Vacation savings: Are we there yet?
Travel-book publisher Pauline Frommer talks with host Stacey Vanek-Smith about where good vacation deals can be found this summer. And Stacey looks into what it costs to camp.
Beach chair and piggy bank (iStockPhoto)
Adventure 16 Assistant Manager Heather Christianson. (Stacey Vanek-Smith / Marketplace).
TEXT OF STORY
Stacey Vanek-Smith: With all the news of housing prices, job losses and government bailouts you might have forgotten... It's summer! Vacation season!
Of course, many of us -- myself included -- didn't book our trips because of worries about the economy. AAA reports the number of Americans traveling this weekend is at a three-year low, even though gas prices are roughly half what they were last year. But it's not too late for us.
Pauline Frommer, of the travel book Frommer's, writes a series of budget travel books. We asked her to give us the skinny on where the good vacation deals are this summer.
Pauline Frommer: We are seeing the best deals in travel to pretty much every part of the globe that I have ever seen in my career in travel. And that includes the period right after 9/11, when travel was depressed as well.
I returned from Rome just this Saturday. My plane out there was half empty. We were all able to lie down in entire rows of seats. A year ago, that would've been a fantasy.
Vanek-Smith: I, myself, did not plan a summer vacation, because we were all sort of waiting to see with our finances. Now of course, we're going crazy and have decided we have to take some kind of summer vacation. What do you recommend for people like me who didn't plan ahead?
Frommer: Sure. The thing that you do is you follow the disasters in where you travel.
Vanek-Smith: Like an ambulance chaser, only for travel.
Frommer: Yes, be an ambulance chaser this summer for travel. For example, Ireland. The Celtic Tiger is now a pussy cat. It's seen its economy melt down and we've seen incredible air/hotel packages to Ireland for the summer months -- $699 for airfare from New York, six-day care rental and vouchers for B&Bs all over the country. Iceland, another example. Great prices in Iceland. Go where the disasters are.
The housing crisis is hitting people who have bought vacation condos. So you can play "Let's Make a Deal." I was actually looking at Hawaii. They lost a full 25 percent of the flights that used to get there, when Aloha Airlines went bankrupt and ATA. I've seen two-bedroom condos going for as little as $80 a night on the island of Maui.
Vanek-Smith: Wow, I'm sold. If people are having trouble with their finances right now, what's the best approach to planning a trip?
Frommer: Travel providers really are desperate. What I'm worried about is we're going to start seeing some go belly up. So this may be the first year that you consider getting travel insurance. I'm not talking about a hotel night or an airfare, but if you're going to take a cruise, if you're going to take a package tour, if you're going to rent an apartment, you may want to get insurance, just to protect your money.
Vanek-Smith: You can find more of Pauline Frommer's tips on frugal travel on our Web site at marketplace.org.
Another cheap option? Camping. Kampgrounds of America has seen a record number of reservations and they say the number of rookie campers is up 20 percent over last year. So I headed down to a local outdoors store, Adventure 16, to find out what it costs to finance a camping trip.
Assistant Manager Heather Christianson helps me figure out what I need. She says she's seeing a lot more people like me.
Heather Christianson: We're seeing a lot fewer people looking for the high-end toys -- the new, cool GPS watch or the brand new tent that's 4 ounces lighter than their previous tent. People aren't really shopping for that. What we are seeing a lot more of it people who are price conscious, they're looking for activities they can do on a budget, and they may be new to this.
And there are some basics every beginner needs, like a tent.
Christianson: The basic ones will run you anywhere around $175, all the way up to $400.
Right. The $175 one looks fine. Next on the list: a sleeping bag.
Christianson: This is part of the UltraLamina series by Mountain Hardware. It's also incredibly light, if you feel it.
Vanek-Smith: And how much is it?
Christianson: Something like that usually runs you about 190, 200 bucks.
So, $175 for the tent and $200 for the sleeping bag.
Christianson: Pack up! And now you want to tighten up those shoulder straps.
Vanek-Smith: Oh wow, OK.
Christianson: Do you feel how that pulls on your lower back?
Vanek-Smith: Yeah. Whoa yeah.
Christianson: Good.
The not-so-good thing about this Gregory Frame backpack is the $200 price tag, which brings my grand total to $575. And I'm not done yet.
