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.
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