Backyard Hammock by bowena/flickr.com
It’s a buyers’ market for vacation travel this summer — and still, an awful lot of Americans are just staying home.
The economy’s lousy. Jobs are lost or wobbly. Money’s short. How ‘bout a “staycation”? Maybe a campfire in the backyard?
We all need recharging. Rejuvenation. The restorative pause from work and everyday life that brings back the glow.
What are your plans this summer? We’ll hear from travel pros this hour about great deals out there, and about making the most of your own backyard if you’re not hitting the road.
This hour, On Point: Restorative vacation strategies on the cheap, in the summer of the Great Recession.
You can join the conversation. Tell us what you think — here on this page, on Twitter, and on Facebook.
-Tom Ashbrook
Guests:
Joining us from Los Angeles is Catharine Hamm, editor of the Los Angeles Times’ Travel section, where she writes the “On the Spot” column.
From New York, we’re joined by Nina Willdorf, editor-in-chief of the magazines Budget Travel and Girlfriend Getaways.
And from Santa Monica, Calif., we’re joined by Joe Robinson, a work-life coach and author of “Work to Live: The Guide to Getting a Life.”
More links:
If you’re searching for travel deals, a couple of our staff favorites are Travel Zoo and Kayak.
The LA Times’ Daily Travel & Deal blog is worth a visit, along with NYTimes.com’s Frugal Traveler blog. And The New York Times’ Practical Traveler columnist Michelle Higgins is full of good tips.
And in the Detroit Free Press, Ellen Creager writes about “staycations” as “thrifty summer adventures.” Some interesting facts she pulls together:
- Only one-third of Americans will take at least a week’s vacation away from home this summer, according to a new Harris Poll.
- One in six won’t even take their earned vacation days off. One in 5 workers are actually afraid to take a vacation because they might lose their jobs, according to the jobs listing service Career Builder.
- Nearly two-thirds are considering replacing a regular vacation with a vacation in the backyard, according to the National S’mores Vacation Survey conducted for the Hershey Co.
And Creager adds this reassuring note to parents:
Year after year in the Detroit Free Press’ annual “What I Did on My Summer Vacation” contest, children mention the same highlights. And they’re not trips to Europe.
They are, in order: making s’mores at a campfire; river tubing or canoeing; visiting a zoo; having a sleepover in the yard; jumping on a trampoline or inflatable moonwalk; horseback riding; fishing; hiking with Dad or Mom.
Tags: entertainment
My friend’s sister and brother in law have a huge, beautiful house on a wonderful lowcountry river. It has a great dock and a pool and spa. They are going on vaction; my friend and I are house- and dog-sitting. Life is good and everybody’s happy!!
Posted by Rosemary, on July 10th, 2009 at 9:23 am EDTMy boyfriend and I are taking advantage of a great opportunity. We’re spending two weeks in London flat-sitting for a good friend of his while she is away in Los Angeles.
Posted by Nathan, on July 10th, 2009 at 11:12 am EDTThe reason people are not going on vacations Catharine is that WE DON”T HAVE THE MONEY!
Were have you been, my wages are down, my wife has taken a pay freeze this year. We spent all our extra cash on a new roof for the house.
I hate to seem like a killjoy but this show is verging on the delusional.
Posted by Putney Swope, on July 10th, 2009 at 11:13 am EDTMy girlfriend and I were supposed to celebrate our 5-year anniversary in DC next week. Just a couple hours ago we decided to cancel our weekend trip. We wanted to make this trip special and decided that there would be too much compromise if we wanted to make this a “budget-minded’ trip.
Posted by Michael, on July 10th, 2009 at 11:13 am EDTI’ll be heading up to the family summer house on Plum Island. I’m also going on a canoe trip, the Moose River bow trip, in Northwestern Maine. That is cheap with no frills, but who wants frills when you smell of camp smoke?
Posted by Rob, on July 10th, 2009 at 11:15 am EDTEvery June I ride the week-long Bicycle Ride Across Georgia; affordable, active, outdoors – and a true getaway. There are similar rides in other states, and many shorter form bike events for people of varied abilities.
Posted by Michael Lachowski, on July 10th, 2009 at 11:23 am EDT—–
Michael Lachowski
706-207-1973
PO Box 749, Athens, GA 30603
My family is joining my sister’s family, my 2 brothers and their wives and our parents at a beach house in Oak Island, NC. We’ll be there for a week and it will be less than $500 per family for the entire stay. Can’t wait!