Christianson: Hiking poles: from $40 to $110. Socks: about $16 a pair. Boots: $200. Fifty bucks for a pair of hiking pants that zip off at the knee. Synthetic shirt:$30-$35.
Doesn't take long to hit the thousand dollar mark. Especially since there are all of these tempting gadgets around, like the Jetboil cook stove for 100 bucks.
Christianson: It will boil a liter of water in about 40, 45 seconds, even at 11,000 feet.
Vanek-Smith: Wow.
Christianson: Are you familiar with JetBoil?
Warren Linz: Yeah, I love it.
Christianson: Yeah, it's my stove.
Warren Linz was there shopping, too. He's a veteran backpacker.
Vanek-Smith: So you have the fancy stove. Do you spend a lot on gear?
Linz: Yes, I do. I spend a hell of a lot on gear. And it's not cheap. It's not cheap. It's not like you're saving money. I probably spend more on my gear than at the Four Seasons for the weekend.
Oh, but Heather says she can trick out a family of four for around $500, if they rent their gear. Warren says even with all his gear, though, he spends a few hundred dollars before every camping trip. But to Warren, a week in the wilderness: priceless.
Linz: It's not about the money necessarily, no. It's about getting out there, tasting the fresh air. To me it's a place where you find a bit of peace and quiet and silence.
Comments
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From Durham, NC, 07/13/2009
I know it's way late from when the story ran, but, I'm slow catching back up on MP podcasts. Thanks to a week-long semi-furlough and a little vacation time, my girlfriend and I went to Iceland around Independence Day for 10 days. We had a wonderful time making a lap of the country. From Reykjavik to Akureyri to Jokulsson, people were unbelievably nice and not panicky about their situation.
We primarily got the idea from hearing the prior mentions of Iceland and its economic crisis on MP and MPM, and seeing the exchange rates keep tilting in favor of the USD solidified it. And while it wasn't CHEAP cheap, it was really quite reasonable for a European trip when all was said and done.
So, thanks guys!
07/05/2009
Other posters have made the point about car camping vs. backpacking and the deals that can be found. Even if gear for a family camping trip cost $1000, camping in state or national parks for a week is far cheaper than motels and restaurants. I'm a backpacker, and it's true good quality gear for a week or more in the backcountry cost some money. When I go, I'm prob. carrying more than $1000 worth of gear (purchased piece by piece over the years) and all together it weighs less than 12 pounds. Even at that, I've found bargains--my stove isn't a JetBoil (which, incidentally, isn't particularly lightweight and doesn't come close to boiling a liter of water in 45 seconds); instead, I have an alcohol-burning stove I made from 2 beer cans and a penny. It burns shellac thinner from the hardware store, weighs less than an ounce and cost--a penny. Another example: I wear trail runners instead of boots, and I bought the pair I have one closeout for $40--not $200. The excellent leather boots I used to wear did cost about $200, but they've lasted more than 12 years. Sure, most of us *are* gear junkies like the gentleman interviewed, but most of us also sell or trade used gear as we upgrade. Until recently, my sleeping bag and backpack were used gear I bought from a friend for less than half the cost of new. And they lasted me more than a decade. Backpacking gear costs are actually quite modest, compared to other hobbies/recreations. How much does a titanium golf driver cost, or a motorcycle, or alpine skis, boots and bindings? Spending "a couple hundred" before a week in the wilderness sounds like a lot, and is more than I typically spend, but when was the last time you talked to someone who went on a weeklong (non-hiking) vacation and spent that little? If that figure includes food and gas to the trailhead, it's a pretty good deal (and I say this as someone who once spent 7 months hitchhiking thru Europe and spent $3000 total, including airfare). Stories like this perpetuate the myth that backpacking is an activity purely for upper middle class yuppies, rather than a pursuit enjoyed by a wide swath of the population, of all income levels, occupations and political persuasions.
From Phillips Ranch, CA, 07/05/2009
Your story by Stacey Vanek-Smith on the cost of camping incredibly inaccurate. All of the equipment spoken of was primarily for backpacking. If a family wants to go camping for the first time it should be ‘car camping’. From zero to go a family of four can go to either a Wal-Mart of Target and completely outfit themselves for less than $200. Most of what they need they probably already own. Expensive light weight sleeping bags for high altitude camping are not needed. Blankets from home, or inexpensive cotton sleeping bags from a big box store are all that is required. Add a larger multi-room tent, propane cook stove and they would be good to go. Please, next time a little common sense.
