Yup, that's the problem I have with travelling to America - it's the initial fares that are the killer. Once in Europe you can travel dirt cheap, even though it's bargain basement conditions.
My cousin may be coming over from Oz in the New Year and once she gets to Paris (where she has a friend) she can get a coach to London for £9. That's cheaper than it costs me to get to London from Aylesbury!
When I was lottery-dreaming I was trying to work out how to see Sarge as well as the Philly Dwellars without paying airfare. Megabus, train travel and Greyhound are such bargains! You just gotta get there first.
All I can say is that it's not the location that makes the holiday (sez me who has been to Cuba, Sri Lanka, Egypt etc
) it's family and attitude. And you have good ones in each case.
Can't you go to Vegas and blow all your travelling money?
You might come back in a Lear jet. Or hitch...