Five Tips for Stress-Free Summer Travel

Life is stressful – vacations shouldn’t be. Experts from Travelocity have identified five common travel problems and easy solutions for travelers. Whether it’s a last-minute getaway or a long vacation, proper planning is the key to a stress-free trip. Travelocity’s senior editor Genevieve Shaw Brown has solutions to the most common vacation stressors.

“Travelers can take the stress out of trips before they even leave their house if they follow a few simple tips. You don’t have to be an expert, but you can travel like one if you plan ahead,” said Brown.

Travelocity’s Stress-Free Summer Travel Tips:

Vacation Stressor: Missed flights will delay the trip

Solution:

• Check in online before flights. Every major airline allows travelers to check in on their web site up to 24 hours in advance. This will save time typically spent in lines at the airport. Also, families should choose this option so they can select seats together.

• Use the correct lane at security. Nearly every airport security checkpoint in the country has family, casual traveler, and expert lanes. Families that need a little more time to have their liquids checked and get the kids and stroller through the metal detectors will not feel pressured by expert travelers behind them. Expert travelers who are familiar with the rules can breeze though their lanes.

Vacation Stressor: Terrible weather will ruin vacations

Solution:

• It is hurricane season, so choosing a destination with a weather guarantee is a smart move. Some hotels and resorts will issue a credit for a later date if a hurricane interrupts a trip or prevents travelers from taking it.
• If a hurricane or similar major weather event affects a destination, most airlines will waive change fees and allow travelers to reschedule for a later date.

Vacation Stressor: Luggage will get lost or items will be stolen

Solution:

• Ship luggage ahead of time through companies like The Luggage Club and have luggage (including skis, golf clubs, baby strollers, bikes, surfboards and bags) picked up at home and dropped off at the vacation destination.
• Use a TSA-approved lock to protect belongings. Wordlock is one TSA-approved lock that allows travelers to secure belongings with a word combination instead of numbers – easier to remember and the TSA will not have to cut the lock should they need to inspect the bags.

Vacation Stressor: Booking a vacation too early and then finding a better deal

Solution:

• Choose travel companies that have some sort of price-protection plan. For example, Travelocity’s PriceGuardian program automatically refunds up to $500 if someone else books the same Flight+Hotel vacation on Travelocity for a lower price.

Vacation Stressor: Unexpected unemployment could make a trip too expensive and force travelers to cancel

Solution:

• Choose an airline or destination with a job-loss refund guarantee. For example, JetBlue’s ‘Promise Program’ gives refunds on tickets if the traveler experiences involuntary job loss before the trip.
• Choose a trip protection plan that specifically covers job loss. Not all trip protection plans cover all situations, so choosing the right one is key to protecting your vacation investment.

Tips for an Affordable Family Vacation

With the recent increase in gas prices, the question remains whether families can still take an affordable family vacation. Travel expert and blogger Amy Graff tackled that topic on her recent road trip down the “Great River Road” with her husband and two children, and she shared all the details in her blog onthegowithamy.com.

Her verdict? An affordable getaway is within every family’s grasp if they’re flexible and plan ahead. Amy and her family successfully met their budget goal of $150 a day.

“Savings aren’t spontaneous,” said Amy Graff, travel expert for Best Western International. “A lot of planning went into making this trip work within our means. Before I even finalized the trip, I made sure that all the hotels along our route would cost $100 or less a night—and then I made our reservations.”

Amy and her family traced the Mississippi River, from the headwaters in Minnesota to the mouth in New Orleans in a hybrid Mercury Mariner, which allowed them to save more than $120 in fuel throughout the two-and-a-half week journey. But this isn’t the only way the family of four saved on the road. Amy says they cut costs in three key areas: food, lodging, and fuel.

Best Way to See Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

Just five miles from the entrance to Grand Teton National Park, the Wyoming Inn is a favorite Jackson Hole, Wyoming home base for Grand Teton Park and Yellowstone – and as experienced hosts to thousands of guests each summer, the staff at the Wyoming Inn offers tips for keeping national park trips worry-free:

