The travel deals that are available right now are simply incredible--or cheap if you prefer. The catch is that they are time-sensitive, and require mid-week stays in off season. I try to steer more travelers to these deals I find, especially in California where prices tend to be a bit higher, but alas, those with time on their hands are less willing to spend their precious dollars on deals just yet. What a shame!
With summer arriving in the U.S. soon, I suspect the prices will be soft, though last year's travel should have been a tip off to the coming storm. Staycationing turned popular, local destinations into cattle calls for those sleeping at home at night, then going on drive tips during the day. This year should provide more of the same. Places where the prices are trying to hold include the new luxury resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, where they've yet to release their hotel inventory to the online booking services. With rooms and packages hovering around $700-1000 per night, its clear to see they are targeting an audience not impacted by the economy.
There are some tips that will help you find nice rooms at low prices. Location is not worth the sacrifice of quality, so we tend to shop for nice places with great locations--and explore them more. One soft spot in the armor for now is in Carmel Valley at Carmel Valley Ranch. You just can't beat their renovated rooms, luxury golf, great chefs on site, and oak-studded hills for a getaway to sweep you away. It's on my short list of places to go this spring. But spring is coming fast and all bets are off for our summer tourist season.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Strange Travel in California
The much overlooked traveler that the conventional CVBs (convention and visitors bureaus, or marketing bureaus & associations) don't account for is the spiritual traveler or one on a mission, attending events or places to learn and enhance their well-being with knowledge.
I became aware of this type of traveler when delving into research topics 15 years back. I met a few rock solid people, such as Dr. Bob Wood, a nuclear physicist, who spoke on the topic, "The ET Hypothesis is Not that Bad." This esteemed and respected individual had a unique assignment at one time, he said. While working at the former McDonnell Douglas facility, he created a division to research back-engineering of alien space craft, he said. He and a number of individuals from such companies have a life-long interest in the subject of space travel and et visitation. For the purpose of this blog post, I only mention it because individuals spend billions of dollars traveling the planet to learn more about a variety of subjects that enhance their well being on earth. This is one of the trends in tourism and should not be overlooked in your attempts to recognize and target niche markets.
I became aware of this type of traveler when delving into research topics 15 years back. I met a few rock solid people, such as Dr. Bob Wood, a nuclear physicist, who spoke on the topic, "The ET Hypothesis is Not that Bad." This esteemed and respected individual had a unique assignment at one time, he said. While working at the former McDonnell Douglas facility, he created a division to research back-engineering of alien space craft, he said. He and a number of individuals from such companies have a life-long interest in the subject of space travel and et visitation. For the purpose of this blog post, I only mention it because individuals spend billions of dollars traveling the planet to learn more about a variety of subjects that enhance their well being on earth. This is one of the trends in tourism and should not be overlooked in your attempts to recognize and target niche markets.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Travel Industry in US Scratching Heads to Make Sales
Americans have reduced, removed and foregone the family vacations and weekend getaways, a natural by-product of the sinking U.S. economy and the numbers aren't looking too rosy for travel industry pros who sell everything from hotel rooms to theme park tickets, to vacations and tours. With well over half of the population stating in Februrary that they are going to sharply reduce their vacation expenses, some studies show nearly a 10% drop in leisure travel, but we believe those figures are far too conservative, and think the numbers will be lower.
Hotels, airlines, theme parks, restaurants, meeting planners, cruise lines, and car rental companies are all feeling the pinch. While some wholesalers and retailers are pushing "deals", it turns out the deals are the same sorts of promotions you can find on your own according to travel industry analyst Debbie Stock, publisher of travel websites.
At Disneyland theme park you can get in free on your birthday--and many people are going it alone. By parking in the free three hour parking lot and staying a short time, local residents in California are saving money on entry into the park in Anaheim, Calif., on their birthday and not spending a dime, for instance.
How low can you go? We have seen places such as Carmel Valley Ranch reach their lowest prices since 9-11, said Stock, publisher of VacationTravelChannel.com, Californiabeaches.com, and many other sites. Search for weekday specials before summer arrives, and you'll get the same vacation minus the crowds. You just have to be flexible, the 10-year travel veteran recommends.
Hotels, airlines, theme parks, restaurants, meeting planners, cruise lines, and car rental companies are all feeling the pinch. While some wholesalers and retailers are pushing "deals", it turns out the deals are the same sorts of promotions you can find on your own according to travel industry analyst Debbie Stock, publisher of travel websites.
At Disneyland theme park you can get in free on your birthday--and many people are going it alone. By parking in the free three hour parking lot and staying a short time, local residents in California are saving money on entry into the park in Anaheim, Calif., on their birthday and not spending a dime, for instance.
How low can you go? We have seen places such as Carmel Valley Ranch reach their lowest prices since 9-11, said Stock, publisher of VacationTravelChannel.com, Californiabeaches.com, and many other sites. Search for weekday specials before summer arrives, and you'll get the same vacation minus the crowds. You just have to be flexible, the 10-year travel veteran recommends.
