USA Today: Gas costs cut into vacation travel

[marmar]

Gas costs cut into vacation travel
By Judy Keen, USA TODAY


More than a third of Americans are rethinking vacation plans because of record-high gas prices, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll shows, and some destinations are feeling the squeeze as the summer travel season officially begins this holiday weekend.

Of those altering travel plans, 37% are scrapping trips and one in four won't go as far or stay as long, the poll finds. "We're pretty close to the toughest summer ever, at least for consumers," says Rick Seaney, CEO of Farecompare.com, an airfare search site.

"It's looking very bad. People just aren't coming," says Jackie Gentry, manager of the Seashore Inn in Seaside, Ore. The hotel isn't sold out for Memorial Day weekend, she says, "and we have hardly any reservations for June." A room that usually goes for $139 can be booked online for $109.

The average price of a gallon of gas nationwide is $3.83. The federal Energy Information Administration expects a $3.66-per-gallon average this summer. Prices are reshaping the season:

• Reservations for 2,500 campsites and attractions on federal land, show people are sticking closer to home. Residents of 33 states who made reservations from February to April for this vacation season chose more destinations in their own state than in 2007, a USA TODAY analysis of federal data shows.

At Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park, tour reservations for this weekend are down from a year ago, says deputy superintendent Bruce Powell, who expects flat summer attendance. Scott Gediman, spokesman for California's Yosemite National Park, says European tour groups are boosting attendance.

• Fewer users of Hotels.com plan week-long vacations that involve flying, says Scott Booker, the site's guest advocate. "They're opting to do shorter stays, weekend trips and stay closer to home," he says. .........(more)

The complete piece is at; http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2008-05-22-vacation_N.htm

[Andy823]

1. But, but...

McCain has said things are great. Could he be lying to us like George does all the time?:crazy:

[CanonRay]

2. This place is cheap for Europeans...

$4 a gallon gas, with the Euro at almost 1.60, makes gas cheap to them, not to mention hotels and food. Not to mention they get 5-6 weeks paid vacation. Who's stupid?