Planning a Family Vacation Amid Overstimulation and Inflation

Ding!... Ding!... Cue the notifications and alerts. From the moment we wake up — likely to an alarm on an iPhone — get an immediate dose of blue light and enter a barrage of rush hour traffic, to the time we crawl into bed, the notifications keep coming. There’s almost always something to do and somewhere to be.

The demands on our energy and attention rarely pause in modern society. It isn’t tough to see why so many people profess to feel overstimulated in their daily lives. We’re inundated with more sensory input than ever before in human history.

Of course, it’s not all bad. Humanity has made incredible progress. Heck, that iPhone dinging in your pocket seemed impossible to imagine just 20 years ago!

However you perceive the shift, this modern world we live in presents new challenges and desires. Many find themselves yearning for simpler times.

These days, it almost feels like you have to “unplug” completely to take a true vacation.

Navigating Vacation In an Overstimulated Society

You know that phrase when someone says they, “need a vacation from their vacation”?

It generally refers to feeling like you need additional days off after a vacation to actually relax before returning to work and the “real world”. Vacations can be downright exhausting in and of themselves.

There’s travel by plane. Making it through airports. Rental cars. Ambitious itineraries. Waiting in lines. Paying for admission. And through it all, that email from your boss that popped up on your phone (the one you tried to ignore….) is still nagging at the back of your mind.

No doubt these jam-packed trips are fun and great for making memories. However, by the end of each day, you and your family all feel completely spent.

You embark on vacation intending to take a mental break; escape the hustle and bustle and find relief from feeling overstimulated and burnt out. However, like many others you often end up with the same story, “It was an amazing trip. I just wish I had a few more days off to relax and recalibrate before going back to the grind.”

Isn’t that what the point of the vacation was in the first place?

Reflecting on the hectic, often overwhelming, lives we live, it’s worth asking yourself if what we’ve come to perceive as the quintessential family vacation — a trip to Disney World, for instance — is still the most effective means to that end.

Vacation Inflation

With inflation raising the rates of everything from theme park admission to airfare, your mind may not be the only thing that’s looking for a break from feeling overstimulated. Taking a trip with the family that doesn’t put such a heavy strain on your wallet may sound more and more appealing.

It’s easy to fall into your typical vacation go-to. Be it a Disney Vacation, Las Vegas, or an all-inclusive resort in Mexico. Have you taken stock of whether or not your go-to vacation spot is still worth it amidst the rising rates?

Furthermore, is it still serving you on a soul level? Do you still find awe in the places you go and the sights you see? Do you have enough opportunity to disconnect from daily stressors and refill your cup? Is this somewhere that you can slow down and be present with your loved ones?

Lastly, is this trip going to be worth the squeeze financially? Traveling for vacation is tough to commit to. You spend thousands of dollars on something that’s gone in a week.

Don’t get me wrong, investing in experiences is one of the most enriching things we can do in life. However, in a period when most people are trying to stretch every dollar as far as it can go, maybe it’s a good time to play the long game with your vacation strategy.

The cost of purchasing something like a camper or rooftop tent may feel intimidating upfront. However, when you break it down that one-time investment is a minor fraction of the cost that goes into a single Disney vacation.

Unlike a plane ticket or a day pass to a theme park, a rooftop tent or RV is an investment you make once that continues to pay off for years to come. The trip requires some buy-in. But once you’ve purchased a rooftop tent for your vehicle, your family has a hub and a comfortable bed to sleep in for every road trip, camping trip, and family vacation to come.

Comparing Costs: What’s More Worth It, a Trip to Disney World or Buying a New Rooftop Tent?

According to AllEars, a leading resource for all things Disney vacation planning and news, by 2025, Disney World’s prices will have increased an average of 91% over the last 10 years. This accounts for everything from day passes and snacks to prix fixe dinner menus and accommodations.

Let’s take a peek at what that looks like in 2024.

Major Expenses When Planning a Trip to Disney World in 2024

Airfare: $367.79 is the average price of a single round-trip airline ticket within the U.S. in 2024.
Disney World Admission: Single-day admission varies by date, but ranges between $109-$164 per person ages 10 years and older.
Accommodations: Throughout 2024 the nightly rate at Disney's All-Star Movies Resort, considered one of the more affordable or “value” lodging options at the park, ranges from $133 to $342 a night. That includes taxes and resort fees
Meals:

Breakfast: A family of four would need to budget about $117 for three breakfasts throughout the trip. Kids meals at the World Premiere Food Court inside Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort cost about $7.50 each. Adults can expect to spend about $12 per meal. This does not include a tip.
Lunch: You’ll spend approximately $138 on lunches for the family. Lunch and dinner at the World Premiere Food Court averages about $8 per meal for kids and $14.99 per adult.
Dinner: Assuming your family only dines outside of the resort for one meal, expect to budget at least $358 for three nights of dining. Cinderella’s Royal Table inside the park offers prix fixe menus. The cost is $84 for each adult and $49 per child. The dinner menu at the World Premiere Food Court is the same as the lunch menu.
Meals and snacks in the airport aren’t accounted for in this estimate. However, everyone knows the sting of watching the cashier ring up $24 for a lackluster bagel and stale coffee. Food and beverages purchased inside airports are typically marked up 10-15% from the “street price” you’d pay anywhere else.

