Will high energy costs curtail vacations ?

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Not for us who are locked into vacationing on a use it or lose it basis, but for the general renting public. It seems to me that there will be pressure to skip the vacation this summer, particularly where auto travel is highly involved.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Not for us who are locked into vacationing on a use it or lose it basis, but for the general renting public. It seems to me that there will be pressure to skip the vacation this summer, particularly where auto travel is highly involved.

I think you are probably right. Not only is driving to your location going to cost you a fortune, people will already be broke by the time summer gets here.

Me, my husband, and my daughter all own SUV's. We are averaging 12 miles to the gallon traveling around Long Island, 18 Miles on the highway....Ouch.... My daughter is a new driver, and loves to take joy rides....that's gonna stop real soon.

I won't be giving up any vacations, however, I will think twice before driving into the city on weekends for dinner, or shopping. It's really getting crazy.

[short Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close short]

I'm driving a Prius

I'm driving a Prius now at about 45 mpg on the highway. My only complaint so far is the seats are not as comfortable for long distances. I need more lumbar support.

The solar heating is starting to kick in now so I'll be by the pool at home catching some rays.

Short

[Oracle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Oracle]

If the prices remain high the people might forego vacations because they have had to dip into their budget to pay for gas to go to work. I don't think it's the cost of the gas for the vacation, it's the day to day drain for the necessary travel that will deplete the vacation fund.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

not only the price at the pump but the trickle down of these cost increases into other goods we require like food.

I'm still waiting for some brainiac to explain why the cost of living indexes ( indicies?) exclude food & fuel. I mean if we can't heat our homes or eat we won't live very long will we.

I might not be as likely to grab a Smuggs if I see one <big if> as that would be 10 hours of driving and +/- $60 in gas round-trip but we will go to the vacations we have planned. None of them are horribly far this year. One in Brigantine Beach and one in Ocean City, MD.

I am grateful for my Accord which gets between 25 & 30 mpg.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

We noticed too how much less crowded it was at Hawaii the week before and after Easter and we didn't have to wait long to eat at restaurants where there normally is a good hour's wait or more even sometimes with reservations too.

If these high prices last at the gasoline pumps, I see hotel resorts hurting as people will travel less. I have noticed nice travel incentives today already to Hawaii or other places by plane with hotel reservations included too. You may want to take advantage of these specials and then stay at a timeshare too for an extra week or two before going home. However, if prices go down again at the gasoline pumps, these travel incentives will disappear.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

My sister was going to go to Hawaii this summer, but changed her plans due to the airfares. She decided to drive to Oregon instead.

The high energy prices are a concern. That is partially offset by the fact that the economy is doing quite well.

[VVTrader Member Find all posts View Profile Close VVTrader]

more road trips

I think you will see more road trips to save money rather than less. Airways will have to raise their fares to keep up with the gas prices and that can be a determining factor. I bought my most recent timeshare with the idea of driving rather than flying to it. Four people in a car even for an 8 hour trip is cheaper than four people flying some where. With the new regulations about flying, it seems like a 2 to 3 hour flight, waits at the airport, and picking up the rental and some how it has become an 8 hour trip anyhow.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

That is one of my old arguements against flying, but in reality one tends to justify doing something instead of something else they don't like or fear.

[senorak Member Find all posts View Profile Close senorak]

While we are still planning on taking our annual drive to HHI this summer, I am rethinking our TS exchange into Sedona. I had been waiting for Southwest to open their flights for August, (in checking fares to/from Philly, their "lowest deal" had been $99 each way). However, when they extended their flights through Aug. this week....the lowest fare is now $158 each way! Quite a shock when you have to purchase tickets for a family of 5. Add in the rental car fee and gas...and the costs are really skyrocketing. I don't know whether to book the airfare now or wait and hope there are some "specials" later in the spring for later summer travel.
Normally, I would never consider cancelling a planned vacation....but with the Sedona trip possibly costing double of what was planned; that may be my only recourse. We may just have to try to exchange into a TS within a few hours driving range; rather than one requiring airflight.

[Faust Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Faust]

Maybe if the general public vacations more around there home and slows down on air traveling.
RCI might put more resorts back in ther database to trade into, instead of renting them out.
that would mean more resorts closer to were you live, to trade into.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

It won't stop my vacations but it does make me rethink driving aimlessly to take photos or going for a day trip to the mountains. I chose to do two driving vacations this year to cut down on airfare and renting a car once I got there. shaggy

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

We planned our timeshare vacations long ago and fortunately all are near home this year.....just happened to work out that way....and we are glad we don't have to fly anywhere.

[Icc5 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Icc5]

Book - It

One of the reasons we bought timeshares was to use the kitchens and save of food costs which will be going up as energy rises. We try booking our flights long in advance and we like the resorts in our area. We bought into Worldmark because of all the local resorts (we're in California).
We just came back from a trip from Northern Calif. to Palm Springs (Southern Calif.). We got around 30 miles to the gallon and put 1500 miles on the Honda CRV this trip. Gas ran us $152 for the trip.
Bart