Downturn makes taking a vacation a dilemma

Denise Butler was hoping to get away to sunny Miami in March, but with layoffs at her job, she is scrapping a winter vacation.

"I don't know financially what's going to happen," said the nursing assistant at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, strolling on Walnut Street last week. "I don't want to plan a trip with the uncertainty of the job market."

The tanking economy is forcing many people to bag their plans for winter and spring vacations. Others are waiting longer to book tickets, staying away fewer nights, and checking into cheaper hotels.

Still, there are some, like Roger Trombley, a driver for U.S. Foodservice Inc., who consider their vacations an absolute right. "We work hard. We deserve a vacation." Trombley is heading to the Adirondack Mountains for eight days in April to hike and canoe with his girlfriend.

"Money wasn't even the issue," said the Woodstown, N.J., resident. "It was more to get away from the stress of the job."

Joe Longo, also a truck driver for U.S. Foodservice, said he could not afford a vacation last summer - with two children, a mortgage, and high gasoline prices. But this summer, his Glassboro family is planning a Mediterranean cruise. "We are shopping for bargains," Longo said. "My wife is pretty handy with that."

Cheaper airfares and hotel deals are abundant this year in the weak economy.

Airlines, cruise lines, tour operators and travel suppliers are offering a flurry of sales promotions, which are not unusual in January. What's different is that the discounts are for travel as late as May and June, as airlines try to stimulate demand and are worried by economic uncertainty. January sales used to be for travel through March.

Airlines have cut flight frequencies and unprofitable routes, but consumers are spending less on vacations and airfare because of the global recession. December traffic reports, measured in miles flown by paying passengers, showed passenger demand had slowed.

Lee Rosenbluth, president and chief executive officer of Rosenbluth Vacations, in Philadelphia, said the upscale leisure market "is holding pretty steady. Somebody spending $5,000 to $10,000 on a vacation for two people, we have not seen deterioration in that area."

But the "mass market is pretty much sitting on the bench, waiting to see what deals are out there," Rosenbluth said. "They are willing to travel, but are more price-conscious. We are seeing more and more last-minute bookings," which he estimated were down 3 percent to 7 percent over the same period last year.

Marvin Weber, owner of Marvelous Travel & Cruise Planners, two businesses in Plymouth Meeting, said, "College kids are not going away. Their parents are not going away with the college kids when the college kids are home. Parents are not taking their children out of school in the wintertime to take vacations, to any large extent."

Kari Thomas, an owner in her family business, Will Travel Inc., of Langhorne, said bookings for hotels, airlines and cruises were down overall about 20 percent. "We're seeing it even in our luxury end."

But business has picked up a little since the beginning of the year, she said.

USA3000, Philadelphia's hometown airline in Newtown Square, an affiliate of Apple Vacations, is seeing a slight rebound in demand. "Year over year, we're probably down 5 percent to 7 percent," said president and chief executive Steven Harfst. "There are a lot of really great deals out there, which is helping bring some of the demand back."

USA3000 flies from 10 cities in the Northeast and Midwest to warm-weather destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean and Florida.

Kate Murphy, president of Uniglobe Wings Travel, of Blue Bell, said Americans "now feel a vacation is our right. We've earned it. People are willing to cut back on a lot of other things for their vacations."

Sonya Lambert, a financial-systems analyst at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, had hoped to rent a villa in Jamaica this summer with friends.

But after a couple of people lost their jobs, the group was opting instead to go to New Orleans. "We'll look at less-expensive hotels," she said, "and probably put more people in a room."

Philadelphia lawyer Erik Jensen returned last week from a vacation in Venezuela, where his wife's family lives. His main expense was airfare, he said.

In April, Jensen and his wife will spend a week in Aruba, where they own a time-share. In August, they plan to go to Europe - a trip his father-in-law will pay for. "I think we're headed for the Great Depression. But I would recommend taking a vacation regardless."

The bad economy has crimped or canceled winter travel plans for many. But airlines, hotels and tour companies are offering deals to entice vacationers. Here are some bargain flights from Philadelphia International.

Airline            Destination      Dates               2-way fare

AirTran         Orlando         Feb 19-23         $139

US Airways      Tampa         Feb 26-Mar 1      $179

United         Los Angeles   Feb 12-15         $214

American      San Juan      Feb 19-23         $242

US Airways      Phoenix         Feb 13-17         $259

Frontier         Denver         Feb 19-22         $279

US Airways      Bermuda      Feb 19-22         $412

SOURCE: FareCompare.com