Huntington Beach Uproar over Mechanical Bulls
Huntington Beach's Black Bull Chop House is trying to settle with the city for a plan of operations that will fit the local scene. In this latest rendezvous, the City of Huntington Beach Planning Commission holds a hearing with officials with debates and disagreements over whose responsibility it is to watch patrons' drinking habits, overcrowding, bull-riding raucous behavior and even one complaint of an assault. The HB City Planning Commission could pull the permit that allows this Main Street downtown HB steak joint from selling liquor beverages, play music with DJ's, allow dancing and riding the mechanical bull advertised by the restaurant on cable tv advertisements.
Owner, Cesar Pena, says he wants to focus on the business (profit) and reconcile the disagreements over the way his restaurant is run. Police reports, neighbor comments and a 6-month review of his business operations all led to the concept of taking away his liquor license. Soundproofing of walls, separation of dance floor from fire exits, and other complaints have been examined and may be recommended to Pena and his attorney. It is no surprise that Pier Colony condominium residents that face the venue would not be happy with a new business in this spot, especially one of the hottest new watering holes serving affordable cocktails and entertainment. Several other such restaurants have tried in the spot and failed due to similar complaints and other factors. While mixed use developments seem to bring the downtown regions to life, there's a need for compromise and in this case, the condo owners have to fight for rest and relaxation in their Surf City abodes that overlook the restaurant and have partial views of the Pacific Ocean and famed Huntington Beach Pier (some may).
Owner, Cesar Pena, says he wants to focus on the business (profit) and reconcile the disagreements over the way his restaurant is run. Police reports, neighbor comments and a 6-month review of his business operations all led to the concept of taking away his liquor license. Soundproofing of walls, separation of dance floor from fire exits, and other complaints have been examined and may be recommended to Pena and his attorney. It is no surprise that Pier Colony condominium residents that face the venue would not be happy with a new business in this spot, especially one of the hottest new watering holes serving affordable cocktails and entertainment. Several other such restaurants have tried in the spot and failed due to similar complaints and other factors. While mixed use developments seem to bring the downtown regions to life, there's a need for compromise and in this case, the condo owners have to fight for rest and relaxation in their Surf City abodes that overlook the restaurant and have partial views of the Pacific Ocean and famed Huntington Beach Pier (some may).
Cheesecake Factory, and its California Cheesecake Factory locations offer some of our favorite dishes in prices that are considered mid-range. From Mexican-themed corn breads, to Chinese chicken salads, I've never had a bad meal there yet. The popular chain is growing its offerings by including some delivery options to your home, that is if you live in Orange County. Restaurants on the Run will deliver meals from 850 or so restaurants in Southern California (for a fee, of course).
Based in Aliso Viejo, the delivery I live in includes Huntington Beach, Newport, Balboa, Fountain Valley, and Westminster. For more information, call 949-951-2500.
Not your momma's vacation
When you think of the traditional vacation in Calif., you may think of Ward & June Cleaver with Beaver, Steve Erkel, or the Ozzy Osbourne family going hand in hand into the ocean. I've seen a lot of travelers & tourists, and trust me, the picture I'm getting isn't like that at all!
Take for instance the extreme sports events that attract people to Calif. to compete. Paintball, BMX, skateboard and surfing are a few of the many draws that attract large crowds. What can you expect to see when you visit? Probably anything at all. While California's free for all image is more of a myth than reality, there's still an edge to the ennvironment and hopefully a few suprises will welcome you on a vacation in California.
What you might find appealing is the weather which is generally awesome till you get to the North Coast where it rains over 40 inches per year. That's kind of bummer if you prefer sunshine. And you'll find extremes. From the highest mountain west of the Continental Divide (over 14,000 feet), to the lowest point (below sea level), California does have a variety of things to check out.
When I said it's not your momma's vacation, I was referring to things that suprise conservative destination management organization specialists, especially. If you work in hotels or on the battle line of tourism, you quickly learn to throw the stereotypes out the door. For instance, I got such a kick seeing white-haired grandmas come from Indiana, New Jersey, Minnesota and other parts of the country to a paintball event, to watch their grandkids shoot it out on the beach. Perhaps it's just a new version of cowboys & indians, but still, the tourists aren't as conservative as you may imagine.
Momma may come to your city to attend at a Tattoos & Brews convention (Santa Rosa). I sincerely hope momma shows a little restraint and doesn't get a tattoo on you, kid. Maybe the parents are in town for the UFO convention in Los Angeles, or San Francisco, where they talk to other abductees who have implants and life-long visits from the grays or Nordics. Or maybe your dad is out with the Harley club riding to Cook's Corner for the time-honored Sunday cruise. From surfing santa that rides into town on a surfboard in Santa Cruz, to the surfing priest who blesses the waves in Huntington Beach, you really don't know what to expect in California. And a vacation will hopefully offer up some of the unexpected, pleasant journeys that avail themselves during your visit.
