Planning a group, solo or family vacation on a dime is a lot easier at the present than it was before these lovely recessionary times hit us smack dab in the jaw. If you are one of the few in this country that can still afford a vacation, you are very lucky as, for the most part, there are still just as many hotels, motels, planes, trains, buses and tourist attractions vying for your business in 2010 as there was in 2004, but exponentially less consumers who can actually manage a normal vacation or three in their personal or family fiscal reality. And because of this fact, you can expect and ask for a lot more for each dollar you spend than you previously could earlier in the 2000s. Because of that, a cheap vacation doesn’t necessarily have to mean skimping on amenities, extras and quality any more.
In today’s economic reality in the hospitality industry, hotels, airlines, tourist attractions and vacation destination states and cities are falling over themselves to try and snare your business. So you do not need to accept anything less than the best or even think about compromising for something other than what you and your family or friends really are looking for in a vacation plan. Expect the best in service, amenities, extras and freebies – and if you aren’t getting it from one provider, go to their competition or a different location and you likely will get what you want from another provider. You should ask for and expect upgrades to better hotel rooms or better situation hotel rooms in the least, low air fares, free bonuses like play, concert or other event tickets in conjunction with your flight booking or hotel stay.
You can often save money by planning your vacation on your own at the best of times, but now in these down recession times, you can save even more by getting creative and not just accepting what is advertised or offered. Ask for a lower price, ask for free dinner coupons, ask for a bigger room or a class upgrade on your flight. And if they don’t give it to you, ask their competition and enjoy for once being on the winning end of them battling for your business instead of you and your bank account getting worked over for their benefit. These times will not last forever, so if you can afford to take a trip, be sure take advantage of the savings now before they are gone.
