Book Ahead for Summer Vacation Travel
With nearly every trip expense going up, this is not the year for travelers to procrastinate about their summer vacations. According to a LA Times article by Jane Engle, “Even if you start planning now, surveys show, you're behind the curve: Many summer vacationers have been snapping up plane tickets and hotel rooms for months. That means fewer for you — and you may pay more.�
The article quotes an April Survey by Harris Interactive that says that nearly two-thirds of Americans this year are booking their summer trips at least two to three months ahead, according to an online survey of 2,327 adults; 8% started more than six months ago. Therefore even if you start planning now you are behind the curve.
As for costs the article says that, “a family of two adults and two children this summer can expect to spend an average of $261 per day for food and lodging, based on prices at more than 55,000 hotels and restaurants in AAA TourBook guides. Hotels will average $141 per night, up 9% from last year�. Of course such popular destinations as Hawaii and New York will be substantially more expensive.
The article offers some budget tips to travelers seeking the best fares and room rates, including reserving well ahead of time and being flexible on travel dates; midweek prices are usually cheaper.
For vacation rental owners this is good news, for it presents any opportunity to attain a higher level of occupancy for this season. This report is also consistent with our own experience, for we have filled most vacancies in our rentals through the middle of August, except for some midweek vacancies.
