How's The Economy Affecting Your 2009 Vacation?

[z-man]

We'll spend a week in Michigan this summer
a week in Key West this fall for MOTM
scattered Florida trop rock days/weekends throughout the summer

wow, you're coming to visit us???? Let me know when so I can make sure the air mattress is ready for you

But in all seriousness, if you are in and around the Flint area, let us know--I'm sure between Dr. Corona and I (assuming our respective families don't mind and don't squander our piggy banks...) we can muster up a few bucks to buy you a drink....

Every summer we fly from Orlando into Flint, rent a car, and drive a couple hours up to East Tawas for a week on the Lake Huron shore. We are usually anxious to get up to the lake, but there is always time for beer with friends!

I have been there almost every summer my whole life.

[gpblxbeach]

Work gets in the way this year so no plans. Music and always a
open bar works just fine for us

[creeky]

We are trrying to book our family cruise to the pacific- noumea, vila etc ......

We cannot get any places for a family on a cruiseship for the rest of this year We are on a wait list ... so economy? what poor economy - everyone is going on vacation it seems ...

Not me!!!....it has hit me pretty hard!!....Hopefully it gets better. then i'll go to MOTM this year!!

It is now starting to hit here this week - with some major companies announcing job cuts etc ......

We (family) are commonwealth government employees in a department that continues to have increased workload - so we are VERY fortunate to have job security ..... so hopefully we can get a spot on a cruise!

[LIBuffettFan]

No changes for me so far this year, I don't remember where I heard it but someone said " I know they say there's a recession, I just choose not to participate". Spending helps the economy so I will live life as usual for as long as possible.

[OttoCal]

We went to spend Christmas (1 week) at my mom's vacation house in NW AZ, and froze. That sucked up all of our free time for our normal January trip to somewhere warm. It was $$$ airfare, but the rest of the trip was cheap. So now we are still freezing in NY, with no warm vacation in sight.
March- 5 day trip to Las Vegas, a bowling tournament for Mr. OC, but I don't think it will be super warm, we are staying at a bleh hotel at the choice of the others going, and he will bowling for most of it.

Friend's 40th b-day late spring, she decided she wants to go to Kentucky Derby. We are in, but the stupid Econlodge is over $300 per night! So that will s*** up a huge amount of cash in short order.

July- our regular vacation crew has booked a week at a villa in Mexico (Puerto Morelos, south of Cancun)-

Other than that- probably just driving weekends in the Northeast.

We are probably not going to be able to add on extra days onto the Mexico trip- we usually add about 4 extra days onto our villa trips and this year looks like a no for that.
Oh well. Still have trips, still gonna have fun.
And I love weekend trips, those don't cost as much and we typically stay with friends anyway.

[springparrot]

We were going to Jamaica to see Little Feat this weekend---however, with the economy hitting the dumper, we opted to stay home.
We both really wanted to go both to see LF and to celebrate my birthday, but not going to happen.

[Bfan53again]

We were going to Jamaica to see Little Feat this weekend---however, with the economy hitting the dumper, we opted to stay home.
We both really wanted to go both to see LF and to celebrate my birthday, but not going to happen.

Too bad about your trip......the "Feat Fanfest" in Jamaica is something that my wife and I have wanted to do for many years. But, it's one of those excursions that seemingly gets put on the back burner for something else.....

I've spoken to people who have gone and said it is a truly wonderful time. Not unusual for a band member to plop down in the chair next to you while having breakfast and just talk......very cool.

Maybe next year we can get a group of BNers to schedule this trip together, that would be fun.....interested????? If so, I'll keep a list of people and we'll keep the idea alive for 2010......

[PetalMel]

We'll spend a week in Michigan this summer
a week in Key West this fall for MOTM
scattered Florida trop rock days/weekends throughout the summer

wow, you're coming to visit us???? Let me know when so I can make sure the air mattress is ready for you

But in all seriousness, if you are in and around the Flint area, let us know--I'm sure between Dr. Corona and I (assuming our respective families don't mind and don't squander our piggy banks...) we can muster up a few bucks to buy you a drink....

Every summer we fly from Orlando into Flint, rent a car, and drive a couple hours up to East Tawas for a week on the Lake Huron shore. We are usually anxious to get up to the lake, but there is always time for beer with friends!

I have been there almost every summer my whole life.

well, if your Michigan trip is sometime near August 13th are you up to a concert while you are here??? As the time draws near keep us posted and maybe we can meet you for a beer or three. We're only about 10 miles from the airport.

[Bfan53again]

Yesterday's USA TODAY had an interesting article about how hotels/motels/resorts are offereing all kinds of perks to get rooms filled up.......bet the lodging establishments around Buffett concert dates won't offer the same!

And visitors to the Caribbean are really down over the winter. Since tourism is their primary source of income you can see how this recession is truly global and affecting every business......

