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TRAVELERS' GAME PLAN

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By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: October 19, 2008

TAMPA - To travel for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas or not - that is the question.

Those equipped with foresight and a frugal nature have already answered that quandary, back when others were busy launching Fourth of July fireworks.

Inexpensive airline fares available for the November and December holidays are long gone, booked months in advance. Gasoline prices hit $4 a gallon last summer, adding more gloom to the travel picture.

A recent Travelocity report found two out of three respondents were concerned the economy would affect holiday travel plans. But despite those worries, 78 percent planned to travel for at least one of the upcoming holidays.

That report was released the second week of October - a veritable age ago in this progressively worsening economy. The world financial system seems to have collapsed since then. At the same time, gasoline prices have plunged, and AAA Auto Club South expects them to decline further in the next three months.

In short, the volatile economy makes it difficult to know whether the holiday plans you're making are solid or riddled with economic troubles. Rapidly changing circumstances appear to have created the desire and the need to develop multiple travel options, travel industry officials said.

"With so many people still planning to travel, it proves that in a post-9/11 world most people are resilient and not willing to abandon what they love," Travelocity editor-at-large Amy Ziff said in the online travel agency's report.

"Clearly there are those who are making adjustments, but for many, it's 'where there is a will, there is a way' to take their vacation. This trend is surprisingly similar across all income brackets."

Still determined to travel for the holidays? You can start by gathering options and comparing them. Then pay attention to what's different this year. For example, airlines have tagged lots of fees onto airfares in recent months to counteract high fuel costs and lower demand.

Start with a couple of destinations in mind. Of course, travel plans for many will be dictated by where relatives live, but that means there's a chance to save on lodging costs.

If visiting friends and relatives is not at issue, plot options for trips of different distances and compare prices for travel and accommodations.

For example, take the traditional holiday trip to New York City, with its Thanksgiving Day parade, Christmas storefront window displays, and Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.

Flights from Tampa cost 20 percent more than a year ago, not including another 20 percent to 30 percent increase for holiday flights, FareCompare.com has reported.

AirFareWatchdog.com reported round-trip flights between Tampa and New York for as little at $209 for flights through Jan. 28. The difficulty is finding available seats at that price for peak travel periods.

Once in New York City, travelers will find hotel prices have skyrocketed, thanks to the demand by international visitors who can afford high prices because of the weakness of the American dollar.

New York's average hotel rate for the 2008 holidays will be $273.95 compared with $83.80 in Orlando, a report by Cheap Tickets.com said. Price the hotels across the Hudson River in Hoboken and Jersey City, N.J., where rates are cheaper and travelers can enjoy a fun ride on the frequent ferry boats to and from New York.

Travel and four nights in the Big Apple will easily cost a family of three more than $2,500, not including tickets to see the Rockettes in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, a Broadway play or a meal at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

And Just Up The Road ...

The Orlando area offers a more artificial, yet fun holiday experience. All the attractions the city is known for will be decked out for Christmas.

It's about 160 miles round-trip from Tampa. With gas at $3.50 a gallon for a car that averages 20 miles per gallon, transportation would cost about $30, a huge savings on flying to New York. Shave six bucks off if gas stays at $3.

Once in Orlando, visitors will find lodging bargains, which hoteliers began to offer in earnest last summer. The Orlando World Center Marriott Resort is offering Thanksgiving rates of $154 a night from Nov. 21 through Dec. 1 and Christmas rates of $144 a night from Dec. 12 through Dec. 25, with prices rising to $159 a night through Jan. 3.

The theme parks are pricey, but even Disney offers some advance purchase discounts, such as $7 off the advance adult purchase price of $55.95 for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on select dates.

The cost of four nights in Orlando for a family of three could reach $1,500, more or less, depending largely on how many visits to theme parks are included.

But what about something much different for those with a few extra days of vacation, such as a drive to Natchitoches, La., to see the Festival Of Lights that draws more than 500,000 visitors annually. Part of the setting is the Cane River Lake, which provided the backdrop for the movie "Steel Magnolias."

Gasoline for the 1,800-mile round-trip drive would be about $315. But hotel rooms - some are still available - cost about $100 and food would be less expensive than Orlando, let alone New York. Factor in another $300 for motels on the way over and back and the cost for a family of three might be around $1,000.

Don't Delay Arrangements

The Travelocity report found that 65 percent of respondents who plan to travel for the holidays still had not booked by October. But skimping on vacations comes with physical and mental costs, The New York Times reported, citing a study by psychology professors at the State University of New York, Oswego.

"We always advise careful planning and for people not to wait until the last minute," said Gregg Laskoski, managing director of public relations for AAA Auto Club South in Tampa. "Consult a good trip adviser. We are good at that, checking for things like which hotels might still be offering gas-price reduction cards.

"With gas prices coming down, people should be traveling this year as usual."

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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