The Good and the Bad of Traveling in 2015
The travel industry is a forever evolving and changing game. If you are a member of the pre-technology-dependent generation, you will have fond memories unfolding a paper map and trying to navigate your way through traffic, booking a hotel your found in the yellow pages months before your trip, and endless hours of playing I Spy to pass time. Thanks to GPS, online booking options, and mobile entertainment devices, those problems are issues of the past. Thanks to the continued growth and changes in the industry, this is the good and the bad of traveling in 2015.
The Good: Everyone Is Sharing
Thanks to sites like Airbnb and sharing services such as Divvy, you can slash travel costs and get an amazing experience. Airbnb will allow you to stay in a local’s home, plus you usually get more amenities and space for a fraction of the cost of pricey hotels. In fact, they are a great answer for events like the Super Bowl. Divvy will let you use the bike sharing system that is a favorite in cities like Chicago. Users can easily navigate around the city and avoid parking problems. These are just two of the growing trend of economy sharing that will save you money and give you an experience that is hard to find.
The Bad: Flights. Period.
Airlines like Spirit, the most hated airline in the industry, is trimming fares by cutting the fat of flying. Those packaged pretzels and soda are extra, along with bags and seat space. However, these a la carte airlines are going to be offering these “perks” in new “packages.” We used to call them “the price of your ticket,” but now – they are upgrades.
The Good: Industry Confidence
After the economy took a dive in 2008, the market became crazy and prices went up for those who were still traveling. Now that things seem to be on the upswing and confidence is growing, the prices (generally speaking) are starting to level out and drop.
The Bad: Crowds
On the other side of the industry confidence coin, cheaper prices mean more people. Parks, hotels, and planes are going to to see bigger attendance which means dealing with more people and enjoying less space for you and your bags. Those unfamiliar with new flying protocol will hold up lines and make that TSA security line seem endless. You’ll also see more tots and families, so those looking for quiet kid-free adventures -beware.
The Good: More Budget Airlines
As we embrace cheap tickets in the face of regular airlines squeezing more seats onto the plane, the industry will see more budget options. You still be packed on like sardines, but you won’t pay as much as those on the standard line.
The Bad: Hotel Prices
If you aren’t into economy sharing your accommodations and love those name-a-price-hotel gambles, you’ll be low on luck. Fuller hotels means less inventory for those third-party hotel sites.
The Good: Good Exchange Rates
Greece, Russia, Indian, Japan, and Australia are all experiencing a dip in economy. So, travel to those places with weaker economies will give you an advantage with beneficial exchange rates. You’ll still get an amazing trip, but the cost won’t be nearly as steep.