Readers share thoughts on plans for summer vacation

Recently we questioned our readers about whether or not they would be taking a summer vacation this year, or if rising costs prohibited that spending. Many readers shared their thoughts, with varied answers.

Many are feeling the pain of higher costs and canceling their summer plans.

Said Chris, "Food and other goods are way up. Fuel is, of course, up. No matter how much I work or how much I save, I'm always tapping the credit card. I feel I can't win or get any space to start paying off my debt."

Michael shared, "The economy took a big hit on me. I even lost my job. I found one after three weeks but it is a pretty big pay cut. There is going to be no vacations for quite a while."

Suzan said, "We haven't been able to take a vacation since Covid. Just paying the bills leaves very little left."

Michelle is feeling the crunch and postponing vacation plans, too. "My rent has more than doubled since I moved in. Went up an extra $160 a month last year and have been told it will increase another $200 a month this year. Gas and food are also higher. My income isn't increasing that much to keep up."

Said Brandon, "The idea of a vacation is fun, but for $120 plus a night for the hotel, having to pay to eat out every meal or hope that you can fit snacks and leftovers in the mini fridge to heat up doesn't sound that intriguing. Not to mention, whatever other activities you do quickly add up to $2,000 just for one week of existing. That's the cost of a full month of existing for some people. The price hasn't changed much for me, but I do consider how much value I get for my money."

Linda said, simply, "Prices are high. Stay home."

Dach noted, "I'm more concerned about safety. Some of the larger cities are becoming too dangerous, and traveling anywhere outside the country would not be a good idea right now."

Some will still travel this year, but are altering their plans a bit.  

"We take a vacation every other year, usually four or five days in another state," said Crystal. "We are still doing so this year but we've changed our destination because it has gotten too expensive to stay where we usually do. We've also picked mostly free to do activities. We still want the time away; we just can't do it like we used to just five years ago. Other areas are a lot like ours and depend on their summer time tourists. We want to continue to support that and our wallets."

Carri-Ann just finished a six-state trip. She shared, "We noticed auto traffic way down everywhere. We were at Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Devils Tower. The attendance was light at all these locations, despite special events. Tourism was down everywhere. Meals were more expensive, but we still ate out. Gas was more expensive, but we still drove. Spending on souvenirs and other oddities was curbed."

Satirah, who helps visitors plan their trips to Branson through various online platforms shared, "I have noticed a shift in what people are messaging me about. It's not that people don't want to spend their money, it's that they want to spend it more wisely."

For some, there will be no changes in vacation plans this year.

Said Miz Jackson, "Nope, taking the family to Florida next month." 

Another reader, Tracy, from out of town, will continue visiting Branson. She said, "We came down in June and will be back four or more times before Christmas. No, gas is not an issue, nor is food or entertainment."