Luxury Travel: It’s More Affordable than you Think

Eight years ago, I vividly remember sending a link to my in-laws’ text group to this incredible mansion on 30A. It was more than $20k for the week. Hah! I thought “yea right, I wish.” The conversation was dreamy but ultimately I pushed it into the bucket of my mind that held the dreams of the mega rich. Hey, a girl can window shop all day long, right? After the moment passed, I didn’t give it another thought.

Fast forward to a few months into the pandemic. I received a text from a fellow nurse and fire wife who wanted to know if my family would drop everything to get away for a week in this mega mansion for dirt cheap. Her husband somehow convinced the owner to grant us a one-week reprieve from the front lines to escape the pandemic lockdowns, and did so at a steep discount. We were a collection of friends comprised of nurses and firemen and we wanted an escape. Being the travel junky that I am, I texted my husband and within two hours we made some shift trades and we were in. Honestly, it seemed too good to be true. This was the same type of home I shared with my in-laws that seemed so out of reach just a few years prior. Ultimately, the deal fell through due to some pretty strict rental restrictions bestowed upon Florida renters at the time, but the owner made it up to us and honored the same discount that fall break. This trip started what has now become an annual fall break tradition on 30A (skipping 2021 for another luxury rental in gatlinburg). While the discount is no longer, we continue to book with Echelon Luxury Properties because among a number of reasons, we quickly realized how affordable this dream vacation actually was even without the discount!

I returned today from my third vacation booked with Echelon Luxury Properties, a rental company along Florida’s 30A that has consistently exceeded my expectations with its high end accommodations. This year’s stay did not disappoint and we are already planning our next fall break. We stayed just steps from Miramar beach and left with our hearts full.

The Lap of Luxury: The House That Has it All

From a massive heated pool to an infinity hot tub, this house was a paradise within reach. The outdoor area boasted poolside swim-up chairs, a flat-screen TV for our sports enthusiast husbands, and a dining space perfect for sunset feasts. With seven king suite style bedrooms, including three kids’ bunk rooms, every member of our party found their own slice of comfort. The 4th floor game room was a paradise for the teenage boys; complete with a pool table, foosball table, pinball machine and even pac man (Blake’s favorite). There’s an elevator available in case you find yourself climbing one too many stair cases by day two, or maybe just one too many dirty martinis. I found my way to the rooftop terrace on more than one morning to soak in some early morning sun while reading one of the many of the books I brought. All three of our stays with Echelon have included a 6-seater golf cart and 6 bike rentals free with the accommodations. The wives have made it a tradition to bike our way to Barnes & Noble to restock our TBR mid week.

A Culinary Affair: Firehouse Meals Saving Time and Money

Cooking for 25+ people sounds like a disaster right? It is actually incredibly seamless and has multiple benefits. For starters, every night we prepare dinner at the house ends up saving us a minimum of 2-3 hours of our precious vacation time. Think about it. You don’t have to shower and get ready for a meal because you can simple grab a towel or coverup and head up to the kitchen. No one cares that you hair has sand in it or your makeup was replaced by sunscreen.

Have you ever dined on 30A? Every restaurant on this highway carries a 45-90 minute wait at dinner time during school breaks. Large groups? Better just move on. Preparing fire house style meals gives you this time back and keeps several hundred dollars in your pocket too. Theme nights, like Italian or taco night, make planning even easier. We follow fire house rules too, which means if you don’t cook then you clean up and vice versa. Everyone rotates pitching in, ultimately ensuring we enjoy restaurant-quality meals every night while sharing the work load.

The mother of this whole operation; Ashly, shops for all the dry goods, laundry soap, snacks, paper towels etc typically where bulk is cheaper at Costco in Indiana. We save shopping for most of the perishables the evening we all arrive. The first night’s dinner has always been pizza. Considering we drive to the panhandle from central Indiana, it’s the only option any of us ever has energy for. We leave two dinners for dining out options because who doesn’t love a good sunset meal on the beach at least once during vacation.

