Summer vacation on a budget - Money Talk$ - travel budget: suggestions

Ebony, July, 2002

We all know how vital rest and relaxation are to our bodies, minds and souls. It's no wonder then that when the weather gets nice and the children (or college students) are out of school we get the urge to travel. We want to visit places in exotic locales or historic places down the highway. We want to check out the new water theme park up the street or head to the beach "down the shore."

In short, we want the vacation of our dreams, or, at least, the best weekend getaway that we can imagine.

You may be willing to pay more than others for that little slice of fun, but you don't have to break the bank to make your trip happen, experts say. If you plan well enough and know what you want, you can make your dream of a warm-weather getaway or travel adventure an event worth remembering--and not just for the bills that pile up afterward."

For the most part, experts say, travel prices are pretty reasonable, provided you know when, how and where to look. The summer travel trends have been three- to four-day cruises to Mexico, Europe and the Caribbean, says travel agent Val Slayton, owner of TraVal Services in Chicago. Also, as in previous years, Las Vegas and Florida are popular destinations.

"The prices area bit lower than last summer because people tend to not want to go to Europe as much," Slayton says. "They're looking for something closer to home."

That sentiment is echoed throughout the travel industry, but you'd better get on board quickly because the low prices are starting to inch up. As airlines, resorts and cruise lines try to recoup their losses from last fall, and as demand for those deals increases, the prices will go higher. Blockbuster bargains are more the exception than the norm now, experts say. (Unless you can be a little flexible and are willing to consider other options.)

One recent report showed that last-minute vacation bookings are on the rise. With the Internet at your fingertips, merry travelers can log on to find the best deals at the best times. Nowadays, with busy work schedules and the difficulty of coordinating schedules with travel mates, many people are booking about a month in advance.

But if you do want more choices and do have less flexibility, it's important to book in advance, Slayton says. She suggests that you begin planning your trip at least a year ahead of the time you want to take your trip. That's not only for the sake of trip planning, but also for the sake of financial planning. Many travel agencies will put you on a payment plan where you pay for your trip each month rather than in one big chunk. And there are dangers to last-minute bookings, too.

"Sometimes you wait until the last minute and the rate is unavailable," Slayton says. "If you're on a vacation schedule and you need to get your time off and lock in a date, you have to plan your trip in advance." If you don't want to take a big trip this year, consider traveling within the United States. Many airlines offer special weekend rates for travelers, but those prices are getting higher for the summer peak period. Plan to spend more than you thought you would if you have to fly this summer. You may even want to skip the airport altogether.

"Traveling within the U.S. still continues to be a big trend," says Kenya Lewis of San Francisco, spokeswoman for Joie De Vivre Hospitality, an independent hospitality company in the Bay Area. "There are so many great places to explore in this country, and many times they are just a road trip away."

Joie de Vivre's portfolio features 21 boutique hotels, four restaurants and bars, one full-service spa and a luxury camping resort, so Lewis knows a thing or two about getting great lodging rates.

"Be sure to ask for the lowest rate. It sounds obvious, but often people will call for hotel reservations and give the dates, and accept that the first rate they are quoted is the lowest," says Lewis. "When you ask for the lowest rate, the reservations agent will find it for you."

Lewis also suggests that you be flexible. The hotel may not have a room at the location you desire, but may be partnered with another hotel in the area. It helps to be flexible with your travel dates, too, so if that rate is sold out over one set of dates, you can plan your travel for a time when it is available.

By the same token, find out as much as you can about your destination before you get there. If you want a quiet getaway for two, you may not want to go to a rowdy party place. If you're traveling with children or pets, find a place where they are welcomed with open arms.

"Back in the day, we were more dependent on the travel agent or the concierge once we got to our destination," Lewis says. "Now you can look at whatever destination you're into on the Internet. It's not such a mystery anymore. You can design whatever vacation you want."

Lewis also suggests searching for lodging via the Internet, but expanding beyond travel Web sites. She says if you do your homework and identify a hotel or group of hotels you like, go directly to their specials page. It is hard for smaller hotel companies to spread the news about their great deals via other sites, so go straight to the source!