Travel Costs Set to Outpace Inflation
Dan Reed, USA Today, reports that according to the American Express Global Business Travel Forecast, the average cost of a domestic business trip — including airfare, lodging and car rental — will rise 6 percent in 2008 to $1,110. The international business trip will average nearly 7 percent more, or $3,171….High oil prices…increase in rental car rates next year of 4 percent or less…PKF Hospitality Research predicts the average room rate in the U.S. will go up about 5.3 percent, to just over $109 a night. But rates in the luxury segment will rise 6.6 percent to an average of nearly $309 a night.
Dollar devaluation is affecting the purchasing capacity of Americans on international trips is dropping , especially pertinent to the European Union. As the dollar falls some more, and travel prices go up at the same time, the American tourist gets hit with a double whammy of a less powerful dollar and higher traveling costs.
Speaking about costs, the Baltimore Sun has a list of gift suggestions from travel gurus, with costs. Amy Ziff, Travelocity’s editor-at-large, suggests “A pure pashmina shawl ($75-$100), a 55-hour iPod Battery Extender ($80), Peace of Mind On-the-Spot Relief (lotion) from Origins ($10). “
And if you’re anywhere near Laguna Beach, there’s an exhibition of Wayne Thiebaud’s pictures of cakes, pies and other sweets at the Laguna Art Museum.
Robert L. Pincus, Union Tribune art critic, writes that Thiebaud would apply the paint so lushly that you could almost taste the frosting.
So, you can see the cake and taste it, but don’t try to eat it…
Posted on December 9th, 2007 by PLing
Filed under: Travel News
No!!! Not my travel budget! But it’s true, it’s getting harder and harder to afford even modest vacations- I can’t imagine what’s going to happen for people who have to travel for business, but perhaps they’ll just write it off.
On the reverse side though, American travel industries are benefiting from foreign travelers comming to the US to take advantage of the historically low dollar. I was out in Palm Desert to shop this past weekend and the number of tourist busses was easily doubled.