All in, considering major expenses only for a family of four, a 4-day, 3-night trip to Disney World sets you back minimally::

$1,471 on airfare
$436-$656 on park admission if you only spend one day of the trip inside Disney World
$399-$1,026 for accommodations at the All-Star Movies Resort
$613 for meals and dining, not including tips or alcoholic beverages
Totaling: $2,919-$3,766

With that in mind, let’s look at comparable major expenses when purchasing a rooftop tent for your family vacation — for instance, to take off on a classic American family road trip.

Major Expenses When Planning a Camping Trip in a Rooftop Tent

If you’re into theme parks… have you tried National Parks?

All jokes aside, I wouldn’t hesitate to bet that the majority of people who’ve hiked Arches National Park in Utah, marveled at the Dawn Wall in Yosemite, or stargazed from atop a massive dune at southern Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes would argue that our National Parks are in fact the most magical places on earth.

But how does visiting a national park with the family and staying in your own rooftop tent stack up against a trip to Disney World?

On March 27, 2024, The Vacationer surveyed 1,066 American adults to gauge the outlook for domestic travel and vacation patterns over the summer. Based on the results of this survey

21.20% of Americans surveyed planned to take a road trip within 100 miles of their home.
Only 8.44% of those surveyed intended to take a road trip vacation within 1,000 miles of their home.
5.82% intended to take a road trip more than 1,000 miles away from home.

For the sake of estimating fuel expenses, let’s imagine that this theoretical road trip is to national park within 500 miles of your home — making it a 1,000-mile round trip.

Here is a rough estimate of major expenses when purchasing a rooftop tent for camping in a national park.

Fuel: As of the time of writing (mid-September 2024) the national average gas price is $3.20 per gallon for regular-grade and $3.68 for mid-grade. Assuming your vehicle gets an average of 18 miles per gallon, you’d need to budget around $178 round trip for regular and $204 for mid-grade.
Park Admission and Camping Fees: Camping and entry fees vary amongst the National Parks.

Camping in Glacier National Park costs $10-$25 per night for drive-in sites with a single vehicle.
In Rocky Mountain National Park, a standard front country campsite can be reserved for $30-$35 per night.
Grand Canyon National Park’s popular campgrounds like the Mather Campground, Desert View Campground, and North Rim Campground cost $18 per night for a single-vehicle campsite.
Many national parks, including the above-listed ones, do not charge an additional vehicle entry fee when you purchase a campsite reservation.

Rooftop Tent: Freespirit Recreation’s High Country V2 King foldout rooftop tent comfortably sleeps a family of 4 and is currently on sale for $2,970 (regular rate: $3,495).
Meals: According to the USDA, a family of four with two kids ages 6-8, spend about $294.50 a week on an moderate grocery budget. The great thing about camping in national parks is that you can save money by bringing your own food to cook in the provided grills and fire rings.

Accounting for a 4-day, 3-night road trip including one dinner at an upscale casual restaurant (in Yosemite National Park for this example’s sake), your family of four would need to budget:

About $112 in groceries to pack for three breakfasts, three lunches, and two dinners.
You could dine at The Mountain Room in Yosemite and spend approximately $62.50. Kids meals cost $9.25 each. Dinner entrees run between $15.50 and $26 for adults. This doesn’t include tip.

Considering major expenses for a family of four, including purchasing a brand new 4-person rooftop tent, a 4-day 3-night family road trip spent camping in a national park will run you about:

$178-$204 for fuel
$30-$105 to reserve a campsite for 3-nights in a National Park like Glacier, Rocky Mountain, or the Grand Canyon
$2,970 to invest in a 4-person rooftop tent
$174.50 for meals and dining, not including tips or alcoholic beverages
Totaling: $3,352-$3,453

A Vacation You Don’t have to Recover From

There’s no doubt about it. Sometimes you just have to take the vacation to Disney World. It’s a core childhood experience that many parent’s want to offer their kids at least once, and it certainly is magic in its own right.

However in a world as hectic and demanding — both mentally and financially — as the one we live in, do you find yourself aching for something more low key?

Buying a rooftop tent is an investment that about mirrors the cost of a 4-day Disney vacation if you only spend one of those days inside Disney World. However, after that first road trip is done and dusted, your new rooftop tent is still there. Owning a rooftop tent opens up the door for countless affordable family vacations down the road.

Having a rooftop tent essentially transforms your daily commuter or family vehicle into a popup camper. With a model like the High Country V2 King, you can comfortably sleep a family of four on a mattress that’s even larger than a standard king size bed. It’s lightweight, low profile, and durable enough that you can leave it mounted to your daily driver so it’s ready to go when you are.

If you’re exhausted with feeling overstimulated and financially stretched, changing the way your family vacations could be the breath of fresh air you need.

Trade standing in theme park lines for hiking to natural wonders. Swap the rush of adrenaline you get from plummeting on the Tower of Terror for the sheer awe felt when taking in a sunrise in Yosemite Valley. Give up evenings spent in a hotel room swiping on phone screens for real connection; sharing stories around the campfire and stargazing from your rooftop tent.

Rooftop tent accommodations might not sound as glamorous as the Magic Kingdom, but I’m inclined to believe it’s what many of us crave in the age of overstimulation. A vacation that you don’t need a vacation to recuperate from.

Vacation should be a time to step away from the clamor of daily life. Rest, refuel, and reconnect. Who knows, once you get a taste of sleeping under the stars in your own cozy rooftop tent you may never care to shell out for resort accommodations again.