Millions of Americans will continue to try to fit a few days off into their schedules over the next few months.
More people drive on vacation than any other mode of transportation. State and national parks are very popular this time of year. Niagara Falls will have about 30 million visitors this year. Yellowstone National Park will have about 4 million visitors. Disney World will have over 50 million visitors. Over four million people will visit the Grand Canyon.
Although people fly to these destinations, most drive. If you don’t mind sitting in the car for a day, two, or three, there are places you can visit. When I was a kid, Columbus, Ohio was our main family destination. My mom would pack some sandwiches and we’d visit family for a few days. It didn’t cost much, but some of my wonderful memories are those simple days of taking in the sights of Route 23 and the big city of Columbus.
Many people fly to their holiday destinations. Over 70 million Americans reportedly flew over the Fourth of July. Airline tickets are expensive. For example, if you want to fly first class in Rome, Italy, expect to pay $6,000 or more per person. Venice, Italy or Zurich, Switzerland are even more expensive. Of course, if you don’t mind flying main cabin and book well in advance, you can fly much cheaper.
Air travel can be a hassle. Weather can disrupt your flight and cause a delay. Delays can mean you have to fly the next day or even several days later. This is no fun when you have booked and paid for accommodation and the delay of your flight eats into your precious few vacation days. Airlines have staffing problems. A pilot can get sick and a replacement can’t be found until later in the day or even the next day. All sorts of crazy things can happen that can make your trip stressful.
Train travel can be fun. In the US, we mainly have Amtrak. There are a few trains with short destinations, but if you are traveling cross country, you can take Amtrak. Amtrak does a good job, but there is no first class service on Amtrak. The food is good, and you will spend your meals with strangers. The dining car is small, so expect to meet new people at almost every meal. There are sleeper cars where you can sit comfortably and enjoy the view as you ride along. If you book a sleeper, the bottom bunk is pretty comfortable, but the top bunk is not that great, as my wife can attest.
About a year ago, we took the Southwest Chief train from Chicago to Los Angeles and had a lovely time just looking out the window at the changing scenery. The problem for many of us is that Amtrak travel isn’t that close or easy for most Americans. The stations are far from home. Or if you do make it to a station, you’re limited in where you can go unless you have a lot of time to travel and change trains at different stations.
According to the Cruise Line International Association, over 40 million people will take a cruise annually by 2027. Once you’re settled on board, a cruise can be relaxing. You can eat almost any time and as much as you like. You can relax on the ship’s deck or in your room and get as much rest as you like. Or you can stay busy all day enjoying entertainment or taking advantage of the excursions offered at each port. A cruise isn’t a bad deal if you shop around. Most cruise lines offer last-minute deals because they like to cruise with a full ship whenever possible. Your biggest hurdle may be driving or flying to the embarkation port.
While it may not sound particularly exotic, home may be the best vacation spot. You already know your bed. You don’t have to splurge on traveling. You don’t have to spend all your money on a plane ticket, hotel room, or cruise. You already know which restaurants are good and bad, and you can sleep or do whatever you want without getting hit by other people on the highway or at the airport. Financially, and maybe physically and mentally, staying at home could be the best vacation you’ve had in a long time. Unfortunately, your kids won’t like this strategy.
— Dr. Glenn Mollette is a writer and his column appears in over 600 publications in all 50 states.
