Mar 6, 2008
The most important recent developments in travel are, in my view, 14 in number -- and here are the first 7
A smart traveler takes the time to review the big developments in travel, because these larger trends can inform your own vacation decisions. Some are awfully obvious, and yet deserve renewed attention:
1. The dramatic decline of the U.S. dollar. That drop affects not only a possible trip to western Europe (whose Euro and British Pound have risen greatly in cost), but also to Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, whose currencies have also risen greatly. Your most obvious course is to substitute a trip to Central or South America, or to Asia other than Japan, where the U.S. dollar remains relatively strong. Or else you must adopt radically different policies for arranging your lodgings (vacation homes or apartments, rooms in private homes, hostels) in travel to western Europe.
2. The ever-larger cruiseship. The cruiselines continue to build vessels for up to 4,000 passengers, and the only smaller new ships are those of "premium" lines costing an arm and a leg. If you are to avoid the cruiseship crowds, you must learn how to use the websites of the various cruise discounters, who occasionally -- very occasionally -- have bargains to offer on the smaller luxury vessels.
3. The contined strength of the airfare aggregators. Such names as Kayak (www.kayak.com), SideStep (www.sidestep.com), Farechase (farechase.yahoo.com), Momondo (www.momondo.com), and Mobissimo Travel (www.mobissimo.com) are popular because they impartially list all the low-cost airfares available to you. They do not sell air tickets, but simply direct you to the relevant airlines.
4. The growth of the vacation exchange industry. "You stay in their home while they stay in yours". The 2006 Hollywood film, The Holiday, has caused a torrent of Americans to pay attention to this single most logical, sensible and effective method of reducing your lodgings costs.
5. The increasing popularity of free hospitality services. Websites like www.couchsurfing.com, www.globalfreeloaders.com, and www.usservas.org, enable you to enjoy free hospitality.
6. The growing trend towards the rental of vacation homes and apartments. A giant movement. More and more Americans have learned that a vacation home or apartment can cost considerably less than an equivalent hotel room or rooms. Try HomeAway (www.homeaway.com), among others, for obtaining such a lodging.
7. The increase in bargain-priced re-positioning cruises. As more and more cruiseships alternate between the Caribbean (winter) and European waters (spring and summer), and need to move between one area and the other (re-positioning), there's been a tremendous rise in the number of cruises costing as little as $60 a day. Go to VacationsToGo.com (www.vacationstogo.com) for the most clearly-identified listing of re-positioning cruises.
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1. The dramatic decline of the U.S. dollar. That drop affects not only a possible trip to western Europe (whose Euro and British Pound have risen greatly in cost), but also to Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, whose currencies have also risen greatly. Your most obvious course is to substitute a trip to Central or South America, or to Asia other than Japan, where the U.S. dollar remains relatively strong. Or else you must adopt radically different policies for arranging your lodgings (vacation homes or apartments, rooms in private homes, hostels) in travel to western Europe.
2. The ever-larger cruiseship. The cruiselines continue to build vessels for up to 4,000 passengers, and the only smaller new ships are those of "premium" lines costing an arm and a leg. If you are to avoid the cruiseship crowds, you must learn how to use the websites of the various cruise discounters, who occasionally -- very occasionally -- have bargains to offer on the smaller luxury vessels.
3. The contined strength of the airfare aggregators. Such names as Kayak (www.kayak.com), SideStep (www.sidestep.com), Farechase (farechase.yahoo.com), Momondo (www.momondo.com), and Mobissimo Travel (www.mobissimo.com) are popular because they impartially list all the low-cost airfares available to you. They do not sell air tickets, but simply direct you to the relevant airlines.
4. The growth of the vacation exchange industry. "You stay in their home while they stay in yours". The 2006 Hollywood film, The Holiday, has caused a torrent of Americans to pay attention to this single most logical, sensible and effective method of reducing your lodgings costs.
5. The increasing popularity of free hospitality services. Websites like www.couchsurfing.com, www.globalfreeloaders.com, and www.usservas.org, enable you to enjoy free hospitality.
6. The growing trend towards the rental of vacation homes and apartments. A giant movement. More and more Americans have learned that a vacation home or apartment can cost considerably less than an equivalent hotel room or rooms. Try HomeAway (www.homeaway.com), among others, for obtaining such a lodging.
7. The increase in bargain-priced re-positioning cruises. As more and more cruiseships alternate between the Caribbean (winter) and European waters (spring and summer), and need to move between one area and the other (re-positioning), there's been a tremendous rise in the number of cruises costing as little as $60 a day. Go to VacationsToGo.com (www.vacationstogo.com) for the most clearly-identified listing of re-positioning cruises.
Write and read comments about this post.
Labels: tips
Fifty years ago, 
Arthur Frommer is generally acknowledged to be the nation's foremost travel authority. He is the founder of the
