Recession watch: Cutting back on travel plans
Filed under: Travel, Recession
This post is part of a series about real-life signs we're in a recession. It was all set. Family friends in New York had invited us to come out and visit, and my two kids and I were all on board. In theory. Our plans were set at a reunion the previous summer. Fares are cheap! I told them. We'll all be out!
But that was before things got a little tighter. March came and went. I emailed my friends with the bad news: Sorry guys; the money's just not in the budget anymore. Can't justify the expense. They totally understood. They were hard up, too. Maybe next year, we imagined.
But maybe not. Seems a lot of people are canceling or dramatically altering discretionary travel these days.With the ever-shrinking dollar, travel for fun and pleasure has dropped far down on the list of splurges for many middle class families. Gasoline prices, groceries, utilities, rents, day-to-day living expenses are taking a larger-than-ever chunk out of our budgets.
Time was when a trip to San Fransisco for a romantic weekend was doable. But these days, one look at the cost of air fare, car rental fee, hotel, and the cost of gas and meals...will give most anyone but the most affluent pause. Who can afford it anymore?
And with the dollar at an all-time low against the euro and the pound, that summer jaunt to London or Madrid is definitely out the window. This has particularly impacted our family -- my in-laws are English, and we used to take a trip to London almost every year. This year, that's just impossible.
Besides, with record-high fuel costs and cutbacks at airlines, along with endemic cancellations, flying anywhere at all this summer promises to be not half the fun.
So what's a family to do? Fellow WalletPopper Bruce Watson is onto something when he suggests becoming a local tourist -- staying in town, using public transportation, and exploring your own environs might just be the new big thing this summer.
Maybe we'll just spend the summer poolside. Swimming lessons are still relatively affordable.
Have you canceled travel plans this summer due to increased costs? Let's hear your stories -- and your solutions!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-08-2008 @ 10:23AM
cathy said...
We are still taking our usual vacation to the lake for a week, but this year, we told the kids they would have to pay a set amount to help cover fuel costs for the boat and the diesel to make the six hour drive.
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5-08-2008 @ 12:34PM
Lydia Baker-Crawley said...
My husband and I planned to drive across state to Nebraska to show our two sons some of their heritage. My grandmother was born in Winnebago and his great-grandfather was a marshal in Kearny. But with gas prices as astronomically priced (and no end to the rise in sight) we simply cannot afford to drive across the state in out SUV's. The trip will simply have to go on the back burner for a while.
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5-08-2008 @ 6:59PM
ATriana said...
The devalued dollar alongside the blown up price of fuel as you mention indeed makes it scary to move a muscle. I wish I had that economical '63 Ford Falcon as you have pictured here with those young happy travellers!
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7-01-2008 @ 11:31PM
Justpicky said...
This is a darn shame , when families can't take a vacation . Which they deserve . If I was you , I would save money daily , if possible save your income tax refund and if you get any extra money coming in , save it . This way , you could try and take a few days off
or if it's possible take a vacation next year.
Keep in mind , always plan months or year ahead on anything you do .
Next year I plan on going to vacation to SF , wish I could buy my airlines tickets now , it would only cost me $240 per person round trip.
As far as reservation I could call and make it , if I only pay for the amount in the present and not next years prices. Hotel
Car rental , make that in Jan 09 , and I should get that reasonable , why because the car rental will want to rent it to you cheap .
As far as gasoline , save money now . overestimate too.
Food and spending money same applies , save and overestimate .
Again you've to plan advance . Again you've to save
every penny , dime and nickle / dollar.
Also if possible work extra small jobs , of course you've to work around your shift.
If a person wants something bad enough , then save money , it will happen , think positive .
Know if you've alot of BILLS , credit cards , etccc , then you might to rethink your vacation .
Plan that vacation 4 days .
IF anyone knows what's best about your finance situation , that would be You .
I know one thing Im going to save money . Budget .
Cut back on Power , water , driving car , and anything else I can do . ( I done this for years , budgeting )
Because I have a Dream !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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