• Getting there: A favorite gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, Jackson is serviced by major airlines (with a free Wyoming Inn airport shuttle).
• Where to stay: The Wyoming Inn is rated #1 on TripAdvisor.com with comments touting the friendly staff, comfortable atmosphere, free warm chocolate chip cookies, wi-fi and laundry, and “Joe the chef” – providing complimentary snacks all day long. The Inn is perfectly situated for taking HWY 22 to Grand Teton’s new Laurance Rockefeller Preserve Center. Summer rates start at $199/night.
• An organic picnic: Jackson’s locally-owned organic grocer, Jackson Whole Grocer, within walking distance of the Wyoming Inn, offers picnic fare including organic roasted chickens, fresh-made hummus, fresh baked bread and delectable cheeses.
• Do-it-yourself driving: The Gaper Guide is a GPS enabled tour guide providing fun facts and history. For rent by the day, the Gaper Guide can be picked up in Jackson and mailed back.
• Leave the driving to them: Wildlife Expeditions, part of the nonprofit Teton Science Schools, is a favorite local wildlife tour provider, offering full, half or multiple-day trips to Grand Teton and Yellowstone.
• Extra adventure: For hiking, biking or kayaking, pick up gear before leaving town—check out Hoback Sports for bike rentals; O.A.R.S. for a Yellowstone Lake kayak tour; or rent your own kayak at Rendezvous River Sports across the street from the Wyoming Inn.

Road Trips and Family Visits Become the New Trend in American Vacations

The great American road trip is back. After years of extravagant, keep-up-with-the-Jones’ trips, more people are strapping down and simplifying their vacations because of the economy.

With the holiday weekend approaching, a new Mintel survey reveals over six in 10 people drove their own car—instead of flying—to their last vacation destination. And they didn’t go anywhere overly glamorous: 62% said they spent recent vacations with family and friends. Only 30% went to beaches and 30% visited cities. In 2007 when the economy was stronger, fewer people reported vacationing with family and friends (56%), while a full 42% went to cities.

Once at vacation destinations, two in five people (42%) said they lodged with friends or relatives. Just over half (51%) stayed in a hotel, but that pales in comparison to the 80% that said they stayed in hotels in 2007. Mintel’s recent survey also reveals people vacationing closer to home (57%), taking shorter trips (56%) and utilizing cheaper forms of transportation (64%) because of the economic downturn.

“The recession is undoubtedly making more Americans shop aggressively for travel deals and cut corners,” states Chris Haack, senior analyst at Mintel. “As people try to save money, we see a rising trend towards simpler, more ‘homespun’ vacations. We’ve even seen an increase in zoo and local theme park attendance. People can justify shorter trips with fewer excesses, as long as they still have the opportunity to relax and have fun.”

Mintel’s survey points to relaxation as the number one goal of vacationers: nearly three in four (72%) said they consider being able to relax completely as an essential vacation element. On the contrary, only one in three (34%) rank a “high standard of accommodation and facilities” as essential to their enjoyment.

In the past 12 months, 40% of survey respondents didn’t travel domestically; many cited financial reasons.

Staycations on the Rise

As the nation continues to endure a challenging economy and the summer vacation season kicks into high gear, individuals increasingly are seeking opportunities that allow them to enjoy quality time with their family and friends, while avoiding the expense and hassle associated with travel.

For some, the ‘staycation’ simply involves relaxing at home. Others dedicate time to visit local community events, pools, museums, recreational areas or parks. And, a growing number of consumers are turning to their local health club. That’s right. Their health club.

“Time away from work still has individuals craving the typical benefits of vacation: time to relax and rejuvenate,” said Jeff Zwiefel, Life Time Fitness executive vice president and exercise physiologist. “Member usage at our centers is on the rise. For some, it’s the desire to avoid the expense of a summer vacation. For others, it’s a conscious effort to spend additional time focusing on reducing stress, getting back into shape and taking charge of health and wellness at a time when so many other things may seem to be out of control.”

Indeed, with 84 unique sports and athletic, professional fitness, family recreation and spa centers in a resort-like setting, Life Time Fitness has created healthy lifestyle, recreation and entertainment destinations designed to serve the needs of the entire family. Supported by a large team of certified team members, programs and services, Life Time locations sport a wide range of amenities under one roof and currently serve more than one million members.

From a cool, relaxing day at the water park, to haircuts, dining, massage, workouts, sports and recreation, child care, kids’ camps and much more, Life Time not only addresses those seeking a healthy and active way of life, but also has become a fulfilling staycation option for consumers.

Guests can grab a healthy, all-natural or organic breakfast lunch or dinner at Life Time’s LifeCafe or visit the LifeSpa & Salon for full range of hair, nail and skin care services, and therapeutic massage.

A whopping 400 pieces of state-of-the-art cardiovascular and resistance training equipment, plus free weights, along with a wide range of programs, activities, leagues and entertainment for all ages and physical abilities is just the beginning of the typical Life Time experience. Plus, multiple group exercise, Pilates and yoga studios with free and fee-based programs, a unique cycle theatre, team of certified personal trainers and programming, wide selection of adult and youth programs and activities, two full-size basketball courts, and dry saunas await those seeking to get in shape and de-stress. Indoor rock climbing caverns, large indoor and outdoor aquatics centers, lap pools and children’s interactive play areas, two whirlpools and an outdoor bistro add to the uniqueness, recreation and entertainment value of Life Time’s large resorts.

