— Misti Strader/Tribune-Courier || RVs like this one will either travel less or be for sale this summer.

Unbuckle your seat belt, vacation plans are on hold

Soaring gas prices keeping families at home this year

By Misti Strader
Tribune-Courier News Editor
mstrader@tribunecourier.com

MARSHALL COUNTY – One in three American families will be altering their vacation plans this year due to soaring gas prices, according to a survey conducted by USA Today.

Gas prices rose to an all-time high of $3.58 per gallon last week, and that, say some local residents, is enough to keep them home or at least closer to home this year.

That being said, “staycations” as they are being dubbed, are becoming trendy alternatives for many families.

A “staycation” by definition, is “getting away without going away,” and fortunately for local families, the lakes area provides a plethora of opportunity for such budget-savvy adventurers.

Some resorts, such as Green Turtle Bay, in Grand Rivers, are even offering incentives to local residents who opt to “staycation.”

Marketing director for the resort, Laura Thornton said, “we are only 20 minutes from Benton and have so many amenities. I don’t think people realize what all we have to offer.”

Green Turtle Bay boasts 72 condos on 180 acres of land, a sandy beach, two restaurants, a 7,500 square-foot health and wellness center with sauna and 20-by-40-foot indoor heated pool, two outdoor pools, pontoon and personal water craft rentals, children’s programs, golf cart rental, tennis courts, a shuffle-board court and putting green.

In response to high gas prices, Thornton said the resort is offering a 15 percent discount to guests who book Monday through Thursday until Oct. 15.

“We are trying to get the word out that our getaway is one that is not far away,” Thornton said. “With gas prices being what they are, a family could vacation here with all the amenities and save a whole lot of money.”

For families who are looking for other budget friendly vacation options, purchasing a camper trailer or motor-home can provide years of low-cost entertainment for the entire family.

Mike Riley, owner of Riley RV in Mayfield, said that gas prices have been affecting the RV industry for more than a year now, but insists the outcome is a positive one for consumers.

“The industry is working really hard to make lighter-weight, more affordable camping units,” Riley said. “These days, you can get a 30-foot camper with slide-outs that weighs just over 4,000 pounds.”

While families nationwide are downsizing their personal vehicles, they are often unwilling to compromise on space when it comes to purchasing campers, Riley said. “Now with lighter-weight, larger models, they don’t have to.”

For those who want to drive their home on wheels, Riley said a new chassis developed through a joint effort by various manufacturers has resulted in motor-homes that average 17-22 miles per gallon– a far cry from the models that used to average just eight to 10.

“All of a sudden,” he said, “you find that you can travel in a motor-home that gets the same or better gas mileage than many personal vehicles.”

As far as the larger, luxury motor-homes are concerned, Riley reports that he’s seen no slowdown in sales.

“The only thing I have observed,” Riley said, “are owners who are choosing to park their RVs in one campground for the season as opposed to traveling around to various ones throughout the year.

“Even though some consumers are obviously able to afford luxury vehicles, they still seem conscious of gas prices.”

Dealers nationwide are taking note of consumers’ fear of rising fuel costs and are working to make this a buyer’s market, as well.

Riley said his dealership is running a limited-time offer of a “double your tax rebate” incentive off anything on the lot.

The ripple effects of rising fuel costs seem to be proving positive for consumers as the tourism industry is being driven to reevaluate the way they do business.

Marshall County Tourism Director Randy Newcomb said he feels soaring gas prices have a positive and negative effect on the local economy.

“Some families who typically travel out of the area are choosing to stay home and vacation locally,” Newcomb said.

“In addition, out-of-state families who typically travel farther to vacation are choosing to travel shorter distances, which is resulting in more tourism dollars for our area.”

The downside is that families won’t travel as far or stay as long on their vacations, Newcomb noted.

“Rather than taking two vacations per year–one in the spring and one in the fall– many families are opting to just take one because of the current economy, and that affects everyone,” Newcomb said.

Vacationers choosing to fly-away to their favorite destination are certainly paying the price, as well.

With skyrocketing fuel costs and larger than expected earning losses, the airline industry is bracing for a bumpy vacation season, and fares are already showing the effects.

Some airlines are raising ticket prices 15 to 20 percent, just to cover the soaring costs of fuel.

The average nationwide price for wholesale jet fuel in March rose to $3.172 a gallon, up 42.4 cents from February and up $2.235 from March 2003, marking a whopping 238.7 percent increase, and that is being passed on to consumers.

Analysts are predicting fuel prices will continue to rise throughout the summer, cresting somewhere in the $5–per–gallon range around Labor Day.