Many individuals and families passed on vacation travel this past summer. The high cost of gas along with high rates for many other things discouraged many travelers. Now gas has dropped drastically and many other individuals in the travel industry are cutting rates. The thing is, “Will people take advantage of these cuts?”
The New York Times ran a great article yesterday about shrinking travel budgets. Holidays are always the busiest times of the year for travel. As the economy has struggled, many individuals are closing up their wallets and pocket books. Knowing this, travel companies are trying to fill spaces at many famous resorts and hot spots. www.ski.com is offering rate reductions. Some by as much as 50%. Expedia.com was offering a cruise through the Bahamas for four days at $99 a person. When was the last time you seen a deal like that?
With hotel and motel occupancy bookings down, rates might be as low as 50%. This means that finding a room on the road this holiday season would be very easy to get and at a great rate. So you prefer not to travel far but, want to get away. This could be a great opportunity. You have lower gas rates, hotel rates, and admission prices a bit lower than usual.
Even the airline industry has reduced rates. Southwest Airlines is running an extended sale on tickets through December 4th. The travel is good from December 12th through February 28th. American Airlines has some flights starting as low as $49.
So with some prices coming down, will the American traveler take advantage of these savings? Have they been too scared off by the free fall of the stock market and down slide of the economy? What will it take to convince the American traveler that it is OK to once again travel over the holidays and enjoy themselves?
There is no doubt that the travel industry is hurting. They have been hurt just like everyone else. Still for the consumer and the travel industry, this is an opportunity for both sides to come out ahead. Travel expenses haven’t been this low in many months. If it is the warm weather you seek this holiday season, head for the beaches in the south. Want to Ski? Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah is waiting for you. Want to do some holiday shopping in New York? This is your chance to take a quick flight there, get some shopping in, and then head back home for the holidays. Want to take a cruise? You couldn’t pick a better time to go and hit the buffet tables and soak up some sun.
Maybe you just want to visit some friends or family that you haven’t seen in a long time. It looks like gas rates will stay low through the holidays and maybe even early into the new year. This could be the chance that you need to visit them.
Things like anything else will go up in the future. However for now, prices are low. This could be your only opportunity to take advantage of travel. The secret to saving and getting the best deal is to decide early. Good deals are usually picked up quickly.
