Travel Notes: Travelers taking shorter vacations, staying closer to home

Linda Strait is president of House of Travel Inc., a full-service travel agency in Springfield.

Since late last year, travelers have been asking for destinations that are closer to home and/or can be reached by car.

Families are traveling more with extended family and close friends. Trips for two and three generations, as well as grandparent/grandchild trips, are being requested. But rather than a trip to Grandma's, families are touring and cruising together. They are looking for new experiences to share and new opportunities to be together.

At the same time, vacations are becoming shorter. Long weekends and breaks tacked on to business travel are becoming the norm.

According to the Aug. 5 edition of Travel Agent, a recent survey by Ameri-Debt, a nonprofit credit counseling service, shows financial concerns are the No. 1 reason consumers are cutting the length of their summer vacations.

Since travelers are taking shorter vacations, they do not want to spend as much time getting to their destinations, which is another reason that domestic destinations have remained strong.

While city destinations such as New York, Boston, and Washington are down, national parks, Canada and Mexico are faring well.

Tours of Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and Mount Rushmore are selling out. New England fall foliage tours are getting heavy bookings, too.

To protect your travel plans, some travel insurance companies have responded to current concerns. At least one company now covers travelers in the event of an attack on U.S. soil. They also offer features for travelers opting to drive, and may include roadside assistance that includes towing and helping travelers find a hotel when stranded. They also offer bankruptcy protection from many tour companies, cruise lines, etc.

For those who are flying, check with your travel agent for the most up-to-date airport security requirements. Your travel agent can also give you advice on checking in, getting to the gate and what the latest luggage restrictions are.

For additional information, check the Federal Aviation Administration Web site at www.faa.gov/apa/faq/pr_faq.htm

Travel with confidence, there is so much to see!