Traveling these days

[LuvOrlando]

How do you find travel organizing these days? Are flights full enough to be this costly?

As I look for flights and hotels I realize the part I used to enjoy is now very irritating. It's as if every part of the experience is designed to be as grating as possible through some idiotic algorithm. I have a desire to travel and the funds to travel, it shouldn't be this tough. Starting to think the businesses sync up in some invisible way to drive towards a set dollar amount.

At the moment, I am entertaining 3 different sets of plans, one is me STILL working on getting to WDW. Literally every time I settle in to give it a go I get super irritated by some portion of the trip tilting in an odd way, take a break to regroup and just end up walking away thinking to myself, "My house is nice enough."

 

[Smugpugmug]

My sister and I want to do a trip to Japan next year and I've been looking at flights to gauge how much to budget/save for. These prices are so insane that I have no clue who is paying for it. Round trip in regular economy is in the $2500-2700 range and premium economy jumps up to $3000-3200. I even saw on American that premium economy was over $6000 LOL We're not booking anything until the opening for Fantasy Springs at TDR is announced, but still. Massive sticker shock.

I've been to Tokyo before and didn't find planning too hard (my sister has never been and REALLY wants to go). It's just the prices that are shocking to me.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

How do you find travel organizing these days? Are flights full enough to be this costly?

1) By travel organizing, you mean making my travel reservations? If so, no different than any other time. As far as figuring out my itinerary, that is maybe slightly more difficult, only because I'm finding myself planning trips to areas that I haven't been before and am less familiar with, so sometimes the options can be a little overwhelming and I get analysis paralysis. When that happens I'll often put it down for awhile, and then sometimes a few days later I'll get inspired again. Many times I'll go through several iterations of planning before I really get things nailed down. That's not really all that new or different for me though.

2) 4 flights in the past year, all were full except one leg of one that had been delayed 6+ hours from a very small airport, and even that was nearly full. One domestic flight we had to reschedule due to illness. Had to pay $300 per ticket fare difference, original tickets were bought 6 months before travel, new tickets were issued 1 month before travel.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

I find booking and organizing the same as before. We realize if we want to try we just need to spend more. Domestic airfare is up about 3x what we paid pre-covid, and it’s frustrating, especially knowing flights are less reliable. International is still comparable to pre-covid.

 

[tvguy]

Can't speak to flying, we still aren't comfortable doing that due to covid. But yes, air fares it seems are way out of line. Our trips are exclusively by car now. Just back from Southern California this weekend. Weather was a mess, what should have been a 6 hour trip was an 11 hour trip with I-5 over the Grapevine closed.
Even at $5.19 a gallon, I only spent $1.30 for gasoline. If I would have flown that would have cost $430 round trip plus $200 for a rental car. So just the air fare put the trip in the too expensive category.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

My extended family has been planning a trip to Maui for June 2023 since last June. Actually my mom planned it, but she passed away 4 months ago, so we are all going to honor and remember her.

After watching Hawaii flight prices from the Washington DC area for almost a year, I finally booked our flights this past Friday. Three times over the last 3 months, I saw a flight for $960 (but with 25 hour travel time, leaving and returning out of different airports, basic economy so can't choose seats or bring a carry on - NOT ideal). Most of the time the decent flights were $1200 to $1500 with 12-15 hour travel time, leaving and returning to same airport, no basic economy restrictions. In an attempt to get a better price, I started looking at flying in on Thursday (for a Saturday to Saturday condo stay) and booking a package that included flights, 2 nights lodging on front end, 9 days SUV rental car. It was cheaper booking as a package than individually, and we get to be in Maui 2 extra days. The place we are in for Thurs/Fri night is a small, older, oceanfront condo with no beach access (due to a sea wall) about 2 miles past the gorgeous Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas (my parents are owners) where we’ll be staying the rest of the week. The package condo is not fancy, but it'll work for a couple of nights. All in all, I had to spend a couple thousand more than I wanted too, but it is what it is.

