No matter how you look at it, this is going to be a trying summer for travelers. Air traffic is way up and hotel occupancy is way up, but staff levels are not. This means the inevitable delays, bad service, and frustration of a summer vacation are going to be worse than usual. Here’s a grim quote from an AP story out today: “Anyone who took an early flight for a Memorial Day getaway has already gotten a taste of what summer air travel will be like: full planes, crowded airports and weather delays.”
On top of this, I’ve seen plenty of news stories about rising hotel prices in popular US destinations. Why? Because they can. Demand is up, so prices are rising. Add this to a declining dollar, which makes trips to Europe, Australia, and even Canada more expensive than they were in the past.
But for the contrarian traveler, there are plenty of ways to get around all this. For one thing, don’t go to Europe in the summer. It’s jammed with tourists, prices are at their peak, and the dollar’s decline makes the whole western part of the continent feel like one big purse emptier. Head to Asia or Latin America, where the dollar has not only held steady, but is worth more to start with.
Also avoid the prime summer vacation spots in the US. If you want to make your eyes bug out, pull up hotel rates for Martha’s Vineyard, Hilton Head Island, Hawaii, or any luxury resort in California. Try somewhere less famous, where there’s not so much competition. As cheap as flights are across the board now, it’s best to keep an eye on last-minute vacation deals and just follow the bargains. Or head south to Mexico, central America, or South America. You can find specials every week to one place or another and costs will often be half or less once you get there.
And it goes without saying that if there is any way to avoid peak flying times, take advantage of it. Leave in the middle of the day and try to avoid when everyone else is leaving for vacation: like Friday afternoon or Saturday. Don’t take the last flight of the day if you can’t afford to get stuck in your connecting city.
