Posts Tagged ‘in-laws’
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If you’re like any of USDemocrazy’s friends, you’ve often heard the line “I’d join you, but I have no money!”
Now that it is vacation season… it got us to wonder: do other people have money to spend on vacations in this time of economic hardship?
After some research, we came up with an answer: YES.
As vacation season comes but once a year, few are willing to relinquish their precious summer moments and memories.
We found an article that says people are driving this year to their trip destinations rather than flying, despite the fact that gas prices go up during the summer. Also, there is an increasing demographic of spouses willing to spend time with their in-laws to save a few bucks off of a getaway:
Once they reached their destinations, two in five people said they stayed with friends or relatives. About half said they stayed at hotels during their last vacation, while 80% of vacationers stayed at hotels in 2007.
And if there’s anything less predictable than in-laws, it’s gas prices. Here, the Christian Science Monitor explores why fuel prices aren’t declining like demand is. (We’ll give you a hint: it has to do with the bad economy.)
Some people are opting for day or weekend trips to places a little nearer by (than, say, Europe), like Yvette Woolfolk of California:
“This summer, I’ve decided that a balanced approach to travel is in order,” she says. “I want to be able to travel within my means — no charging! — and support the local economy at the same time.”
Even the Choice Hotels International franchise is seeing some improvement, since, according to its CEO, their customers typically are ones who drive to their destinations. With more people taking to the road rather than to the sky or rails, this hotel group is getting pretty optimistic about the summer travel season.
But for those of you who still prefer to fly but maybe have been holding off for cheaper prices, Joshua Freed of the Associated Press indicated that you might want to book those tickets NOW. Could there be a better time? Writes Freed:
Fares have dropped for months while travelers held off buying tickets because they were afraid of losing a job or worried about affording even a scaled-back vacation. But with July 4th fast approaching and jet fuel prices rising, some fares could be set to climb again.
And then, there are people who have been bulking up their frequent flier miles and are saving some moola by cashing those miles in now. Smart move, guys and gals.
So, you might be going on a vacation, staycation, or blowing us off for summer plans like all our other friends, but still every day you’re probably learning more about how this recession is affecting everyone. Now, it’s time for the kids to get in on the learning, too.
We at USDemocrazy are now thinking that a little vacation might be nice… what are YOU up to this summer?