From pasadena, CA, 07/05/2009
Sadly, your Marketplace story on camping was really misleading. It's a shame because the tight economy could lead some people who otherwise might never try it, to discover the joys of the outdoors. Yes, we're all attracted to the wonderful gear that's available now, but it's certainly not necessary. I've always been a subscriber to the theory that if you haven't mastered the sport or activity, you don't really deserve the best stuff. Good camping gear lasts a long time; it would have been nice to mention that sites like craigslist can allow you to find good equipment at a fraction of the cost of new. It's camping after all; we're supposed to be communing, not consuming.
From Beverly Hills, CA, 07/05/2009
Pauline Frommer talked about buying travel insurance. I've reserved a hotel room at the Oberoi in Bali and Lombok. It's thousands of dollars for the two weeks and no refund if I cancel in less that 20 days. Should I buy travel insurance? If so what is a reputable firm?
From Chestertown, MD, 07/05/2009
I was disappointed to hear that the gist of the camping story was that a weekend in the woods is more expensive than staying in a hotel. This is generally untrue. The equipment that Vanek-Smith was looking at, even though it wasn't the most expensive in the store, is still considered high-end when compared to what's available from big-box stores and discount websites. This level of equipment is only useful for multi-day backpacking trips when one carries all of their gear over many miles of trail such that low weight is important, and is not even necessary in that case--I still use a 30-year old external frame pack I bought used for $15. When places like KOA are mentioned, we're talking about CAR camping, not backpacking, which means that you probably have most of what you need at home, and that any new gear can be heavy and cheap. Walmart offers a 4-person tent for $29, a single-burner stove for $18 (plus fuel), and sleeping bags start at $20. There's no need for hi-tech clothing, and a pack is not necessary for car camping. There's no reason you couldn't outfit a family of four for a long weekend for less than $300. In addition, every piece of gear can last for years of use, so to compare the cost of these one-time purchases to a stay at a hotel is unreasonable. It's a shame that your story couldn't focus on the accessibility of this hobby, especially in these times of an increasing disconnect between Americans and Nature.
From west orange, NJ, 07/05/2009
I would love some tips on how to travel inexpensively in Poland and Germany. How do I find deals on lodging and van rental. We are doing a family roots trip and our group of 13 is pretty big. Any suggestions are welcome
From Banner Elk, NC, 07/04/2009
I want to know more about that Ireland deal Pauline Frommer mentioned. I've been looking and can't find ---???
From Indianapolis, IN, 07/04/2009
This story on camping was a bit of a lark. How many newbie campers are looking to go backpacking in the wilderness? Many of these people are looking for an inexpensive vacation and do not need most, if ANY, of the specialty equipment.
These folks should be choosing a modern campground (with electric at each site and nearby restrooms with running water toilets & hot water showers) so that they can ease their way into camping. The campground should either have natural resources that the camper would enjoy using (for example, spending a week of days on the sandy beaches of Michigan's South Higgins Lake State Park or maybe amazing hiking trails that wind through beautiful wooded geologic wonders such as those in Indiana's Turkey Run State Park which also has a public swimming pool for when your feet are hot & tired after a morning hike). Alternately, they might choose a campgound that is near sites that interest them, for example, Michigan's Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping with its 1 mile of shoreline, views of the Mackinaw bridge, free shuttles to the Mackinaw Island ferries and within a short drive of many area attractions.
Once you've chosen a campground that has a variety of activities that suit your interests, you really only need a reasonable sized tent (keeping in mind that a 4-person tent sleeps 4 people laying side by side by side and leaves no room for a suitcase with clothes and usually doesn't include enough space for amenities like an air mattress for each person). For a 4-person family, you might consider a 6- or 8-person tent (such as the Coleman Elite Montana which offers 7' x 16' of space for under $250). This is NOT the kind of fancy, super lightweight tents that the salesperson in this story was offering you. This is a CAR camping tent that you toss in your trunk then drive up to your campsite and pull it out to set it up. No hiking involved, but most novices won't particularly enjoy having to hike in their gear and hike out their gear, so this is a very affordable away to try out camping.
