatt Lost Pines again. Unfortunately, the answer is no. We have neither the vacation time nor the budget to fit that trip in this summer.
Instead, we are staying home. Our city has a fireworks display less than two miles from our house, and our neighborhood has a fun gathering before the fireworks. Roughin’ it, for sure!
The Dilemma
While my family goes on about two big vacations per year, we also try to squeeze in a few smaller adventures. The problem is, my kids fall in love with places and then keep asking to go back. And now that we’ve been traveling regularly for 5+ years, the amount of these “must return” places is starting to grow to an unmanageable list. First world problem, I know.
A few times this year, my kids have mentioned the fabulous cabin in the mountains we stayed in a few years ago. This was a house rental we secured through vrbo in Cascade, Colorado.
While we have fond memories there, most of our Colorado visits now entail quick visits to see my family. Plus, that cabin is no longer available on vrbo.
Recently, my daughter found a small bear stuffed animal from our weekend at North Texas Jellystone campground, and immediately started talking about how fun that place was. The other kids overheard her, and they started plotting their return.
I can’t even tell you how many times my kids have begged to go back to Daytona Beach. We were there two years ago, and according to them, it is the best beach ever. Despite us having been to many other fantastic beaches since then (including Devil’s Bay at Virgin Gorda, Honeymoon Beach, Sand Key and Big Hickory Island at Hyatt Coconut Point), my kids’ persistence to return to Daytona Beach has not diminished.
Then of course there is the treehouse we stayed at earlier this year. How can we possibly return to all of these places while still going on new adventures?
One and Done
The answer is, we can’t. With my oldest in middle school and my husband having limited vacation time from work, we just can’t keep repeating all of these adventures.
Fortunately, we haven’t had any big lemons for hotels or destinations so far. But, we have to really look at each destination in terms of cost, availability on points, distance and target age audience.
I’ve identified a few that we probably won’t repeat, even though none of us would mind repeating:
Glen Rose, Texas. This was our Spring Break destination last year. Even though it was fun, it’s a one and done place, in my opinion.
North Texas Jellystone. This is such a great campground! However, I think the entertainment is more geared for younger kids, and my kids are getting older, sniff sniff.
Galveston, Texas. I just don’t have any desire to go back. It’s so over-priced compared to many Florida beach towns.
All-inclusive Resort in Puerto Vallarta. We’ve determined that a cruise is a better fit for teen activities.
Disney Cruise to Alaska. Are you shocked that this is on my one and done list? Well, it comes down to cost. This was our most expensive vacation ever, and we just can’t keep repeating it. I do hope to return to Alaska someday, but I see my husband and I going back after our kids are grown up and moved out.
Rinse and Repeat
Disney. No shocker there, right? We will always repeat Disney in some sort of fashion, whether it’s Disney Cruise Line, Tokyo Disney Sea or multiple trips to Walt Disney World. The parks and the cruise line are always getting new and improved attractions to keep us interested. Plus, Disney stories hold a special place in our hearts.
Beaches and Warm Weather Destinations. We love the beach! Even my husband, who was never a “beach person”, has grown fond of our beach time. This past Spring Break in Florida was one of our most relaxing vacations ever! We may switch it up between Florida, Hawaii and the Caribbean, but our future vacations will most definitely include beaches. I can’t ever repeat these enough.
To Be Determined
We haven’t yet determined if or when we will repeat a few of our favorite vacations. I’d love to go back to Hyatt Lost Pines and New York City. We just need to reprioritize those with our list of new vacation places we’d like to visit.
Readers, how about you? What are your “one and done” vacations, and what are your “rinse and repeat” destinations? What factors do you consider when determining whether to visit the same place again?
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Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
YES! We have these same discussions in our family. So many amazing places to visit, and once there, we fall in love. There is one place we will always return to, in North Carolina. Great article and I’m looking forward to clicking through and reading your other related posts!
I’ve heard a few others say they will keep returning to North Carolina. I’ve never been!
One and done with Maui. There, I said it. Love Oahu, Hawaii, and Kauai but after 2 trips to Maui I’m done. I find the other islands far more striking. I know I’m in the vast minority but it’s my 2 cents.
@Lindy I actually feel the same way. I enjoyed Maui, but find Kauai far more impressive. But most people disagree, including my father-in-law. I convinced him to spend a week on Kauai instead of Maui, and he complained that he didn’t like it. How can you NOT like Kauai? 🙂
Just to add to your discussion: Overall, for bigger trips, I’ve always had the attitude of wanted to find new places to explore. But repeat visits are something that I’ve found myself horrible at predicting. We went to Greece 25 years ago — had a great time and always expected we’d get back to visit different islands or whatever. That still hasn’t happened. But I’ve been to Paris 3 times. I like Paris, but not really any more than any other place. But circumstances just worked out over the years: once by myself, once with wife, and then years later once with kids. It worked out kind of the same way with Niagara Falls.
@contextman I really want to go to Greece! And oh, the trip by yourself, then with spouse, then with kids, that’s a whole other category of repeat!
