Gettin’ Carried Away

Scenario: You try to book a flight, and you find that it’s full. But wait! There’s a standing-room-only ticket! …. what?

Drama Queen air carrier Ryanair has done it again! The airline has come up with an idea for bar stool-like seating, essentially calling it standing-room-only seating. Somehow, there would be a seatbelt running across your waist, but I can’t even imagine how that would be engineered to ensure maximum safety.

If approved, Ryanair President Michael O’Leary says they’ll run with the idea. He claims it would reduce the price of a ticket by 20% and increase the number of passengers by half.

Sounds a little crowded… and unsafe… to me!

I don’t think any of you need me to point out that we’re facing some pretty tough times right now. My hours at work have been cut to the bare minimum (there’s just no work to do), and everyone in the world is vying for the same jobs we’re all trying to get to supplement our incomes. However, I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t tell you that it really is the perfect time to travel.

Here’s why you should travel RIGHT NOW:

Tourism is hurting in some places. When certain locations are hurting for visitors, they’ll do anything to get them. Hotel rates drop, airlines offer cheap fares and attractions create free days or inexpensive package deals. Remember when I posted about the Lake Chapala Inn in Mexico? A room is currently going for $45 a night. Rooms used to be priced well above $100 a little over a year ago.

Traveling doesn’t mean leaving the country… or even the state. Simple day trips get you off the couch and out there into the world. And again, local attractions will most likely offer exceptional deals this time of year. Why? For one, it’s summer vacation for lots of people. And as I previously stated, money is tight. If no one is coming to the amusement park, it’s probably because no one can afford the $60 pass for the day. Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, IL has tons of discounts: Coca-Cola can prices, BOGO (buy one, get one free) online, etc.

Basic supply and demand. Once the economy improves, prices will go up. As jobs are created and people start making more money again, the demand for travel will increase. If there’s a greater demand for flights to Fiji or boat cruises to the Mediterranean or train rides to New York, then you will encounter competitive prices.

—————————————————————————————————————————

I’m not saying that you should drop everything and head for a round-the-world excursion right now. However, with a bit of research, you can plan a nice little getaway this summer. Fellow blogger, Hilarye Fuller, also encourages you travel. There are only three reasons you shouldn’t embark on the journey of a lifetime. Check them out by visiting her blog: Dotting The Map.