With the economy in such trouble, will you be taking a vacation this year?

United States
May 27, 2009 11:11am CST
If you do take a vacation this year with the economy hurting, have you made plans that might differ from other years? Where do you plan on going and what will you be doing if you take a vacation? If you have toned it down, in what ways? I have saved all of my change for a year, and there is enough for one short weekend away at a favorite quiet beach town on Lake Michigan. I used to love to take a week to ten days and travel to other states to vacation, but with money tight and gas prices so high, the tiny one will be a fine alternative. Karen
12 responses
• United States
27 May 09
Hi Karen...The only thing I have planned is to go to my sisters which is about 3 house away so we can have our annual get together. We try to get together , all of us at least one weekend in the summer to visit and catch up on family news. As we are all getting up there in years we never know if all of us will make it the following year. So this is important that I do this at least. That will be my only time away from home as my husband and I are on a fixed income and I have tried to save a little each month since last summer to be able to go on my visit this summer. Gas prices seem to be going up higher each day and I don't understand why they can sell it so cheap in the winter and then jack the price up higher in the summer. You would think they would want to keep the prices down in the summer so people would be able to buy more gas and do more things. What do you think of them raising the price of gas again? flutterby
• United States
27 May 09
Hello Flutterby...I love that screen name, by the way. I love the idea that you still get together as an extended family. That is an important connection. Like you, I live on a fixed income, so I tend to save every bit of change I get in a jar for things like little weekend get-aways once each year or two. Most of my family lives close, so that is a blessing. I do not at all understand why they play so much with gas prices. They do have a tendency, I've noticed, to raise them during high-travel times like weekends, holidays, and summer time. I suspect they do that purposely to make an even higher profit, as people will pay it. I doubt we'll ever see them come down to a reasonable level again! Have a happy day. Karen
1 person likes this
• United States
27 May 09
Thank you so much. I to do not see them coming down to a fair price. People have already proved to the companies that they will pay whatever they ask becasue what choice do we have. We need to get to our jobs and need to get to the store for groceries and necessities. They have us where they want us and they are slowly tightening the chain again by raining the prices. flutterby
• United States
27 May 09
You are right...they have by the throat, because people do have obligations that require driving and paying their prices. The one time they did come down was when people began buying and driving scooters here back and forth to work in decent weather, and when the country in general drove only when absolutely necessary. That gave them no alternative but to lower them. But now, summer is on, so back up they go.
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@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
27 May 09
For the past sixteen years, I have been going on vacations twice a year almost without fail, be it in good or bad times, recession or otherwise. My wife and I usually budget for them at the start of the year and know that we have the resources to go on vacations. The only major consideration is when times are not so good, we scale down our vacation budget but we still take a break overseas. We just go on shorter breaks or to nearby places like a neighboring country. Vacations give us a chance to take a break and recharge, and they do not necessarily have to be expensive affairs. We can still go to a beach resort and spend three nights there, spend reasonably and still have a great and memorable time.
@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
31 May 09
Thank you for your vote, Karen. Yes, I practice conscious planning and budgeting, taking the economic situation and all other priorities into consideration when doing so. If my budgeting allows me to set aside money for a vacation during the year, I know I can afford to embark on one when the time comes.
• United States
27 May 09
Your way of vacationing sounds very refreshing. It is helpful if one plans ahead and allows for some vacation expenses in their yearly budget. Nothing is quite so refreshing. Vacations allow us to relax and recharge at the same time. Thank you for your input : ) Karen
1 person likes this
• Australia
28 May 09
I'm lucky, as both my partner and myself have kept our jobs, so while we a struggling slightly, we are both extremley aware that our situation is much better than many others. We also both agree that it's important to make time to get away, we are still going to go on holiday later this year. The only thing we've done differently is really shopped around for prices, and paid for things at different times, rather than paying for everything all at once.
• United States
28 May 09
Kudos to your and your husband for being compassionate with those out of work. It is heartening to hear, though, that not everyone has lost work in their household. And yes, the economy has effected the working, too. I am happy you will be going on vacation. It is so important to get away from things on a regular basis. Thank you for taking part in the discussion : ) Karen
@calyxus (825)
• Philippines
28 May 09
I guess I'll still be having a vacation this year. I will definitely save for it... Maybe it will be on December. By the way, my company will be having a summer party this sunday and im excited for it.