It's 3.5 months until travel and I was getting nervous that flights may not drop much more. We’ve been to Hawaii several times for extended family trips, and this is the MOST by far that we’ve ever paid to get there. Now that it's done, watch prices drop like a stone. Ugh! I hate that flight costs are always such a gamble. When I chose our seats, most of our flights were still pretty empty. I wonder if they’ll fill up over the next 3 months.

We were trying to book a luau for the whole family as a Christmas gift for my dad. This past Christmas without my mom was really hard on him, so we wanted him to have something to look forward to. And my mom always took all of us to a luau; it was her thing. Sticker Shock!!!! The luau prices were almost double what we’ve seen in the past! I think we’re going to book a more reasonably priced sunset sail instead.

PS - I HATE basic economy class! I wish it had never been invented.

 

[Moliphino]

I'm actually paying slightly less to fly to Spain this spring than I did in April 2018 and October 2021. Still almost $800 per person round trip, but I get to fly out of Hartford so the parking will be way less than when we've flown out of Boston.

 

[mrodgers]

Should say flights instead of travel because there's more to traveling than flying. I was interested in what people had to say about traveling these days....

 

[fly girl]

How do you find travel organizing these days? Are flights full enough to be this costly?

As I look for flights and hotels I realize the part I used to enjoy is now very irritating. It's as if every part of the experience is designed to be as grating as possible through some idiotic algorithm. I have a desire to travel and the funds to travel, it shouldn't be this tough. Starting to think the businesses sync up in some invisible way to drive towards a set dollar amount.

At the moment, I am entertaining 3 different sets of plans, one is me STILL working on getting to WDW. Literally every time I settle in to give it a go I get super irritated by some portion of the trip tilting in an odd way, take a break to regroup and just end up walking away thinking to myself, "My house is nice enough."

It's all supply and demand. If they can get it, they will try and take it.

My strategy has been the watch and wait method.

Case in point: We wanted a cruise for spring break. The cruise we wanted was insane with their pricing. No way was I paying that. I looked daily (took 3 minutes) watching prices and to see if cabins in the category I wanted changed. Prices were steady for months, and cabins were still WIDE open. It became a game, I had to wait them out. No way were they going to let 90+ cabins go unattended in one category. Sooner or later they would realize they priced themselves out compared to the rest of the cruise lines and slash prices. Finally, 10 days ago they did as I expected. Even more so, HALF OFF. I jumped on it!

For airfare for that trip, I watched that daily too. Saw the fluctuations, but knew the price point I wanted to be in after watching and knowing it was going to be higher than normal because of spring break. I didn't get the lowest airfare, but I paid lower than what I expected to pay.

As for one part tilting in an odd way, depends on what tilt and how far out. Can you be more specific? You finally found the hotel you want one of the trips, but the airfare went through the roof? Book the hotel if you are able to cancel without penalty. Then keep tracking airfare. And the Tuesday rule for finding cheap fares ... TOSS THAT OUT. They are privy to that strategy so it no longer works.

Yes, it can be a pain. I was sick of checking everyday for that cruise rate. But there was a reason for my madness and it eventually paid off. (and getting that stellar deal was a high, like winning the jackpot )

My sister and I want to do a trip to Japan next year and I've been looking at flights to gauge how much to budget/save for. These prices are so insane that I have no clue who is paying for it. Round trip in regular economy is in the $2500-2700 range and premium economy jumps up to $3000-3200. I even saw on American that premium economy was over $6000 LOL We're not booking anything until the opening for Fantasy Springs at TDR is announced, but still. Massive sticker shock.

I've been to Tokyo before and didn't find planning too hard (my sister has never been and REALLY wants to go). It's just the prices that are shocking to me.

Asia Pacific countries were the last to open with covid. I just heard today on the news that the demand to go over there is at an all time high which is leading to the exorbitant costs. It will likely go down in time. But yes, those prices are crazy. Nope. Not paying that either.

 

[dvcgirl67]

My extended family has been planning a trip to Maui for June 2023 since last June. Actually my mom planned it, but she passed away 4 months ago, so we are all going to honor and remember her.

