As the unemployment rate skyrockets to 8.5% today, is it any wonder why the travel industry is slashing prices left and right? The economy absolutely sucks right now! So what better way to ease the pain of being let go than by taking advantage of the airline, cruise and hotels desperate need for business. “Vulture vacationers” is a term used in a great New York Times article by Michelle Higgins that talks about how with no job opportunities out there for certain people, there next move was to book a cheap trip before heading back into the work force.
Many people have worked hard for years, saved a good amount in their piggy bank and see an opportunity that normally is not there for them. They have more time to see more places! Is it a smart idea for everyone? Of course not. If you live paycheck to paycheck and lose your gig the last thing you should be doing is flying off to Paris or cruising in Bermuda. But if you are one of the thousands of people that were recently canned, why not take a break from resume sending and sitting on the couch watching The Price is Right (which actually isn’t that bad when I think of it) and take that trip you have been holding off on for years due to not enough time or because it was super expensive.
May I suggest some places that are “on sale” right now? Las Vegas, Hawaii, Ireland,cruises (everywhere) and even your local top hotels (for a weekend getaway) are all down compared to a year ago and in some cases more than 50% off! I am off to Toronto next week and snagged a 4-star hotel for more than 50% off the price when I did a Price Line bid. In June I will fly to Poland for three weeks and saved a bundle when I booked a flight using Aer Lingus ($730 for a round-trip flight that is usually well over a thousand easily in June). So go now…search…bid…book…take a break from this awful economy and get your mind off of job hunting. It may very well recharge yoru batteries and even bring you back refreshed and ready to start searching again.
New York Times: Hard Times? Time To Take Off
Where to find good deals for your unemployed excursion: TravelZoo.com
