Colin and Rhonda, you nailed it. Is the reward (tangible or non) worth the cost? For those of us who enjoy the sea, the reef, and most of all the people, we are more than willing to pay a little more. If you want a cheaper vacation you can definitely find it, but you get what you pay for (if you are very lucky). I could spend a week in my car, at a rest stop on the freeway for virtually nothing, but I wouldn't call it a vacation.

Been there, done that, the washing machine ate the T-shirt