I thought for sure Hawaii was going to be on our done list after last year’s visit (it took us 20 years to go back), but we all had such a wonderful time (it’s so different when you go with kids) that we’re going back again to Maui and making a stop to Kauai this time as well. Now I want to add Kona to the list for next year; I don’t think I’ll ever tire out of Hawaii.
My done list: Baltimore, Chicago, Minneapolis, DC, Phoenix/Scottsdale/Sedona/Lake Havasu, San Diego, San Francisco, Palm Springs, .Solvang/Santa Barbara, Seattle, Vegas, and I’ll probably add Boston and NYC after our next visit. National Parks: Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Sequoias – been there done that, let’s move onto the list of other ones we still need to visit.
Return Trips: Any Disney Cruise or trip (I’m outnumbered on this request so I’ll need to make it happen), Hawaii, Cabo San Lucas, Alaska/Vancouver.
Unfortunately, none of my return trips are inexpensive so it will take me 2 years to collect/plan our miles/points for those trips plus any new places on our list.
@Stephanie I’m a little worried that we may never tire of Hawaii, too! I’m looking forward to Kauai next year, but I do wonder if then I’ll just want to visit Maui and the Big Island.
Cabo is on your return list? I want to go there.
I have the same problem. We do about one international trip per year and the kids sometimes ask to go back to a previous place or they pick some far flung place that they have read about in a book. Definitely makes it more challenging to assemble the required points and temper expectations.
@Erik–I can relate about your kids picking places they read about in a book. One of my kids is begging to go to Australia, for years now since he’s read Alexander and the No Good, Horrible Very Bad Day.
One and done is definitely Niagara Falls and Baltimore, Md. Been there done that. Don’t wish to repeat it. Repeat trips would be WDW, DCL, Las Vegas and Hershey Park. I’ll have to let you know how Banff goes next year. It will likely be one and done, though.
As for doing “nothing” for July 4th, I like to travel off peak. Less expensive, less crowds and more fun. I’ve found our preferred vacation style is less chaotic.
It’s always a tough balance between new places and old favorites.
@Natasha I can understand Niagara Falls being on your one and done list. I went there as a kid and I would like to bring my kids there, but just once. I’m surprised that you’d like to repeat Hershey Park! I haven’t been there since I was a kid (but I loved it!)
I’m always trying to decide whether to go back to a destination where we love or try a new adventure. Hawaii is a definite wish to repeat over and over. So far, we’ve been twice. And every island or beach we’ve been to since just “isn’t Hawaii.” First world problems, I know. I wish it were easier and cheaper to get there. We loved Curaçao for diving and want to definitely repeat because every dive trip we’ve taken since doesn’t compare. Loved NYC and want to return but dilemma is should we try a new city? Boston, D.C., Chicago? We’ve been to Hyatt Coconut Point three times with reservations for the fourth already made. That is one we will hopefully go back to again and again. Although, we are currently at Hyatt Grand Cypress Orlando and we may need to add that into the mix now. I guess these are good problems to have! No repeat for me is probably Key West. Just didn’t like it. Not my scene. I don’t have a desire to repeat Nassau, Jamaica or PR but you never know. If there’s some great deal, we may go. I think I really need to branch out from Caribbean and beach destinations but those are usually where I’m drawn.
@Jennifer When we went to Hawaii in 2015 I was sure it would be a one and done location. It took so much effort to get our trip for free on points. Well, we just couldn’t stay away, so we have plans to return next year. That is a hard dilemma about NYC. I’ve been to those other cities, but in my opinion, there’s just something special about NYC. 🙂
I said last year that our cruise to Alaska was “one and done”, but now I’m not so sure! It is expensive, but the scenery is unmatched IMHO. I doubt we’ll go anytime soon, but it would be neat to do an Alaska cruise when the kids are grown up.
I’m on the fence about Holiday Inn all-inclusive resort in Jamaica. Last time we went, we all loved it. The kids are begging us to go back. I do think it’s a good value at 40K points per night, especially after renovations. However, the taxes on award tickets are $135 per person. I wonder if it would make sense to simply put the $ towards a cruise from Miami? Sometimes I drive myself crazy with these sort of decisions. If we go ahead with our plans for South Pacific in 2018, we won’t be flying anywhere for two years. So it will solve that dilemma, I guess.
On the list of “rinse and repeat” is Hyatt Regency Coconut Resort and Spa. It’s 1.5 hours from my house, and it’s something we can handle as long as I get approved for Hyatt credit card in the fall.
@Leana I wish Hyatt Regency Coconut Point was on our rinse and repeat list. If it were easier/cheaper for us to fly to Fort Myers, we’d go back for sure. As far as Alaska, I’d love to fly into Juneau and explore from there (like in your post). Brian is not on board with that plan, though. Too cold for him!
We try to balance new destinations with returns to places we love. We’re going back to the same Caribbean resort for Spring break next year! Then again, there are a lot of places I wouldn’t return to because they were too expensive or not nice enough to warrant a second trip. Nassau and St. Thomas are two never return spots that come to mind.
@Holly Nassau was one and done for us as well. We’ve been on cruises that stop there since, but we’ve opted to stay on board. I would go back to St. Thomas in a heartbeat, though! 🙂
PS @Holly I loved seeing all your trip photos on Instagram. Wow, what a trip!