re: Fewer people on vacation this year

I-65 North between Mobile and Montgomery was a shite show yesterday. I have to assume that was people leaving the beach since 10 East wasn’t nearly as bad.

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I live in Gulf Shores. Occupancy down 25% this yr, 40% from peak of 2021. People still here in droves though.

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That place is way overbuilt. The traffic from there totally gridlocks I-10 from Buc-ees to tunnel every Saturday after 10am in June and July.

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Fewer people on vacation this year

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Have an upvote for classin’ up this joint and using ‘fewer’ instead of the trashier LESS people on vacation .

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I mean I don’t know if I want to take my chances with some of them.

And I will happily tolerate them on the panhandle occasionally.

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I don't expect the lower middle class to vacation somewhere else, but the rest of them could.

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Went to the beach last week for the 4th. Normally I would avoid peak vacation period because it's so crowded but it was a pseudo family reunion. I was very surprised how few people there were. It was almost like vacationing during a school week.

Usually it's so busy that if you were to call to order a pizza between 3pm and 7pm, they would flat out tell you they weren't taking orders. It was so empty that we were able to get public parking for the cities annual firework show vs having to park on the median.

Anyone else take vacation last week and notice this or was this a one off and we just got lucky?

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You sure you didn’t take a wrong turn somewhere and end up in Grand Isle or Holly Beach or maybe Biloxi?

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That place is way overbuilt. The traffic from there totally gridlocks I-10 from Buc-ees to tunnel every Saturday after 10am in June and July.

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Agreed. Way overbuilt and too damn crowded. We stay away during high season. November and last of April and first part of May are great down there.

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Were you in Florida near private beach areas?

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We rented a house on Dauphin Island. There were empty houses all around us which is never the case this time of year.

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$500 a night (x7 nights) + $800 administrative fee + $300 cleaning fee + $300 condo organization fee

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Yep. The BS fees is what kept us away last year and this summer. I wouldn't even mind the higher rental rates all that much. The fees are just stupid.

We might head over to the coast in early October if things settle down some and a few of these companies start offering some deals.

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November and last of April and first part of May are great down there.

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we usually go to OB the 1st week of October, or whenever the kids have fall break (usually that week, IIRC), and it's always perfect then.... low season, not as crowded, rates are good, no long waits at restaurants, weather/water still really good...

when someone here told us that's the time they usually go, we thought they were crazy til we tried it too... now, that's pretty much the only time we go

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I live in a tourist area. It certainly doesnt seem like less people are around this summer.

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My wifes facebook would depict a picture of 90% of her friends spend about half of their time on vacations during the summer. I dont understand how they dont run out of money.