[sunseeker]

Hasn't changed for me. My employer had a record year last year, and I expect this year to top it. I am looking at my first cross country ride on my Harley, complete with a stop at Alpine if the rumored tour date holds up, a few days at Yosemite, and a cruise thru Sturgis on the way back. If work isn't too busy to let me take the trip.

just curious...what do you do for a living?

[ParrotHeadDeb]

I don't usually vacation much..but I am spending my tax refund this year...to go to the Tampa show with sons and their girlfriends... However, I am planning on saving more this year to help make up for what I lost in my retirement account.

[TSU86]

Staying more local doing things!!!.....it's actually hit me hard!!....My work expenses per Month..were almost double on what i get reimbursed. Mostly gas!!....with the Construction Market down and new home building way down...i worry every day of not having a job.......No plane rides or warm weather winter trips ...until i sell my condo!!....it's been a tough year. But i keep saying...IT HAS TO GET BETTER!!!

I'm with you. I've been in the wholesale building product biz for over 20 years, and I've never seen it this bad. I't gonna be a gruesome year.

I hope to be able to hit Cape Cod with some Mass friends, but it might just wind up being Ocean City Md.

I don't believe I'll be seeing any turqoise water for awhile.

[creeky]

Lets see ...

The aust govt has announced its economic stimulus package ...... if it gets through the senate .. this is what me and my family get ...

ME : $950 cash refund in April (get maximum amount - this is given to all taxpayers with an income below 80K)

Sister : Cash refund as above x 2 (her and her husband) = 1900.00 + $950 for each school age child = 1900 = total of $3800

Ours is going to P & O cruising to pay for our south pacific island cruise in October.

We are lovin this recession !!!

[2ParrotMedics]

Were doing more this year than last year, we did shorten up our August trip due to work issues.

Did a weekend in Biloxi/Gulf Shores in January.
Biloxi the 1st Weekend in March
Weekend in Mobile at the Battle House Hotel for our 3rd Anniversary in May
7 days/6nights on Sanibel Island in August.
Gulf Shores in October with the In-laws.

We orignally planned to drive to Gulf Shores for vacation. when we did the math, it was cheaper to fly to Sanibel.

[springparrot]

We were going to Jamaica to see Little Feat this weekend---however, with the economy hitting the dumper, we opted to stay home.
We both really wanted to go both to see LF and to celebrate my birthday, but not going to happen.

Too bad about your trip......the "Feat Fanfest" in Jamaica is something that my wife and I have wanted to do for many years. But, it's one of those excursions that seemingly gets put on the back burner for something else.....

I've spoken to people who have gone and said it is a truly wonderful time. Not unusual for a band member to plop down in the chair next to you while having breakfast and just talk......very cool.

Maybe next year we can get a group of BNers to schedule this trip together, that would be fun.....interested????? If so, I'll keep a list of people and we'll keep the idea alive for 2010......

You bet!!!
Keep us posted.
Hopefully the economy will improve by then?

and yes, they are a friendly band----we have run into them on the street and they always stop and chat.

[creeky]

I will go if Aust is playing West Indies in the cricket at the time! (Jamaica)

[Bfan53again]

We were going to Jamaica to see Little Feat this weekend---however, with the economy hitting the dumper, we opted to stay home.
We both really wanted to go both to see LF and to celebrate my birthday, but not going to happen.

Too bad about your trip......the "Feat Fanfest" in Jamaica is something that my wife and I have wanted to do for many years. But, it's one of those excursions that seemingly gets put on the back burner for something else.....

I've spoken to people who have gone and said it is a truly wonderful time. Not unusual for a band member to plop down in the chair next to you while having breakfast and just talk......very cool.

Maybe next year we can get a group of BNers to schedule this trip together, that would be fun.....interested????? If so, I'll keep a list of people and we'll keep the idea alive for 2010......

You bet!!!
Keep us posted.
Hopefully the economy will improve by then?

and yes, they are a friendly band----we have run into them on the street and they always stop and chat.

You're on "the list"........and we can only hope that the economy is improving by then, right?

[Missing B'dos]

Even us islanders aren't going so far afield unless we have free tickets or someone else is paying... only to Tobago (US $50 RT) in March, and to Grenada in June with a group... but we get to go to professional conferences where someone else picks up the bill. We count those as vacations, too.

[bixxx]

hasnt
have to go on vacation, great guana cay in march st marten in april and the cape in july we go on the same amount, just have to do it cheaply if i have to eat cheeseburgers and drink caribes at beach bars every night, rather than going out to fancy eats, skip the souveniers, except for bar shirts, use airline miles, use ourt timeshares to trade etc.. no susbstitute for beach vacations

[Bfan53again]

Even us islanders aren't going so far afield unless we have free tickets or someone else is paying... only to Tobago (US $50 RT) in March, and to Grenada in June with a group... but we get to go to professional conferences where someone else picks up the bill. We count those as vacations, too.

Hey, every trip counts......especially this year!!!