re: Fewer people on vacation this year

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Example of all the “girls’ trips” I mentioned. You know what I haven’t seen at all? A “boys’ trip”.

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I find the girls trips funny.
Every time, someone gets her feelings hurt and gets in a fight with the rest of the group.
Then they don't talk for a few weeks.

Spent last week in the Redneck Riviera. Don't ask why....it wasn't my idea for certain. The motel we stayed in was booked BUT we have stayed in the same motel before and the rooms (all 2 bedrooms with kitchenettes) will sleep about 6 adults and 3-4 kids and in the past they were that full and more. This week it was mostly older couples and small families of 4 or so. It was noticeably less crowded than in the past (the last time I was there was 9 years ago).

There was WAY less traffic. Our son drove from Atlanta and did not get in traffic and we drove from Augusta and did not. That is the first time that has ever happened in my experience...usually its pretty slow below Eufaula and definitely slow on Front Beach Road. Traffic was VERY light all week.

Restaurants and bars were doing business, near capacity but no waits anywhere we went.

The thing that was noticeable was the beaches were PACKED. Worse than I remember it being. LOTS of people parking and walking to the beach which leads me to believe they were staying in town for lower rates or doing day trips. The beaches were PACKED. Double red flags most days...very rough surf. Still loaded with people.

I would bet they are having a pretty bad season all in all. I talked to the man who owned the motel we were in and he told me that they had lowered rates the rest of the season and was about half booked when they would normally be booked up. He said they had had 2 weeks of solid bookings and the rest of the summer thus far they had rooms available until 6 or so most nights. They were booked up last week but had rooms available Friday for this week....something that has not been the case for a long time according to him.

It was, other than the beaches being crowded, way less crowded than I remember it being. I know for a certainty traffic was lighter and not having to wait for a table in a restaurant was certainly unexpected....so much so that we left a bunch of groceries because we wound up eating out more than we planned.

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There was far less people than I've ever seen at the beach this year.

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A record was set for the most people screened by the TSA yesterday.

I don't know what else to tell you.

My wife and I haven't traveled in a long time because we're 14 weeks into a house remodel.

But we're going to Europe in September and Belize in November.

Not according to scoot.

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Cruises are probably slammed.

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I would bet that is true. There may also be some hangover from traveling TOO much in the last couple of years due to being couped up during COVID. I don't know that but its pretty easy to imagine some folks going all out the last couple of summers to make up for missed opportunity in 2020 and 21 and coming to their senses this summer. I know in our area since late 2020 through fall of 22 you could not find a camp ground with availability, at least not easily. They are not nearly as packed since. Weekends are still hard to get but week days they almost all have something available. There are about 8 state parks within 50 miles of us not counting COE and private campgrounds...they were doing gang buster business from late 2020 through the fall of 22.