You can try out pack hiking with day hikes using any ol' backpack that you have available. For some people, hiking in the heat with a backpack trapping the sweat on your back isn't particularly enjoyable, so if you're new to backpack camping, borrow or rent the fancy equipment for the first couple of trips.
If you're just looking for an inexpensive and easy vacation, "car" camping with a big family tent at an electic site is a terrific option. You can bring along your electric skillet from home for making eggs, bacon, pancakes & such for breakfast (no need to buy a camping stove, particularly not a jet powered, heats in under a minute high-end model!). Lunch is simple sandwiches, hot dogs or other simple fair with sides of potato or pasta salads or cut fruit & veggies that were prepared at home and packed into a cooler. Dinner can be can be cooked over & on the campfire. Grilled meats & cooked-on-the-coals foil wrapped veggies such as sliced pototatos with onions & butter or cornn or the cob cooked in its husk make easy sides and backed, buttered apples with cinnamon or s'more are wonderful desserts.
Because you aren't hiking in all of your food to a backpack site, you can bring a couple of coolers, one packed with plenty of beverages and the other packed with foods. You also don't need special pots, pans, plates, eating utensils, etc. You can make due with regular items from your kitchen (or if you want to cook everything on the fire (or on your gas stove) and are worried about ruining your quaility everyday cookware, you can pick up old pots/pans from garage sales or thrift shops).
When you're car camping, you don't even have to spend money on a sleeping bag. Go cushy with your camping by making sure that everyone has an air mattress (twin size $12, queen size $30 plus small portable air pump for $25 or for $20-$30 more per mattress, splurge on mattresses that have a pump integrated with each matress). You don't need super-lightweight, or special temperature range sleeping bags. You can get inexpensive sleeping bags for $25-$50 per person or go even more affordable by filling up a couple heavy-duty garbage bags with pillows, blankets & sheets that you already have on hand.
Some camping items are worth the investment, even for those who are looking for affordable vacations. For example, having at least one lantern that can be set on the table to light up a late dinner or to illuminate a game of cards, or can be hung from the center of the tent at bedtime to make it easier for everyone to find their PJs and climb into bed. Specialty matches that will light even when wet. A tarp to protect the bottom of your tent from sharp sticks/rocks that could compromise the water-tight integrity of the floor. A small handbroom & dust pan for sweeping out the tent before you take it down. A canopy or screen tent so that you can eat meals without broiling in the sun or getting soaked by rain. Lawn chairs / chairs in a bag for everyone to loiter around a the campfire every evening.
There are lots of other items that can make camping more comfortable for newbies & old-timers such as old rugs for just outside & just inside the tent entrance to help minimize the tracking of dirt into the tent, butane lighters, small electric fans or heaters meant for hanging from the ceiling of a tent to make camping more comfortable in hot or cold weather, fire starter sticks that can really help for starting stubborn fires (wet wood, green wood, windy conditions).
All in all, you can probably get away with a $250 tent, $100 for two reasonable sized coolers, $100 for air mattresses & air pump, $40 for a canopy and maybe $50-100 for miscellaneous gear for a family of 4 to go "car" camping, or a total of $500-$600 for gear that can be used year after year.
From Bristol, VA, 07/04/2009
I did not find more information about foreign vacation bargains, viz. Spain, Italy, Mexico, Costa Rica.
TJCantwell
From Westerville, OH, 07/04/2009
Are you guys nuts? If you've never been camping before and you're interested in it because you're short on cash, you're not going go to a specialty backpacker type camping store to pop for a $300 tent and sleeping bag and head off for a backpacking trip in the wilderness! Not unless you're insane. What you do is buy a $40 sack from Walmart and a $99 tent from same and find one of the many, many, many campgrounds that you can drive to that get you close enough to the wilderness to satisfy a former Holiday Inn-er. Hell, I've gone without the tent and slept in the back of my pickup.
From Arlington, TX, 07/03/2009
What a great story on ways to save money this summer. Though your story was correct in noting that buying brand new gear for a camping trip can easily run $500+ I was a bit dismayed to hear that the one gentleman who was interviewed spent $100's each trip. I would like to mention that one can easily get but for under $500 with some wonderful gear with a bit of comparison shopping. I'd also like to mention that most any equipment you purchase now will last you years if you take care of it. I'd also say rent the big things you need and borrow the others from friends or family. I hope more people go camping this summer, use what they have and enjoy spending time outside.
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