For years, it felt completely normal: when we needed to unwind, we'd book a cozy wellness hotel somewhere close to home, relax by a couple of pools, sweat it out in the sauna, and call it a break.
But over the past few years, a few financial and travel realities completely rewrote our priorities. We slowly realized that for the price of a familiar weekend at home, we could be having real adventures abroad. So let me tell you how we went from the overpriced world of domestic wellness hotels to spending an entire week in the Spanish sun — for a surprisingly small amount of money.
When a weekend at home becomes a luxury
Our story really started when our daughter turned five, and we finally allowed ourselves the luxury of traveling as a couple again, escaping the everyday routine for at least two full days. The wait wasn't actually because of her — it was classic family logistics. One set of grandparents still works full-time, and the other set is now old enough that they're the ones who need our help.
Somehow, we managed to make it work. And we got such a taste for it that it became a tradition: every September, in the warmth of the late season, the two of us slip away abroad for three or four days. It's grown into one of the most anticipated, most cherished moments of our entire year.
Before our daughter was born, we spent a lot of time abroad, mostly for work — but we always enriched those trips with hikes and side excursions. Then life happened. Setting up a home, building, starting a family kept us close to home, and the pandemic only reinforced it. There was always a reasonable-sounding excuse to stay within our own borders.
The moment we decided to rethink everything
The turning point came after one particular weekend at home that made us seriously question our priorities. We loved those short, one-night escapes and the soothing closeness of the warm pools — but on one of the last occasions, years ago now, we paid more than $350 for a single night, and it was nowhere near a five-star luxury hotel.
I had to face the fact that this kind of price is now almost average on the domestic market. And I knew perfectly well that for the same money, it's entirely possible to snag a decent round-trip flight somewhere in Europe for two.
That was the moment we decided to throw the doors open and start looking for experiences beyond our borders.
Domestic wellness undeniably has its own irreplaceable charm. But we had to admit that we prefer active relaxation — and as for saunas and hot baths, we can enjoy those at home on winter weeknights anyway.
Comfort and freedom in Mediterranean streets
That decision turned out to be one of the best moves of our lives, and we've been bolder about traveling abroad ever since. A lot of people worry that the world of apartment rentals won't be comfortable enough, but in my experience I can almost always find wonderful places for around $60 to $90 a night for two.
I consider myself old and experienced enough not to compromise on comfort and cleanliness, so when I search, I always pay close attention to booking somewhere central and well-connected. With that strategy, we almost always avoid renting a car too, because all the important spots end up within walking distance or easily reachable by public transport.
The Spanish coast for the price of a long weekend at home
This past spring, just before the all-consuming peak summer season, we took on a much bigger challenge: we set our sights on Spain, and alongside our daughter we brought two grandparents along for the Mediterranean adventure.
To keep some privacy, we arranged the accommodation so we stayed on the same street but in two separate, spacious apartments — and for flexibility, we rented a car for exploring. When I added up the costs at the end of the trip, I could barely believe my own eyes: with the flights, the accommodation, the car rental, the fuel, and the entry tickets all included, the total came to just about $450 per person for the entire week.
And we did all of that with the sandy beach rolling barely a hundred meters (about 330 feet) from our door, visiting at least one breathtaking historical or natural sight nearby every single day — the kind of places that are seared into our memories forever.
Smart planning is the key to unforgettable experiences
Of course, I won't pretend to myself or anyone else that trips like this fall out of the sky, because successful, affordable travel takes serious logistical work. You have to invest time and energy into planning, keep hunting for cheap flights, and stay flexible.
Even though we booked seat reservations on this Spanish trip, I balanced the costs by deliberately seeking out stunning sights that are completely free to visit — and those made up the majority of the trip. I always aim to save smartly, but never at any cost, because I'm happy to spend on unforgettable moments.
This kind of open-eyed planning works just as well at home, and we still love taking trips around our own country. But lately it feels like the world of domestic wellness hotels has become a little overvalued for us. For an active family that wants to see the world, lounging by a pool simply can't compete with the cultural buzz and sense of freedom that comes from discovering a new country or region.
How can a week abroad cost less than a weekend at home?
It comes down to smart planning: hunting for cheap flights, booking central apartments instead of pricey hotels, and choosing free or low-cost attractions. In this case, a full week in Spain came to about $450 per person.
Are apartment rentals comfortable enough for a family trip?
In the author's experience, yes — you can almost always find clean, comfortable apartments for around $60 to $90 a night for two. Booking somewhere central also helps you avoid extra costs like car rental.
Do you always need to rent a car when traveling abroad?
Not necessarily. By choosing a central, well-connected base, most important spots end up within walking distance or reachable by public transport. The author rented a car in Spain mainly for the flexibility of exploring further afield.
Is it worth giving up domestic wellness weekends entirely?
Not at all — domestic trips still have their charm. The point is to weigh what you really enjoy. For an active family that loves discovering new places, the cultural experience abroad can simply offer more value for the money.
