How To Go On Vacation In The Sims

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Where Can Sims Go On Vacation?

How To Win Vacation Points And Awards

Back in 2002, The Sims took a big step by adding a feature we might now take for granted: Vacations. The Sims: Vacation (or On Holiday, depending on where you played it) introduced Sims to family holidays spent in hotels, tents, or igloos.

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These cheats are tried and tested in the re-release anniversary editions of The Sims 1 and 2.

Thanks to The Sims: Legacy Edition, an anniversary re-release of the game’s older titles, it’s easier than ever for Simmers to explore everything the franchise’s original series has to offer. Luckily for your Sims, that includes hitting the slopes, playing in the sand, and being at one with nature. Let’s dive in.

How To Go On Vacation

A Sim on the beach on Vacation Island, speaking on the phone at the taxi rank.

Going on vacation is easy if your Sims own a home phone. Select the phone, then select Call Cab. Then, select Go On Vacation. A pop-up will appear asking if you would like to review the current Island Getaway Package. Select yes, and wait for your cab to arrive.

You have to go on vacation from your home lot. You can’t use taxi ranks on community lots.

Pretty much your whole household will go, including any cats or dogs. The only members who can’t come are babies and small animals.

How Much Does It Cost To Go On Vacation?

Booking your vacation will set you back 500 Simoleons, before you pay for lodging or rent anything to make your trip more comfortable.

A Sim shopping on vacation. A 500 simoleon figure is over her head.

In addition, there are a few add-ons you can purchase:

Tents and igloos, which can be found at either campground or on Sunset Beach, cost 79 Simoleons a night and sleep two Sims at a time.
Sims renting a room in a hotel or lodge pay 40 Simoleons per person, per night. Each Sim is given a key which can be used in any room in the building.

Luckily for your Sim’s furry friends, pets stay for free. It does cost five Simoleons each time they each from a public bowl, though.

Tents and igloo rentals will automatically expire at 11am each morning, meaning that Sims can’t re-enter until it’s hired again. Sims staying in hotels or lodges will also need to check out by 11am to avoid being charged for an extra night, but they need to do this manually at the front desk.

Your Sims also need to budget for food when they’re away. Plates of food from buffet tables cost 25 Simoleons, and drinks at the bar range cost up to 15 Simoleons.

How Long Can Sims Go On Vacation For?

Your Sims can vacation for as long as they want. So long as you have enough money to keep paying for lodgings, then there’s no real limit. When your Sim is ready to go home, you can just select a taxi rank on any lot and choose Go Home under the Call Cab menu.

Does Going On Vacation Affect My Sim’s Career?

A sim fishing at the campground on Vacation Island, surrounded by tents.

Working Sims don’t get personal time off, weekends, or holidays in The Sims. Taking a vacation is the only way your Sims can get a real break without leaving their job entirely. Thankfully though, your Sims’ career performance isn’t affected by their time away.

In fact, it could even give them the perfect opportunity to spend time building the skills they need or networking and making friends so that they’re ready to climb the ladder quicker when they go home.

Where Can Sims Go On Vacation?

Sims at the beach, one in the pool and the other at the bar.

Your Sims can book a getaway to the aptly named Vacation Island: a neighbourhood with three completely distinct areas to choose from.

Once you’re on Vacation Island, you can travel freely between each area at no extra charge. However, you’ll arrive wearing whatever you wore in the last place you visited, so make sure to use a changing tent to dress appropriately. You don’t want to wear a swimsuit in the snow.

Every lot on Vacation Island is a community lot, meaning that other Sims besides your household will be there too.

Beach Area

The south side of Vacation Island features volleyball courts, fishing piers, golden sands, and a pixelated sea.

There are three lots your Sims can visit around here:

Name	Description	Amenities	Location
Reclaimed Public Beach	This is a sandy seafront lot that’s ideal for day trips away from your Sim’s lodgings.	Portapotties Sinks Grills Pet bowls Fishing Pier Carnival Games Changing tents Food stall Volleyball court	46 Lagoon Moon Road
Sunset Beach	As the campground of Lagoon Moon Road, your Sims can come here to rent pre-pitched tents, relax in a hot tub, or take a few laps of the pool.	Toilets and sinks Showers Litterbox Firepits Souvenirs Children’s play area Swimming pool Changing tent Tents Pet beds Pet bowls Food stall Fishing pier Bar area Hot tubs Buffet table	47 Lagoon Moon Road
Palazzo Palms Hotel	This beach resort offers a more private stay for Sims who would rather not be woken up by Marky Sharky partying outside their tent.	Private rooms Double and single beds Ensuite bathrooms Swimming pool Arcade Carnival games Hot tubs Children’s play area Changing tents and dressers Souvenirs Public bathroom Dog bath Pet beds Pet bowls	48 Lagoon Moon Road

The Reclaimed Public Beach lot is the only place where Sims can’t sleep on their vacation. Instead, you’ll need to check in to Palazzo Palms Hotel or grab a tent at Sunset Beach once you’re done there.

