Poll: Finances will keep many home. And most who'll travel aren't going far.
The number of vacationing Americans will be down this summer, according to a new poll – and one-third of those surveyed said they had already canceled at least one trip this year because of financial concerns.
Overall, the AP-GfK Roper poll found 42 percent of Americans plan a leisure trip this summer – down from the 49 percent who said they planned a summer trip in an AP-Ipsos poll conducted in May 2005.
Not surprisingly, the less money you make, the less likely you are to take a vacation. More than two-thirds of those in the $100,000-plus bracket will take some type of leisure trip this summer, compared to 48 percent of those earning $50,000 to $100,000.
Just one-third of those with family incomes under $50,000 plan a vacation trip.
In terms of destinations, 12 percent of those planning a trip said they would stay in their home state, 67 percent will go to another state and 19 percent will travel outside the U.S.
The poll also found that 20 percent of those planning a summer trip will stay closer to home this year due to economic worries; 23 percent will save money by staying with friends or family instead of a hotel.
Despite the downturn, travel bargains are tempting a small number of people – mostly upper-income – to take bigger and better trips. About 7 percent of all Americans and 18 percent of those earning more than $100,000 said they would take more elaborate trips than usual because of lower prices.
Arch Woodside, a professor of marketing at Boston College who specializes in tourism, described the overall decrease in summer travel as “a substantial drop” that will have a significant impact on the industry, especially in places like Florida and New York City where tourism is big business.
Woodside said travel could shrink even more next year as new economic realities sink in.
“Most people unconsciously maintain their lifestyles immediately after a big drop in their economic well-being: an ‘I'm going to be all right' response,” Woodside said. “The impact of their new lower economic reality becomes conscious reality in the second year following a big change.”
Age-wise, 30- to 49-year-olds were most likely to travel, with 48 percent planning a trip. Among those ages 18-29, 43 percent said they would travel, and among those ages 50-64, 41 percent plan a trip.
The real drop-off is among older folks: Just 34 percent of those 65 or older plan to travel this summer.
Provence, France
In stunning Les Baux, Provence, skip the beautiful but expensive hotels at the base of the village and opt instead for the more distinctive — and remarkably affordable — three-room Le Prince Noir, built into the rock at the top of the village. You will have the evocatively lit village to yourself at night (along with the cats and a few hundred residents), an incomparable view, a fabulous breakfast on the roof, and something truly priceless: the chance to sleep next to works of art by some of France's most famous 20th-century painters. The Black Prince's modest owners don't advertise this privilege, but if you inquire gently, they will regale you with the story of their parents' wartime bicycle escape to Southern France and their fashioning with their bare hands of this house of rock as a refuge for their artist friends — some of whom left behind tokens of their esteem. How incredible that the owners share these objects of love with guests.
Paris
Even Parisians haven't heard of the Musée des Arts Forains, located in the Pavillons de Bercy in southeastern Paris. Visiting the museum is like stepping into a 19th-century fairground, with the music, the artistry, and beautifully restored pieces from old fairs, including a gorgeous carousel. The museum is interactive and entirely enchanting — an incredibly visual experience, and one that also appeals to your other senses. It's also very close to terrific eating spots in the Parc de Bercy.
New York City
If you want fewer crowds and the best Italian food in New York City, go to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. Mike's Deli in the market area has been featured on the Food Network and has the best eggplant Parmigiana that I have ever had. Madonia Brothers Bakery has 'to-die-for' cannoli. Arthur Avenue is where it's at for great New York Italian food at lower prices.
Barcelona
Recommended is the Hotel Costanza, a chic, modern spot conveniently located in the Eixample district, of Barcelona. Be sure to ask for a room with a terrace, where you can sip cava — a bargain at $5 a bottle — and nibble on olives stuffed with anchovies.
Mexico
You can charter a plane with Aerosaab from Cancún or Playa del Carmen airport to Isla Holbox, a small island north of Cancún. The island has secluded, pristine beaches and a charming small town square. Many of the bed-and-breakfast accommodations are family-owned. From June to September, you can snorkel with the whale sharks that visit the island this time of year to feed on the abundant plankton. Whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean. Have your hotel arrange this with a local tour operator. It's an experience you will never forget!
San Francisco
Most people who go to the Outer Richmond district of San Francisco go to Seal Rock or Golden Gate Park. However, one of the most delightful afternoons can be had in between. On Geary and 23rd, go to Ton Kiang restaurant for the best dim sum in the city. Not cheap, but worth it — don't miss the amazing desserts, like egg custard tart and mango pudding. When you're done, walk a few blocks to 27th and try Wonderfoot for the best foot massage you've ever had — at unbelievable prices. Do the 70-minute session for $30: They start at your scalp and do 15 minutes of head, neck, shoulders, and arms, then 15 minutes per foot. As if you aren't blissed out by then, they finish by doing some more work on your back and shoulders. After all that, just think how nice it will be to listen to the seals at Seal Rock or walk through the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.