Posted by Beth Bedard, on July 10th, 2009 at 11:23 am EDTWe are looking to rent a cottage in Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Michigan, preferably lakefront property. Does anyone know of a good resource to look for affordable cottage rentals?
Posted by Ulrich, on July 10th, 2009 at 11:25 am EDTI was planning to go backpacking on the Connecticut section of the Appalachian Trail with my hiking partners. It was to be a part of my state-by-state through-hike plan for completing the entire Appalachian Trail.
Now that a certain hiker from South Carolina gave it a bad name, I get snickers from my friends.
Brian
Posted by Brian Kirsh, on July 10th, 2009 at 11:32 am EDTI am sorry but hese ’super fares’ quoted a moment ago $59 one way add up to $120 both ways plus airport and other taxes of at least $60 so really ‘untrue’ advertising strategy that should be banned!!!!
Posted by Dana, on July 10th, 2009 at 11:34 am EDTWe’ve been biking everywhere that we can. We’re from Northampton, MA and there are lots of neat trails all around and, also, lots of mountains to hike up.
Also, there are LOTS of camping areas with mountain biking/hiking trails, as well. It’s about $12 a night to camp out, if you’re a Mass resident and $18, or so, if you’re from out of state. Not a bad deal, and it’s great fun to sit outside in front of the campfire no matter how old you are.
We also have a Wal-Mart raft that we blow up and take out on any body of water we can find. Again, great fun and it costs nothing but the $20 some odd for the raft.
There are lots of cheap ways to get away and enjoy the beauty of nature!
Thanks, Dani
Posted by Dani, on July 10th, 2009 at 11:37 am EDTJust like real estate, the time to take advantage of cheap travel is now. We canceled cable, all subscriptions, downgraded cell phone plans, have 2 meatless days per week, etc. starting last year to “get our money right.”
Went to Spain and Portugal by purchasing SUPER cheap fares in March when recessionary angst was high. Using hotel points, was able to have entire trip paid off and budget set aside for the trip before we left. It did wonders to help everyone relax and refocus.
Also went to DC for the 4th dirt cheap even with plane and hotel purchased week of travel.
We were inspired by guy who went around the world after leaving his job…http://nodebtworldtravel.com
We need to create experiences and memories with the people we love…Take a picnic to a local park with your family. This can be done for little or no money when we prioritize it over iPhones and what not…
Posted by Doshi, on July 10th, 2009 at 11:40 am EDTAlso, check out the East Mountain Retreat Center in Great Barrington, MA. It’s $30 suggested donation per night. It’s not a family thing, just for those who are looking for a spiritual getaway, but it’s beautiful and worth the trip.
The retreat center also acts as a hostel for Appalachian Trail hikers for $10 a night. You get a hotplate, shower, bathroom and place to sleep for cheap.
Check out all day meditation retreats or weekend retreats that you can take. I realize these would only work for the spiritually minded, but it’s a great way to take a break from work and responsibility.
Really there are lots of great ways to get away out there!
Posted by Dani, on July 10th, 2009 at 11:41 am EDTSummer is a great time to re-connect with family and friends in far away places. We’ll be visiting my best friend and her family in upstate New York soon and are looking forward to hosting a cousin’s family later in the summer. If everyone pitches in with the grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, and stirring the sangria, the laughter, relaxation, and memories soon follow. Even if you indulge in better wine and gourmet ingredients or go out to dinner together, you can still do this on a budget.
Posted by Rebecca, on July 10th, 2009 at 11:45 am EDTI’m having a hard time listening to all of the inexpensive air-fare vacations. When considering your vacation, please don’t forget to include the cost to our environment. Air travel has a HUGE carbon footprint. We will all be paying more in the future as climate change affects become more evident. Stay close to home and plant a tree!
Posted by Dee, on July 10th, 2009 at 11:48 am EDTMy husband, 18-month old daughter, and I are meeting family halfway in Pennsylvania to go to farm camp in the middle of Amish country.
For $110 a night for rooms that sleep four, we get breakfast and we get to do chores & activities on the farm (gather eggs for breakfast, feed animals, dress up in Amish clothes.
They also provide a grill and a fridge, so you can save money on lunch and dinner, too.