After watching Hawaii flight prices from the Washington DC area for almost a year, I finally booked our flights this past Friday. Three times over the last 3 months, I saw a flight for $960 (but with 25 hour travel time, leaving and returning out of different airports, basic economy so can't choose seats or bring a carry on - NOT ideal). Most of the time the decent flights were $1200 to $1500 with 12-15 hour travel time, leaving and returning to same airport, no basic economy restrictions. In an attempt to get a better price, I started looking at flying in on Thursday (for a Saturday to Saturday condo stay) and booking a package that included flights, 2 nights lodging on front end, 9 days SUV rental car. It was cheaper booking as a package than individually, and we get to be in Maui 2 extra days. The place we are in for Thurs/Fri night is a small, older, oceanfront condo with no beach access (due to a sea wall) about 2 miles past the gorgeous Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas (my parents are owners) where we’ll be staying the rest of the week. The package condo is not fancy, but it'll work for a couple of nights. All in all, I had to spend a couple thousand more than I wanted too, but it is what it is.

It's 3.5 months until travel and I was getting nervous that flights may not drop much more. We’ve been to Hawaii several times for extended family trips, and this is the MOST by far that we’ve ever paid to get there. Now that it's done, watch prices drop like a stone. Ugh! I hate that flight costs are always such a gamble. When I chose our seats, most of our flights were still pretty empty. I wonder if they’ll fill up over the next 3 months.

We were trying to book a luau for the whole family as a Christmas gift for my dad. This past Christmas without my mom was really hard on him, so we wanted him to have something to look forward to. And my mom always took all of us to a luau; it was her thing. Sticker Shock!!!! The luau prices were almost double what we’ve seen in the past! I think we’re going to book a more reasonably priced sunset sail instead.

PS - I HATE basic economy class! I wish it had never been invented.

We're taking our first trip to Hawaii (flying to Honolulu, then staying 6 nights in Kauai and 6 on the Big Island). We're on the direct flight from Newark to Honolulu. We booked two business seats (lie flat) on United in August and paid $7,566 (also completely refundable) for the two of us. I have a google flight tracker on them as our flights to watch if they really dropped...and if seats still were available in business...we'd rebook. I'm so glad we booked when we did as these prices have gone only one way....up, way up on some days. I got an alert today that they are $14,622...and they are non-refundable seats. And Business is only 1/2 sold....it's just insane. I have no idea how the algorithms work, but we've found that booking early has worked best lately.

Sounds like you came up with a good plan that works. I hope you have a great trip!

 

[sam_gordon]

4 flights in the past year, all were full except one leg of one that had been delayed 6+ hours from a very small airport, and even that was nearly full.

Heck, I had three flights YESTERDAY and they were all 95%+ full. One was over 100%, they had to get volunteers to get a later flight.

 

[Colleen27]

Right now, I'm avoiding flying as much as possible. Not only are airfares through the roof, it seems like sometime in the past year flights went from 100% full to almost always overbooked, and while so far, we've been able to avoid any involuntary bumps and DD21 profited a bit from taking a voluntary bump that extended a layover but didn't impact her schedule, I figure it is only a matter of time before we lose that bet. There are just fewer flights running, at least on the routes we travel often enough to notice a change, so everything is more expensive, more crowded and more chaotic.

We had planned to go overseas for spring break but changed plans, partly because of cost but mostly because DD's high school is cracking down on attendance in a big way. I don't feel like we can risk a flight delay that ends in missed school days, because she's already going to miss a couple of days for her sister's college graduation. So we're sticking closer to home instead, because a shorter flight and no time difference means "losing" two days to build in a buffer for travel delays doesn't interfere with enjoying the trip.

DD14 and DH are flying out to San Francisco for DD21's graduation in May. Those flights cost me about 60% more than the average of all the other times we've flown out there over the last four years, and I'm really worried about them getting out and back on the relatively tight time schedule we have for the trip. I built in a day on either side - flying out Wed. for a Fri. ceremony, then Sat. for a Mon. return to school/work - but the need to do that makes short trips impractical for anything less than a major family event.