When California Tourism decided to brand the state as a destination a few years back, a theme kept repeating itself. Nutty, like fruits & nuts, hedonistic (as in wine, beer and booze), eco-centric as in green, no smoking, and save the Monarch, and star-crazy as in Hollywood, were bundled in advertisements and print collateral to show that California isn't your momma's traditional vacation.
Take for instance the extreme sports events that attract people to Calif. to compete. Paintball, BMX, skateboard and surfing are a few of the many draws that attract large crowds. What can you expect to see when you visit? Probably anything at all. While California's free for all image is more of a myth than reality, there's still an edge to the ennvironment and hopefully a few suprises will welcome you on a vacation in California.
What you might find appealing is the weather which is generally awesome till you get to the North Coast where it rains over 40 inches per year. That's kind of bummer if you prefer sunshine. And you'll find extremes. From the highest mountain west of the Continental Divide (over 14,000 feet), to the lowest point (below sea level), California does have a variety of things to check out.
When I said it's not your momma's vacation, I was referring to things that suprise conservative destination management organization specialists, especially. If you work in hotels or on the battle line of tourism, you quickly learn to throw the stereotypes out the door. For instance, I got such a kick seeing white-haired grandmas come from Indiana, New Jersey, Minnesota and other parts of the country to a paintball event, to watch their grandkids shoot it out on the beach. Perhaps it's just a new version of cowboys & indians, but still, the tourists aren't as conservative as you may imagine.
Momma may come to your city to attend at a Tattoos & Brews convention (Santa Rosa). I sincerely hope momma shows a little restraint and doesn't get a tattoo on you, kid. Maybe the parents are in town for the UFO convention in Los Angeles, or San Francisco, where they talk to other abductees who have implants and life-long visits from the grays or Nordics. Or maybe your dad is out with the Harley club riding to Cook's Corner for the time-honored Sunday cruise. From surfing santa that rides into town on a surfboard in Santa Cruz, to the surfing priest who blesses the waves in Huntington Beach, you really don't know what to expect in California. And a vacation will hopefully offer up some of the unexpected, pleasant journeys that avail themselves during your visit.
When California Tourism decided to brand the state as a destination a few years back, a theme kept repeating itself. Nutty, like fruits & nuts, hedonistic (as in wine, beer and booze), eco-centric as in green, no smoking, and save the Monarch, and star-crazy as in Hollywood, were bundled in advertisements and print collateral to show that California isn't your momma's traditional vacation.
My First Vacation in California
My first vacation in California was as a teenage girl, visiting a friend for a couple weeks.
I stayed with her in her mom's apartment in Hollywood. It was our home base for teenage wandering-- and enjoying our summer days without any pressures of school. We took many trips to California beaches (which takes a long time on public transportation,) but the memories of California certainly stayed with me, especially after returning to my home in the midwest U.S.
I have traveled all over the world, but have called California my home for many years. Still, living here is a vacation. Every day I ask myself, "When will I feel like I own this place--like I can call it my home and be a resident that really knows it?" That time has not come yet, and for that, I still wake up and find the same enthusiasm that brought me here so many years ago, lingering, staying on, and finding out I really couldn't go back to wherever I came from.
California has its downfalls and problems, but a friend who I've helped train to become a travel writer went on some press trips and wrote stories for me, then returned to California and decided to only travel outside the state on rare occasions when the destination is great. I asked her why she came to this state of affairs after only one year. Her answer was fairly simple, and easy to understand. She said, "I've decided that life in California is a vacation. If I have to downgrade my living standards to travel and write stories about other places, it's not worth it to me. I'm staying in California."
So as you can see, many of us find that California creeps into our blood, and like it or not, we're kind of hooked on this vacation lifestyle we live.
I stayed with her in her mom's apartment in Hollywood. It was our home base for teenage wandering-- and enjoying our summer days without any pressures of school. We took many trips to California beaches (which takes a long time on public transportation,) but the memories of California certainly stayed with me, especially after returning to my home in the midwest U.S.
I have traveled all over the world, but have called California my home for many years. Still, living here is a vacation. Every day I ask myself, "When will I feel like I own this place--like I can call it my home and be a resident that really knows it?" That time has not come yet, and for that, I still wake up and find the same enthusiasm that brought me here so many years ago, lingering, staying on, and finding out I really couldn't go back to wherever I came from.
California has its downfalls and problems, but a friend who I've helped train to become a travel writer went on some press trips and wrote stories for me, then returned to California and decided to only travel outside the state on rare occasions when the destination is great. I asked her why she came to this state of affairs after only one year. Her answer was fairly simple, and easy to understand. She said, "I've decided that life in California is a vacation. If I have to downgrade my living standards to travel and write stories about other places, it's not worth it to me. I'm staying in California."
So as you can see, many of us find that California creeps into our blood, and like it or not, we're kind of hooked on this vacation lifestyle we live.
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