Office of University Communications 

Tourism expert offers affordable travel tips during tough economic times

Hot Topic - Expert Source

Proper planning is key when budgets are tight

SPRINGFIELD, MO – At a time when fuel prices are at record highs and the costs of basic food items bust your weekly budget, an affordable vacation doesn’t always seem possible.

But don’t give up on the idea of a trip just yet, said Dr. Dimitri Ioannides, tourism expert and professor of planning at Missouri State University. “You can still eat a meal in New York City for about $7,” he said. “You just have to be willing to find the right place.”

According to AAA’s Annual Vacation Costs survey, the average combined lodging and restaurant costs jumped 3.7 percent over last year. The survey shows that a family of two adults and two children can expect to pay an average $269 per day for food and lodging. Lodging rates will average $152 a night, up nearly 7.9 percent from last year. Meals will cost $118, down 1.3 percent from 2006.

Ioannides offered several travel tips that could make this year’s vacation more affordable – even during tough economic times:

• When traveling to a big city like New York, Chicago or Boston, find lodging on the outskirts of town but near public transportation. On a recent trip to Boston, Ioannides said the price for a hotel room in the downtown area hovered in the $300 range. After some investigating, he located a nice bed and breakfast in Cambridge (near Harvard) for $115, which by definition included the morning meal. The B&B was within walking distance of the city’s subway system, and for a mere $15, he purchased a visitor’s pass which gave him unlimited access to the subway for an entire week.
• Take advantage of a city’s freebies – everything from festivals to zoos. Ioannides said a city like St. Louis is nice to visit because of the free attractions like the zoo and the art museum in Forest Park. He also advises travelers to investigate when and where festivals are taking place. Admission to many festivals is often free, and food can be purchased at a nominal price.
• “Why pay for a museum when the city is a museum?” The professor said thrifty travelers need to avoid the “tourist bubbles” (also called traps) and take the time to tour the various unique neighborhoods that comprise a city. For instance, when traveling to Chicago, go to Wicker Park instead of the pricey Navy Pier. In St. Louis, stop by the Soulard Farmer’s Market and grab some fresh fruit and vegetables. Or go to Lafayette Square or the Central West End. When in Boston, walk the Freedom Trail – a self-guided tour that takes visitors to 16 historical sites. “Some of the venues you’ll pay for – like going into Paul Revere’s house,” Ioannides said. “But you don’t have to go into Paul Revere’s house. You can stay outside and take photos.”
• Say goodbye to Broadway. Visit a neighborhood theater. “Fringe theaters” or neighborhood theaters offer smaller-scale productions as compared to the lavish productions in major theaters. Ioannides said prices at smaller theaters can be as low as $6-$10 as compared to the $50 or $75 at the bigger venues.
• Forget the fancy restaurant. Picnic at the park. If travelers have the opportunity to pack a small picnic service, they can save on dining out, Ioannides said. He advises vacation-goers to make a quick trip to a local grocery store to buy some essentials – fruit, bread, meat, cheese and something to drink – and then head to a local park and enjoy the meal and the experience.
• Travel at ‘off-peak’ times. Gas is cheaper. Room rates are lower. Airfare is more affordable. Ioannides said travelers should check various Web sites (Priceline, Hotwire, Expedia, etc.) to gauge travel prices. If travelers have kids, vacation times are often limited because of school schedules; but Ioannides said that technology might allow for more freedom in that area. “Maybe there’s a way to work something out with the teacher to allow for the student to communicate with email so they don’t fall too far behind,” he said.
• Avoid the hidden costs of pricey hotels. If possible, find hotels that offer free parking, free wireless internet service and even free breakfasts. “When you stay on the outskirts of town, you can often find hotels that have free breakfast, free internet access and cable. So, it’s definitely possible,” Ioannides said. “When you stay at large downtown hotels, you often have to pay for these services, which will increase the cost dramatically.”

Ioannides said frugal travelers should do as much research as possible before taking the trip. He also advised using online resources or print guides to help with planning and scheduling.