• United States
28 May 09
I've had to save for my little get-away too. I think its nice when work places have parties...a good break for everyone. Enjoy that party :) Karen
@uicbear (1900)
• United States
28 May 09
We do have a trip down to Florida planned for October. That's a for sure thing. We will be driving down instead of flying because that's save us money on plane tickets and car rental. We have a timeshare, so that we don't have to worry about paying for a hotel. We had bought an annual park pass for Disney last year that's still valid, so that's covered. So right now all we are thinking about is gas money and food. I wanted to take a short trip up to the Wisconsin Dells, but that's always an expensive treat. So I don't think that will be happening. I just plan on working as much as I can and saving for the October trip.
• United States
28 May 09
The Dells are beautiful, but I live in MI, so not so far away. I think it's great that you've covered the bases and still get to go to FL. I hope you have a happy summer : ) Karen
28 May 09
Most definelty now is the best time to have a holiday companies cannot sell holidays I have booked a week off in July and I will grab a last minute bargain mgraham126
• United States
28 May 09
That is a great idea, catching the last minute bargains :) Thank you for responding and adding that idea. Have a happy day. Karen
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
27 May 09
I think, vacations are important and we must take it of we have been every year. I feel, even just a simple vacation in the outskirts which does not demand much money and expense does wonders! That was we must all plan our vacations. I will try to keep it simple as well. I would probably end up in my sister's place in Dubai and guess what that would be low expense since I do not have to bear hotel and gas expenses. And also the joy to meet my nieces and nephew would be out of the world! Lake Michigan sounds wonderful! The similar kind of quietness is something i was looking for but may be later this year. Enjoy your trip.
• United States
27 May 09
You are right about the importance of vacations. Even a small distance away gives one a needed change of scenery and pace. I hope you have a wonderful time with your sister and her children : ) Happy vacationing! Karen
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
27 May 09
I took a trip last summer to the Baltic countries and as such a very keen traveler I had another trip as soon as I could afford to. At the end of last year a few airlines stopped trading due to the recession. Therefore when I booked my flight to South Africa for January this year I got high cover travel insurance. I took my toddler son on the 12 hour flight to Cape Town. It was summer time then so we enjoyed sunny weather. It was a fantastic city and the Garden Route was incredibly picturesque. Travel is my top hobby and I don't think I would be able to cut back on it. Even when I had very little of money I got a budget flight to Italy and traveled by bus with my tent down to Croatia. I managed to pop down to Montenegro and up to Slovenia.
• United States
27 May 09
I commend you on finding ways to keep this love of travel in your budget. Even in hard times, it is important to pursue those things we love. You've been many places! And each new place is always an education, like entering a whole different world. : ) Karen
@bing28 (3795)
• Philippines
28 May 09
We're attending a yearly town fiesta at our province and this serves as our vacation of five days. After the fiesta. Here we visit relatives and friends. We go swimming, go upon invitation of relatives to eat with them as they prepared delicious foods. Go hiking, harvest fruits and vegetables and go dancing and singing along with friends. This time will cut our vacation for three days instead.
• United States
28 May 09
This sounds like a very joyful time. I am glad you're still going, even though for a shorter time. These things are important to our well-being. Thank you for responding to the question, and have a great day! Karen
• Philippines
27 May 09
For now,I would rather shop than go on a vacation.I still prefer shopping because it is less costly than going on a vacation.I would like to travel, but I don't have the "budget" right now.I would rather shop for vintage clothes,at least I get to have something useful.
• United States
27 May 09
You make a good point. In a way, perhaps shopping IS a form of getting away for you. Have a beautiful day. Karen
• United States
27 May 09
Well, this is a bit complex to say, because sincerely is a bit hard to take a vacation with this crisis but I think is good to do it too because everyone need take a rest, at least a few days and when somebody wants to enjoy good moments so let's do it, there are a lot of good places in any city or State and very cheap too.
• United States
28 May 09
You are right! Some expert studies show that the health suffers for those who do not take regular vacations or get-aways of some kind. Even in a poor economy, if one can possibly scrape up the money, it is well spent. Thank you for you input.
• India
27 May 09
surely yes, coz in this hectic work environment every person needs to have some rest and that is why we need vacation, it has nothing to do with recession and all
• United States
28 May 09
So true. Rest and time away from ones hectic everyday environment is very important, even from the standpoint of maintaining good health. Thank you for commenting. Karen