 

[princesscinderella]

I try to always use incognito windows when pricing out flights and rooms. They will jump when you look at them a second time in a regular browser regularly it seems now. I try to maximize my travel credit card rewards as much as possible to get cheaper flights and free room stays.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

We're trying to book our Athens, Greece hotel but because our flight from Athens to Heathrow 8 months out from the trip was moved up several hours to an 8:10am flight we're running into issues with location and transport to the airport.

Could stay closer to the airport but then many hotels weren't on the subway line, I *think* we're still thinking of the city center (like the Acropolis is in the visible distance) and doing a 24/7 bus to the airport. The flight change has really impacted things. We won't have time for breakfast at the hotel and will need to do it now at the airport lounge and just be more harried and it's making the location difficult.

At the moment that's our most frustrating part of travel planning. Need to start talking as a group with the in-laws about the several activities we want to do for our Mexico trip that is in a month and a half but that trip is otherwise low-key in the planning world-hotel and flights have already been booked since last year.

As far as flights most but not all are fairly full. However sister-in-law's boyfriend flew late last week from Chicago to KC on an empty save for him flight.

 

[LuvOrlando]

My extended family has been planning a trip to Maui for June 2023 since last June. Actually my mom planned it, but she passed away 4 months ago, so we are all going to honor and remember her.

After watching Hawaii flight prices from the Washington DC area for almost a year, I finally booked our flights this past Friday. Three times over the last 3 months, I saw a flight for $960 (but with 25 hour travel time, leaving and returning out of different airports, basic economy so can't choose seats or bring a carry on - NOT ideal). Most of the time the decent flights were $1200 to $1500 with 12-15 hour travel time, leaving and returning to same airport, no basic economy restrictions. In an attempt to get a better price, I started looking at flying in on Thursday (for a Saturday to Saturday condo stay) and booking a package that included flights, 2 nights lodging on front end, 9 days SUV rental car. It was cheaper booking as a package than individually, and we get to be in Maui 2 extra days. The place we are in for Thurs/Fri night is a small, older, oceanfront condo with no beach access (due to a sea wall) about 2 miles past the gorgeous Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas (my parents are owners) where we’ll be staying the rest of the week. The package condo is not fancy, but it'll work for a couple of nights. All in all, I had to spend a couple thousand more than I wanted too, but it is what it is.

It's 3.5 months until travel and I was getting nervous that flights may not drop much more. We’ve been to Hawaii several times for extended family trips, and this is the MOST by far that we’ve ever paid to get there. Now that it's done, watch prices drop like a stone. Ugh! I hate that flight costs are always such a gamble. When I chose our seats, most of our flights were still pretty empty. I wonder if they’ll fill up over the next 3 months.

We were trying to book a luau for the whole family as a Christmas gift for my dad. This past Christmas without my mom was really hard on him, so we wanted him to have something to look forward to. And my mom always took all of us to a luau; it was her thing. Sticker Shock!!!! The luau prices were almost double what we’ve seen in the past! I think we’re going to book a more reasonably priced sunset sail instead.

PS - I HATE basic economy class! I wish it had never been invented.

I am so sorry for your loss and admire your tenacity to honor your mom, I hope it all works out and that an affordable Luau pops up for you.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Asia Pacific countries were the last to open with covid. I just heard today on the news that the demand to go over there is at an all time high which is leading to the exorbitant costs. It will likely go down in time. But yes, those prices are crazy. Nope. Not paying that either.

I definitely believe it. Many influencers that I follow on Twitter have already been to Japan since it reopened for tourism or have a trip planned this year. It seems like everyone and their mother is going. I'm certainly jealous of those living on the west coast that were able to get $1500 or less roundtrip flights. I know that prices will still be high but $6000 premium economy is crazy (unless that means something else on American. I mostly fly United so premium economy there is just extra legroom and that's it).

