Maximizing Vacation ROI
By the time you’re reading this, I’ll be heading into my second winter, spending over a month in Latin America with my family.
It still feels a little unconventional to say that out loud. But it’s become one of the highest-ROI decisions we make all year.
These aren’t really vacations. They’re experiences.
Last year, the return looked like this:
- My kids learned Spanish
- We lived like locals
- We ate dinner in Argentine homes
- Everyone came home with a broader perspective
This year in Costa Rica:
- Visiting regenerative farms
- A week-long soccer camp with local kids
- More language, more culture, more real-world learning
At work, we talk about ROI constantly. It matters. But not every return shows up neatly in a spreadsheet.
When it comes to family travel, the ROI is obvious to me:
- Undivided time together
- Fewer screens, more presence
- Memories that stick
- Coming home recharged and clearer
I’ve done the all-inclusive thing. Pools, resorts, chicken tenders and the pool bar by noon. Those trips were great, and my kids still talk about them.
But for me, I need more than just good times.
When you fully immerse in another culture, you get the same joy and memories, plus something deeper. Perspective.
And in the world our kids are growing up in, that kind of perspective feels like one of the best investments we can make.
