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Vacation inflation?

April 11, 2007

The term “vacation inflation” is often used in a timeshare pitch. The price of everything else is going up, your salesperson warns. But if you buy your timeshare today, you’ll avoid vacation inflation.

But as I read between the lines of a Travel Industry Association of America study released this week, I realized that vacation inflation was something far more common than any of us had thought, and that the term “vacation inflation” probably belongs in everyone’s lexicon.

TIA found that we’re basically vacation-starved. About 124 million Americans took a vacation last year, which is just over a third of the population. On average, the typical household spends $1,500 on a vacation trip and travels 1,200 miles from home.

A majority of trips take place by car and most accommodations are at a friend’s or relative’s home, according to TIA, a finding which suggests the travel press continues to cover the wrong aspects of travel (airlines and hotels). But I digress.

Most telling, to me, is that fewer than half of the respondents said that their last trip was close to their ideal, and that more than one-quarter say their trip was not close to ideal.

Why? Many said they didn’t have enough time, but a majority said the largest barrier to achieving an ideal vacation was the money.

That’s vacation inflation. People are spending more on their getaways – but getting less than they expected.

Have you experienced vacation inflation firsthand? Tell me about it.

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

2 comments

  • Richard Wong

    Cruise ships are the biggest source of vacation inflation in the travel industry. A seven-day Alaskan cruise for only $799 sounds like a great deal for a single traveller, right? But then when you double that price (“fares based on double occupancy”), tack on $140 in taxes and port charges (and soon to increase by another $50 due to local Ballot Measure 2), another $900 for open-jaw airfare (departing from Vancouver but returning from Anchorage), add another $800 in shore excursions, $100 in internet charges, and $200 for beverages and specialty dining venues, you’re paying nearly THREE TIMES the advertised $799 sticker price.

    How’s that for inflation? :-)

  • Jade Quek

    I had put some airline reservations on hold Tuesday night with plans to buy the tickets Thursday evening. This is more than one month before we have to fly out, more like 40 days. It seemed like a good deal, less than
    $500 for 2 tickets from LA to Houston. Well just when I clicked the button that evening to purchase these tickets I get a message saying the fare had changed. Well it had gone up an additional $275!

    In two days? Feelings of confusion, incredulity and anger went through me in quick succession. I had been told in the past that I should remain loyal to one airline and that was what I was trying to do, to stay
    with American. And you’d think they’d notice that I take 2 flights with them or more every year for vacations. And silly me – I thought that would count for something. So I’m not playing the loyalty game anymore, I need to get more for my hard earned dollar!

    I started checking around and found the fare I wanted on Frontier, at less than $500 for 2 tickets, including all the assorted fees and taxes that airlines normally tack on. And I am adding insult to American injury (although I’m sure they won’t care) – I’m using my AAvantage credit card to pay for the
    tickets. I’ll get my miles one way or another!!

    I’m taking my power back.

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