Typical breakfast and lunch options are purchased for the group as well. Historically, we have had more than enough dinner leftovers to cover lunches if you want more than a turkey sand which. Fancier firehouse style breakfasts are covered at least twice during the week, otherwise families trickle through the morning routine at various times to fend for themselves.

Want to make planning for a group even easier? Click here to grab our exact grocery list and meal plan to feed 7 families. We have used this same list all three years and has worked well to feed our entire group.

The Economic Edge: Luxury Travel on a Budget

Believe it or not, luxury travel is more affordable than you might think. This year, we paid $2162 per family for a week during peak season (fall break). Last year was similar. Our groceries and essentials historically have been $35-45 per person, though this year was $67 per person due a combination of inflation, the addition of adding in pricier gluten free options, and having two less families than usual due to unforeseen circumstances. Compare that to last year’s spring break, where our basic two-bedroom condo cost us over $3100, not including nightly meals. Our family easily racks up $100+ bill for dinner for four on the beach each night. If memory serves me, we dined in only twice on spring break last year. Considering the amount you spend at Publix in a tourist town for a small family (not shopping bulk), the cost break down is pretty similar to going out so when it’s just our small family unit so we opt to dine out more than in. All considered, we dropped nearly $4k on a three star stay and a shared community pool (don’t even get me started on the local Karen who harassed us the entire week). If given the option and the availability of friends to share it with, I will choose luxury group vacations every single time.

For my Introverts: Finding Joy in Group Getaways

As an introvert, I was initially hesitant about sharing a space with so many families. Now it’s my favorite way to travel with kids. In a five story house with so many amenities, a private pool and a nearby beach, it is rare to find everyone in one area of the house simultaneously throughout the week outside of mealtime. I assure you, the introvert inside you will not feel overwhelmed.

It ends up feeling like a true vacation when you have the amenities at your disposal for relaxation, friends to socialize with, and other children to distract your own. Mom shame me all you want, but if I have to entertain my children the entire time I am on vacation, that is called a trip, not a vacation. I know you’ve been there! Spending all week chasing kids, missing out on the beach in order to preserve nap time, dreading the next day because the restaurant you dined at had your toddler waiting up until 10 pm every night. I would be ending the week feeling frazzled and exhausted. Not once did my kids claim boredom last week. Bedtime for my toddler was preserved and I never felt the FOMO of being stuck in the condo during a nap time while the rest of my humans were at the beach. Instead, I finished three books this week and got a phenomenal tan. Because Blake stayed on a decent sleep schedule, we were able to skip naps on the beach days and power through to an earlier bedtime. I left today feeling rested and carefree, the hallmarks of a great vacation. My children made so many memories that I know they will want to recreate with their own children some day.

A Hassle-Free Getaway: Tips for Seamless Planning

Now that I have lived a new luxury travel reality (four years now and counting), I share this way of travel with all of my friends. In fact, when two of our families were unable to make it this year very last minute, I reached out to several of my friends who were distraught that they could not get the time off work to join us due to short notice. They were floored that such an incredible vacation could be so affordable and requested that they get an invite next year. As noted earlier: to make your future luxury vacation planning even easier, I have provided our detailed meal plan and grocery list for the themed dinners we enjoyed each night. You can print this instant download and use it to a T or alter it for food allergies / preferences.

For those interested in experiencing the same level of luxury, I would encourage you to check out the many luxury rentals along 30A. We have stayed in three luxury ELP locations along 30A and loved them all! Check them out here: Soggy Dollar (most recent stay), Seas Above the Rest, & Paradise at Park Row.

Be sure to head over to my blog to read about some of my other favorite destination vacations. Check out my entire library of downloads available for purchase here. For more travel content you can follow me on my instagram

Echelon Luxury Properties has once again proven that luxury travel is within grasp, even for those of us who don’t have bottomless pocketbooks. With careful planning and the right group of companions, you too can enjoy a week of extravagance without breaking the bank.