Tweet
Today I just booked a 2BR for next February at Westin Kierland. We had a request in for Cancun for a few weeks for the same time frame, but airfare is already $2200 + for our family of 4 (and rising), so we took the "safe" route where we can make the drive if we need to. I wondered if anyone else is doing the same? We were able to book our Oct. trip using Delta miles but usually we can't use our miles for our trips very effectively.
-
-
No change here other than trying to limit driving to a minimum both at home and on vacation. -
Actually, I was thinking airfare wasn't too gruesome, considering the price of fuel. I haven't noticed huge increases there, just the usual infuriating up-and-down pricing.
That said, we are going to Grand Cayman in July (airfare already purchased), and then I think our flying vacations are over for at least two years. We have a family of five, so the bare minimum for airfare is about $800--a big chunk of change!Comment
-
It hasn't changed our travel plans at all. I just watch for airfare on a constant basis. It becomes a hobby and a challenge.Comment
-
Still climbing
If you are thinking about flying this summer get your tickets now. Last week I purchased 2 tickets to Vegas from Virginia for a July flight at a cost of $703.00 on a Monday, On Tuesday the same tickets were $759.00. On Wednesday they were $899.00 and during the process of checking the price they went up $56.00 during the process. Glad I did not wait. At the same time I looked at going to St. Ausustine, Fl from Va and Skybus had round trip tickets for 2 at a total cost of $73.00. Who cannot refuse that deal.Comment
-
I have been managing to find airfares that rival pre 2000 fares but it becoming more difficult. Airfare <well in truth it was the taxes on the airfare> almost made me cancel our England trip last year.
So yes it is a factor.Lawren
------------------------
There are many wonderful places in the world, but one of my favourite places is on the back of my horse.
- Rolf KopfleComment
-
Yes, the economy and gas prices are having some impact on our travel plans. For 2009 I'm looking to try to find at least two destinations I can drive to rather than fly. Driving does two things for me. #1 I don't have to spend $600 to $700 in airfair (it will still cost approx. 50 gallons of gas) and #2 I don't have to pay to rent a car (savings enough to equal the cost of gas). In the past drive to vs fly to destinations haven't been that much of a concern but, with the rising cost of travel and the fact my income isn't increasing at the same rate as inflation (any wonder why people get OUT of the medical field), I feel it might be a good move to take a conservative approach.
I'm also working on calculations to determine if I'm going to keep the big vehicles I have now when their lease expires or trade them in for something more fuel effecient. The problem is we only burn 714 gallons per year, even though I have a mini-van and a mid-size SUV. If I were to double my gas milage (not as easy as you may think) and the price of gas jumps to $4/gallon, I'm only saving $1424/year. That's only $118/month. I have to find vehicles that cost me less than $118 more per month than my current payments that would only go on another 3 years past the lease expiration period if I decide to keep my current cars. Plus, those cars would be paid off a the end of those three years. With our current driving habits (only about 7,000 miles per year per vehicle) I'd only have approx. 49,000 miles per vehicle. I'd have at least another 5 years of service from these vehicles without having to make any car payments.
At some point in time I know I'm going to have to do something better than what I'm doing but, I'm not one to cut my throat financially just to make that smaller carbon foot print Al Gore (who uses FAR more carbon products than I could imagine) thinks everyone else in the world should make. Maybe I'll make a deal with John Travlota. If he gives up his personal 737 that he flies around the country in, maybe I'll give up my mini-van and mid-size SUV.
Our timeshare and other photo's at http://dougp26364.smugmug.com/Comment
-
Yes, airfare does influence vacation plans.
I have sampled airfare to cities near resorts where we may stay, just to give me an idea of cost for a future vacation plans. I would like to go to Myrtle Beach, but the airfare is higher to go there than it is to go to Florida. That cost difference may result in a selection of which resort we visit. From Minnesota, there are very few BG resorts with in reasonable driving distance, so it comes down to who (airline) and where (airport) has cheap airfare.DonComment
-
If you've never used it before, the Travelocity Dream Map is a very nice tool to show which air destinations are currently good deals---they tend to not look far enough ahead for planning a specific timeshare week/exchange, but they do give you a very good idea of seasonal trends if you watch them for a while.
Dream MapsComment
-
Oooh! I like that map thing! Thanks!Comment
-
That map is cool, I haven't seen that before.Comment
-
Yes, the cost of air travel has affected our choices. We live in the west & travel to anywhere involves fairly long distances. Like Doug says, driving means we don't have to rent a car once we arrive. It also allows us to pack more stuff. We like to cook and don't eat out often on vacation. We can save on food because we can take all the spices & condiments instead of buying them at our destination and have some nice gourmet meals complete with great Calif. wine at a fraction of the cost of something similar at a restaurant.
And, although it has gotten somewhat better, flying nowdays is such a hassle that it's not a fun part of the trip like it once was for us. We will limit our trips by air to 1 a year at most from now on. And expensive destinations like Disneyworld and Hawaii are no longer on the agenda as our disposible income shrinks.The legitimate object of Government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done but cannot do at all or cannot do so well for themselves”- LincolnComment
-
My DH, and I were kidding around the other night thinking about where to take my DD, and her girlfriend for vacation. Normally, my DH might have asked where can we drive to. This time, it was where can we walk to.
Angela
If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
BTW, I'm still keeping track of how many times you annoy me.
Comment
-
But now you know you can take the bus!
Comment
-
True!Originally posted by wackymotherBut now you know you can take the bus!
Angela
If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
BTW, I'm still keeping track of how many times you annoy me.
Comment
Comment