There’s also a ton to do nearby.
http://www.thegreenacresfarm.com
Posted by camille, on July 10th, 2009 at 11:55 am EDTMy BF and I just got back from a trip which was flat our the ‘best vacation ever’. Did 2 days of white water rafting and a day of canopy tour/zip line thru the forest in West Virginia. We convened with nature, ate great food at the site/center, and met great people. We challenged ourselves on the river and I got over a fear of heights in the forest! It was fun, affordable and awesome. Rivermen.com was the website, and they couldn’t have been more accomodating trying to get our ‘best deal’. We will definately return and vacation in the mountains and the beauty of kind people, mother nature etc. Great group trip, girl weekend or family get away. can’t say enough good stuff.
Posted by Ann, on July 10th, 2009 at 11:57 am EDTMy family goes every summer to Star Island (www.starisland.org), 10 miles off the coast of Portsmouth, NH. It’s not super cheap, but kids 5 and under pay no room and board and there are scholarship and honor system discounts available. It’s a great way to be in community with others, unplug from the hustle-bustle and stress, and get recharged. The food is good, all meals are included, lots to do, including just rocking on the porch overlooking the ocean. Many kids who go to Star with their families work there in college and go back with their families! You will come back!
Posted by Becky, on July 10th, 2009 at 12:16 pm EDTSome convents and other religious houses rent out rooms to travelers. Try the book, “Bed and Blessings” for some listings in Italy:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Bed-and-Blessings-Italy/June-Walsh/e/9780809138487/?itm=5
Cheers
Posted by Susan, on July 10th, 2009 at 2:47 pm EDTFirst weekend of month: free “Museums on Us” courtesy of Bank of America if you have a Bank of America credit card. So, buy a family day pass for the bus fare and hop through one or two museums or a local park, and you’ll have a full interesting day.
Also check Spirit Airlines. Got a round trip ticket Ft Lauderdale-Boston for $37 with taxes included.
Posted by M Barrera, on July 10th, 2009 at 7:54 pm EDTA wonderful way to combine inexpensive travel with cultural exchange and working for peace in the world is through USServas.org. This organization has hosts in 130 countries who offer two nights free housing to approved travelers in return for conversation. The idea is that we can create peace one friendship at a time.
Posted by Phyllis Chinn, on July 10th, 2009 at 8:16 pm EDT[...] A Summer Rest, For Less | WBUR and NPR – On Point with Tom AshbrookWe are looking to rent a cottage in Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Michigan, preferably lakefront property. Does anyone know of a good resource to look for affordable cottage rentals? Posted by Ulrich, on July 10th, 2009 at 11:25 am EDT … read more… [...]
Posted by Wisconsin lakefront properties | Lakefront Properties and Houses, on July 11th, 2009 at 5:33 pm EDTWe were just offered free use of a 4-bedroom country house with a pool and the home-owners’ car thrown in. It’s called home exchange. It’s like internet dating for your house. We have done 40 wonderful home exchange vacations from Amsterdam to San Diego. We love having a separate bedroom for each of our kids, a full kitchen, two or more bathrooms, a garage, etc. The only cost we pay above what we would spend at home is gas to get to our destination. We only swap homes through an established home exchange club. I write a non-commercial blog with tips for new swappers: HomeExchanger.blogspot.com
Posted by HomeExchanger, on July 11th, 2009 at 9:36 pm EDT[...] A Summer Rest, For Less | WBUR and NPR – On Point with Tom AshbrookPosted by Wisconsin lakefront properties | Lakefront Properties and Houses, on July 11th, 2009 at 5:33 pm EDT. We were just offered free use of a 4-bedroom country house with a pool and the home-owners’ car thrown in. … read more… [...]
Posted by Wisconsin lakefront homes | Lakefront Homes and Properties, on July 18th, 2009 at 11:51 pm EDT[...] A Summer Rest, For Less | WBUR and NPR – On Point with Tom AshbrookI’m also going on a canoe trip, the Moose River bow trip, in Northwestern Maine. That is cheap with no frills, but who wants frills when you smell of camp smoke? Posted by Rob, on July 10th, 2009 at 11:15 am EDT. Every June I ride the week- long Bicycle …. Posted by Wisconsin lakefront homes | Lakefront Homes and Properties, on July 18th, 2009 at 11:51 pm EDT. Leave a comment. We welcome comments from all of our listeners. Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief. … read more… [...]
Posted by Lakefront homes in maine | Lake Property and Homes, on July 19th, 2009 at 12:38 pm EDT