Parents concerned with how to find the time to work out or to relax, while also keeping up with their kids’ schedules, have Life Time’s large, interactive child centers, featuring play mazes, junior basketball courts, computer labs, children’s activity areas, and a separate infant playroom at their disposal. For the ultimate in convenience, dedicated family locker rooms also are available.

Addressing the budgeted-minded consumer, Life Time offers a range of club and membership choices. Every membership type includes complimentary locker and towel service, no long-term contracts, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Member benefits also include the ‘Big 16,’ which offers 16 events each month dedicated to a wide range of interest areas, and Member Advantage, which delivers substantive discounts on dining, sports and travel, and much more simply by being a Life Time member.

“Our company launched in 1992 with the goal of helping people change their lives for the better,” says Zwiefel. “As our centers have evolved over the years so too has the incredible array of options and conveniences we offer, making it easy for individuals, couples and families to do something that’s good for them financially, mentally and physically. The fact that we have become a vacation destination is a testament to the fact that we offer complete lifestyle centers, not merely health clubs.”

People Still Taking Summer Vacations in Spite of Recession

Are you planning a family vacation this Summer?  Well thankfully you are not alone.  Burst Media released the results of a survey on summer travel. The survey, administered last month to nearly 2,000 adults 18 years and older, revealed that three-quarters (76.3%) of respondents will take a personal trip or vacation this summer that will entail travel at least 100 miles from home. Among this “summer travel” segment, 40.8% say the number of trips they plan to take is “the same” as the number they took last year; 24.4% say they will be traveling more frequently, and one-third (34.6%) of summer travelers will travel less frequently. Among respondents traveling less frequently, 71.3% say the recession has impacted their summer travel plans. Also of interest was the finding that two out of three respondents (63.3%) are “online” during their vacations.

Not surprisingly, nearly all (80.3%) summer travelers indicated they will use the Internet to help plan their vacations, but of particular interest was the survey’s revelation of the significant connection between affluence and Internet usage for travel planning. Among income segments, respondents reporting household income (HHI) of $100,000 or more were most likely (88.2%) to use the Internet to help plan their summer travel.

“Consumers are actively using the Internet as an information resource and a place to make travel purchases,” said Chuck Moran, VP of Marketing for Burst Media. “Online advertisers can benefit greatly from leveraging the web’s ability to target specific travel audiences – such as families, and the affluent – with content that is highly meaningful and engaging to the viewer.”

When asked to select what features/content of a travel website make them return to it, respondents cited destination information (46.3%) and the ability to check flight, hotel and car rental rates/availability (45.2%) as the most popular options.

Economic Downturn Changing the Way We Travel

From bargain hunting for accommodations to hopping in a car instead of on a plane, many individuals and companies are responding to the uncertain economic climate and worse personal financial conditions by adjusting their travel behaviors in 2009 to find more affordable ways to travel, but many aren’t eliminating travel plans altogether.

In a recent poll conducted by Harris Interactive, 48% of U.S. adults say their financial situation is worse now than it was one year ago. For some that is translating into plans for fewer vacations and fewer dollars spent on leisure travel in 2009.

While almost half plan to travel just as much or more in 2009 as they did in 2008, two-fifths (38%) anticipate that the economy will have no impact on their travel plans, and 8% plan to travel more in the next 12 months than they did in 2008, nearly two-fifths (37%) of consumers say they are less likely to travel within the next 12 months due to economic conditions.

Other findings from the study include:

• Over one-fourth (27%) will decrease the duration of their leisure trips.
• Four in ten (40%) will reduce the amount of money they spend on leisure trips. Among these consumers looking to cut costs:
  • Roughly three-fifths will find less expensive accommodations (62%), less expensive meal options (61%), or will look for less expensive activities (58%).
  • Nearly half will reduce travel expenses by vacationing closer to home (48%), staying with friends/family instead of a hotel (46%), or reduce expenses by driving rather than flying (45%).
  • One-third (34%) will stretch their vacation dollars by going on a “staycation” close to home or by sharing travel costs with friends or other families.

Companies are also changing their travel spending habits in 2009. Three in five (61%) people surveyed said their companies had changed their travel policies in last 12 months, and one in five (21%) said they were less likely to travel for business in 2009 than they were in 2008.

Reducing or eliminating nonessential travel was the most frequently reported method of cutting business travel expenses. Three in ten people (30%) reported that their companies had reduced or eliminated all nonessential travel, and 21% said their companies were using technology to reduce or eliminate travel costs. Other reported changes to company travel policies include encouraging day trips (13%), booking with hotels and airlines that provide preferred rates (12%), and enforcing per diem allowances (10%).