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

We're taking our first trip to Hawaii (flying to Honolulu, then staying 6 nights in Kauai and 6 on the Big Island). We're on the direct flight from Newark to Honolulu. We booked two business seats (lie flat) on United in August and paid $7,566 (also completely refundable) for the two of us. I have a google flight tracker on them as our flights to watch if they really dropped...and if seats still were available in business...we'd rebook. I'm so glad we booked when we did as these prices have gone only one way....up, way up on some days. I got an alert today that they are $14,622...and they are non-refundable seats. And Business is only 1/2 sold....it's just insane. I have no idea how the algorithms work, but we've found that booking early has worked best lately.

Sounds like you came up with a good plan that works. I hope you have a great trip!

Holy cow! $14,622! I’m so glad you booked when you did. Have a great time in gorgeous Hawaii!

We’re going for 9 days. For 5 of us with flights (in economy with assigned seats and carry ons allowed - so jealous of your lie flat seats!), 2 extra days lodging in a 2 bedroom condo and 9 days SUV rental, I paid $7360.

 

[dvcgirl67]

Holy cow! $14,622! I’m so glad you booked when you did. Have a great time in gorgeous Hawaii!

We’re going for 9 days. For 5 of us with flights (in economy with assigned seats and carry ons allowed - so jealous of your lie flat seats!), 2 extra days lodging in a 2 bedroom condo and 9 days SUV rental, I paid $7360.

I know...crazy, then today, I got another alert....same exact flight with two RT business class seats....$9,334. So down over 5 grand. Again...why? Imagine booking two non-refundable tickets yesterday and then seeing that today? I'd lose my mind.

This trip to Hawaii is for our 25th anniversary so we're splurging a bit. Sounds like you did well with pricing if that includes all lodging for 9 days! We're spending quite a bit more, but again...special trip and we're mid-50s and have decided to keep working another 5 years because we need to stay in NJ for an elderly parent and so can't retire now and travel more like we'd planned. So...if we're going to work and are already saving plenty for retirement, we're offsetting that pain....with nicer travel while still doing the 9-5...if that makes sense. In Kauai we settled on Poipu Beach and are staying at the Ko'a Kea Resort. It's a boutiquey 4 star. We'd toyed with two hotels on Kauai and had booked 1Hotel Hanalei for 1/2 of the stay, but the resort just opened two weeks ago after a zillion delays and we don't think they'd be at "5 star" service....the rates for an ocean front room are very high. So, we settled on the boutiquey Ko'a Kea with an Ocean Front suite...and rented a jeep through Turo. It's not an individual renter...it's a small agency by the airport that uses the Turo App and has very good reviews....and we were able to add a couple of extras like having two Tommy Bahama chairs and umbrella in the Jeep when we pick it up. All of that was $800 (with extra insurance and fees/tank refill)...but still way cheaper than any of the other options before any fees, taxes and sans chair/umbrella. We plan to be out and about most days on Kauai, including spending time up in Hanalei (hence the jeep rental). On the Big Island we're staying at Mauna Lani, a 5 star Auberge resort....no car rental on the Big Island. We are doing things....like scuba diving, outrigger canoeing, and a helicopter tour around the island and hopefully close to the active volcano, but we plan to really enjoy the resort.

I'm already watching flights for a trip we're taking to South Africa in September of 2024...and again, the prices for business are *all* over the place. For this year's September flights....same dates as we'll take next year, they've ranged from $10,600 to over $22,000 for two of in United Polaris class. For that one....it's a 15 hour flight, and I definitely think we'd be able to do the economy plus on the Dreamliner in that configuation...as it's very similar to United's domestic business class seats, but my husband was like...."nope...it's a 15 hour flight". Who am I to fight him on that . Also, United flies direct from Newark to Cape Town....and from Johannesburg to Newark (where we'll be departing from). Another weird thing is that United is offering "partially refundable tickets".....which are always *more* expensive than the fully refundable tickets....so I don't understand that at all. By the time we're able to book those flights....this October.....I hope to have a good handle on the range and know when to pounce. And again...hope to get refundable tickets for about $1,000 more in the case of those flights. If for some reason prices really dropped....we could cancel and rebook. Or if there's say...a world pandemic, we'd get our money back immediately instead of having to fight for over a year like we did in 2020 for international flights.

