The frugal vacation?

We're home from our 10 day trip. The main focus was a family reunion. Parts of which were really fun, what i enjoyed most was hanging out with my grandma's sisters and their descendants. They are just like my mom and aunt, we may not know your name but we'll pick on you just the same! I wanted to do this trip as frugally as possible. Some things worked and some did not.

This is our first time trying to have a semi-frugal vacation. My thoughts:

Planned on making sandwiches for lunch. Our hotel did not have a fridge. (dh thought he saw one listed when he booked) This mistake cost us a bunch, in lunch fees and not being able to save leftovers from dinner.

Stay in cheap motel $450 cost. Days Inn was just awful, final breaking point was the clerk banging on our door at 3 am because the computer had checked us out of the room. We had that night's stay refunded, checked out and headed to the nice hotel my parents stayed at. Extra cost after refunded night was $50

Planned to eat breakfast at the hotel. This worked for for 5 mornings.

Tried to spend only $400 while vacationing. That lasted 5 days. I don't intend to add up how much we spent either!

Tried to find cheap entertainment.
Visit to a beautiful mission cost $5 for their restoration project.
Arizona state museum was free.
Desert museum was $26.
Street fair was $100.
Day in tombstone cost approximately $30, for cowboy show, visit to the World's largest rosebush and cool tour.
We spent $90 at the casino which is totally abnormal. Usually we each play $20 then stop. At least $10 of that was free from the casino for signing up.
We went swimming every night except one. But we did buy goggles and dive sticks for a total of $17.
Complex of mini golf, bumper boats and arcade was $35 and SO worth it.

Having the kitties watched and house checked on will be about $50 and some homemade cookies. A friend of ours checked in on everyone for us.

Our dogs were watched by my sister in law, saving us a ton on kennel fees and worry! They had lots of love while we were gone. $0

We used a park and ride lot. They give a 25% discount for Costco members, total was $70

Rental car was $130. I think we filled up the tank twice. Arizona has MUCH cheaper gas then Washington!


Our airline had to bump us onto different flights at the last minute, and our luggage did not arrive when we did. Since we had to pass the airport on the way home anyway we stopped and picked up the luggage. That earned us a $150 travel voucher.

I think it was a pretty good vacation, we had a blast for most of it. We did a good job of site seeing but also taking time to relax in the evenings. I really enjoyed the trip, no matter how much it cost.

No, still dont want to know!