Forest Area

The centre of Vacation Island features a wooded area somewhat reminiscent of The Sims 4’s Granite Falls. Activities in the area include archery and water balloon fights.

Similarly to the island’s beach area, these lots are found along Lagoon Moon Road:

Name	Description	Amenities	Location
Wren’s Fens National Park	Vacation Island’s National Park barely just offers the necessities, but Sims can try to enjoy the great outdoors here.	A tent Fire pit Portapotties Sink Firepit Grill Pet bowls Dog house	45 Lagoon Moon Road
Ranger’s Ranch Campground	This small campground offers a little more to vacationers, giving Sims more of a chance to avoid a visit from the Tragic Clown.	Tents Changing tents Archery Grills Portapotties Sinks Archery Water balloons Fishing pier Pet bowls Doghouses Dog bath Showers	44 Lagoon Moon Road
Bear Essentials Lodge	These log cabins give your Sims the glamping experience where they can enjoy archery, fishing, and sleeping in an actual bed.	Private cabins Double and single beds Ensuite bathrooms Dressers Souvenirs Buffet tables Grills Portapotties Hot tub Archery Volleyball court Water balloons Firepit Children’s play area Pet beds Pet bowls Dog bath	43 Lagoon Moon Road

Alpine Summit Area

The last stop on Vacation Island is the snowy mountains in the map’s northernmost region. This area introduces three more lots, this time along Old Volcano Way:

Name	Description	Amenities	Location
Alpine Preserve	Sims can have a snowy escape by camping out in igloos and enjoying snowball fights.	Igloos Dog houses Toilets Sinks Showers Mirrors Litterbox Firepit Grill Changing tent Fishing pier	40 Old Volcano Way
Penguin Acres Campground	Active and Playful Sims rejoice as this cold campground offers igloos, carnival fun, and snowboarding.	Igloos Toilets Showers Sinks Changing tent Pet bowls Dog houses Grills Food stall Snowboarding half-pipe Carnival games Souvenirs Archery Firepit Children’s play area	41 Old Volcano Way
Al Pine’s Winter Wonderland	For Sims who don’t want to brave roughing it in the cold, this lot gives them the chance to get close up to the snow before retreating to the warmth of the lodge.	Private rooms Double beds Dressers Ensuite bathrooms Arcade/games room Snowball fort Buffet tables Dog houses Pet beds Pet bowls Dog bath Souvenirs Public bathroom Snowboarding half-pipe Snowball fort Snow slide Hot tubs	42 Old Volcano Way

Igloos function much the same as tents, giving Sims a space to sleep in.

How To Choose Where To Stay

When your Sim is first booking their holiday, you’ll see an overview map of Vacation Island, similar to what you see when you travel to a different lot. Almost every lot on Vacation Island has lodging available, save for the aforementioned Reclaimed Public Beach, so you aren’t short of choice. You can filter the map view to only show lots with lodging. Just click the button on the toolbar with the book icon.

Sims on vacation in the snow with igloos and snow sports equipment.

The main thing to decide is whether your Sims want to camp or stay in a brick-and-mortar (or wood) building. Your budget might also decide this for you, so keep that in mind.

If you’re traveling with pets, make sure to scout out if the facilities are up to scratch for them. Cats can be particularly problematic to travel with, as they won’t sleep in dog houses, which are used instead of pet beds in a few places.

You might want to choose your destination based on your Sim’s personality, too. More Active Sims might prefer lots with pools or winter sports facilities, for example.

If you’re playing with multiple different households across your save file, you won’t be able to have different households visiting the same location. You’ll need to make sure to send other Sims home from vacation or move them to another lot before it’ll work.

How To Win Vacation Points And Awards

Two Sims on vacation, one snowboarding, the other relaxing.

While holidaying, your Sims may have met Vacation Director Kana, an NPC wearing a captain’s hat. She hangs out on vacation lots to answer questions and give out advice. Another thing she gives out is the Vacation Awards. Sims who visit Vacation Island secretly gain Vacation Points for generally being in a good mood and doing festive activities.

A pop-up in The Sims where Kana is explaining Vacation Awards.

If a household generates enough Vacation Points, they can be given one of three awards, depending on the area they’re visiting:

The Golden Sun Award (Beach)
The Golden Pine Cone Award (Forest)
Alpine Antiquity Snow Globe (Alpine Summit)

If you want your Sims to come home with more than a suntan (or snow burn), try keeping your Sims happy and doing activities like archery, snowboarding, or building sandcastles.

This might be harder than it sounds, partially given to the steep difficult curve of The Sims 1, and partially due to how few items are included in some lodgings.