I guess we'll be back from our trip to Hawaii before you guys head out, but hope you have a nice trip and it's lovely that you're still going in honor of your Mom.

 

[Moliphino]

I know...crazy, then today, I got another alert....same exact flight with two RT business class seats....$9,334. So down over 5 grand. Again...why? Imagine booking two non-refundable tickets yesterday and then seeing that today? I'd lose my mind.

You can usually cancel without penalty within 24 hours of booking a flight. After that you're generally out of luck (aside from airlines like Southwest, where you can get a credit for the difference).

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I know...crazy, then today, I got another alert....same exact flight with two RT business class seats....$9,334. So down over 5 grand. Again...why? Imagine booking two non-refundable tickets yesterday and then seeing that today? I'd lose my mind.

This trip to Hawaii is for our 25th anniversary so we're splurging a bit. Sounds like you did well with pricing if that includes all lodging for 9 days! We're spending quite a bit more, but again...special trip and we're mid-50s and have decided to keep working another 5 years because we need to stay in NJ for an elderly parent and so can't retire now and travel more like we'd planned. So...if we're going to work and are already saving plenty for retirement, we're offsetting that pain....with nicer travel while still doing the 9-5...if that makes sense. In Kauai we settled on Poipu Beach and are staying at the Ko'a Kea Resort. It's a boutiquey 4 star. We'd toyed with two hotels on Kauai and had booked 1Hotel Hanalei for 1/2 of the stay, but the resort just opened two weeks ago after a zillion delays and we don't think they'd be at "5 star" service....the rates for an ocean front room are very high. So, we settled on the boutiquey Ko'a Kea with an Ocean Front suite...and rented a jeep through Turo. It's not an individual renter...it's a small agency by the airport that uses the Turo App and has very good reviews....and we were able to add a couple of extras like having two Tommy Bahama chairs and umbrella in the Jeep when we pick it up. All of that was $800 (with extra insurance and fees/tank refill)...but still way cheaper than any of the other options before any fees, taxes and sans chair/umbrella. We plan to be out and about most days on Kauai, including spending time up in Hanalei (hence the jeep rental). On the Big Island we're staying at Mauna Lani, a 5 star Auberge resort....no car rental on the Big Island. We are doing things....like scuba diving, outrigger canoeing, and a helicopter tour around the island and hopefully close to the active volcano, but we plan to really enjoy the resort.

I'm already watching flights for a trip we're taking to South Africa in September of 2024...and again, the prices for business are *all* over the place. For this year's September flights....same dates as we'll take next year, they've ranged from $10,600 to over $22,000 for two of in United Polaris class. For that one....it's a 15 hour flight, and I definitely think we'd be able to do the economy plus on the Dreamliner in that configuation...as it's very similar to United's domestic business class seats, but my husband was like...."nope...it's a 15 hour flight". Who am I to fight him on that . Also, United flies direct from Newark to Cape Town....and from Johannesburg to Newark (where we'll be departing from). Another weird thing is that United is offering "partially refundable tickets".....which are always *more* expensive than the fully refundable tickets....so I don't understand that at all. By the time we're able to book those flights....this October.....I hope to have a good handle on the range and know when to pounce. And again...hope to get refundable tickets for about $1,000 more in the case of those flights. If for some reason prices really dropped....we could cancel and rebook. Or if there's say...a world pandemic, we'd get our money back immediately instead of having to fight for over a year like we did in 2020 for international flights.

I guess we'll be back from our trip to Hawaii before you guys head out, but hope you have a nice trip and it's lovely that you're still going in honor of your Mom.

Thank you! I know my mom would have wanted us all to go even though she’s not with us.

The package price only includes 2 days of lodging. The other 7 days, we’re staying with family at my parents’ Westin condo. It would have been a smokin’ deal if it included lodging for all 9 days.

You’re going to love South Africa!!! DH and I took our kids, who were in their early 20s, to London and South Africa for a safari back in July 2019. I researched and planned the whole thing myself to keep it in budget. We loved the whole experience! Amazing!!!