Los Angeles
The Huntington Museum and Gardens is one of the best-kept secrets in Los Angeles. It's 207 acres of truly great art (including Blue Boy by Gainsborough) in a gorgeous turn-of-the-century setting (the Myron Hunt–designed home of Henry and Arabella Huntington), huge extraordinary gardens (Chinese, Japanese, English, Australian, Desert, and more), and probably the best English garden teahouse in America. In the brand-new Chinese Garden, you feel as though you are in the Summer Palace in Beijing. Don't forget the spectacular gift shop, filled with museum pieces, gifts, and books you will find nowhere else. Most important: the English teahouse, in the middle of the most gorgeous rose garden this side of England. It serves a sensational buffet of dozens of sandwiches, salads, cheeses, homemade scones, and the most amazing desserts in Los Angeles.
London
Near the British Museum, the world-famous James Smith & Sons Umbrella Shop was founded in 1830 and is still owned and run as a family business. For more than 175 years the company has been making umbrellas, sticks, and canes for both ladies and gentlemen, and its reputation as the home of the London umbrella is well justified. The historic and beautiful shop is on New Oxford Street in the heart of London's West End and is a stunning reminder of the Victorian period. The shop retains the original fittings designed and made by the master craftsman employed by the business and is a work of art in itself.Another fare sale?? You don't need to be a LA Dodgers fan to enjoy this one, but it helps! JetBlue Welcome Back #99!
My friend Cindy. has worked about every stage of hospitality, from the hotel front desk, all the way up to operations and beyond. She used to train hotel reservationists to keep you on the phone and negotiate prices... and she knows better than anyone how to work the system.
Here are seven hot tips to getting the best deal possible in hotels with three or more stars.
1. Book directly with the hotel. This can be tricky, so call the hotel front desk and ask to speak with the “on-site reservationist.”
Use these words to avoid being sent to the reservations 1-800-number, which is generally a separate company that is never open to negotiation and can’t access the best deal for you. Booking online can get you a good deal, but you can’t negotiate, and you’ll likely be placed in a lower-quality room.
Never pay tourist prices again when you travel.
Whether your next trip is your first or your hundredth, you can be the person who is "in the know" when it comes to grabbing the very best bargain airfares… the rental car upgrades at no additional cost… even hotel rates so good that the hotel's reservation staff doesn't always know about them.
2. Appeal to the “human factor” for negotiating power. Once you get an on-site reservationist on the phone, let her know why you’re excited to go to that hotel. Going on your honeymoon? Let your excitement show. Most reservationists want your business... but they also want to make you happy.
3. Be nice. If you ask Professional Travel Agents what hotel workers would want the public to know, they say, “If you’re nice, you’re much more likely to get what you want. If you’re unkind, you’ll pay full price for the room by the elevator.”
4. Ask for the price you want. Most reservationists are trained to keep you on the phone. Three phrases they respond to are: “That rate’s a bit much,” “I’m going to look around,” and “I’ll call you back.” Go ahead and let your reservationist know that you’re looking for something cheaper.
5. Try someone else. If you still don’t get the deal you’re looking for, call back a few hours later to see if you can catch someone from the next shift (if it’s someone else from the same shift, it might not work). Last time we booked a room, we tried this, and by talking to a second person it saved us $80 a night.
6. Ask for a nicer room. If you’re already getting a discount, you’ll be less likely to get upgraded to a nicer room for free. But, if you didn’t get a discount, you can try paying the standard rate and asking for a room upgrade. Specify that you’d like to get a room away from the elevator, if possible (elevator rooms are noisy). And tell the reservationist why. Do you have insomnia? Or maybe a job interview early in the morning? Stating a reason for your request often helps in the persuasion process.
7. Sniff out freebies. All Professional Travel Specialists will tell you the first rule to getting freebies from hotels is to avoiding using the word “free.” It won’t get you on your reservationist’s good side. Instead, try asking for a “Bed and Breakfast Rate,” which (at some hotels) gives you a 10% discount and a free breakfast. Or, if you’re booking more than one room, but not enough to qualify for a group rate, try asking your reservationist for complimentary drink tickets for the bar.
Well it was bound to happen sooner or later and somebody had to be the first one to make the move. Lil' Ol Southwest Airlines triggered a massive air fare war on Friday (January 23, 2009) by announcing super-cheap seats to almost everywhere it flies for travel before March 11, 2009. As the Associated Press points out, its competitors swiftly followed suit, with American Airlines, Continental, JetBlue, and Delta slashing their own prices to match Southwest's fares, which start at $49 to $99 each way. Even U.S. Airways, the company that leads the pack and normally wouldn't budge on prices, jumped into the bargain blitz as well. We're thinking that the airline executives who lowered their prices did so reluctantly, and are probably a little miffed at Southwest for forcing their hands to do so. Nonetheless, with both business and leisure travel declining along with the economy, they must have figured out it will take some serious savings to keep people flying through this recession. Hopefully this will work out. Of course, pain for the airlines equals opportunities for everyone else, so we're definitely going to scan the schedules to see if we can afford to fly someplace warm for a little late-winter get-away to recharge our batteries.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
