Published: June 23, 2009 12:29 am      

TRAVEL: Vacation or staycation?

With last year’s bottoming out of the economy and the subsequent recession, the term ’staycation’ has been added to the vernacular in the United States. Tight budgets brought speculation that Americans won’t travel far this summer during vacation, opting to stay close to home and enjoy a staycation.

However, now that local schools have dismissed for the summer, area travel agencies say that families aren’t staying home in droves. In fact, except for the occasional inquiry about bus trips to Toronto, many are choosing to take a big trip this summer.

Florida, Mexico, the Grand Canyon and even Alaska have been mentioned as destinations by local travelers this year.

’The prices are so low in Mexico right now, especially after all the bad press,’ said Jennifer Cunningham, a travel agent at Elliott Travel Agency, located on Delaware Avenue in Kenmore. ’Many hotels in the Mexican Riviera are only at 25-35 percent capacity.’

Cunningham said tourists are unfairly avoiding that area of Mexico. She noted the swine flu never got near that region, and reports of drug cartels are ’old news.’

Prices in Mexico are 20-30 percent cheaper than they were at this time last year.

’It’s really sad to see what’s happened to them,’ Cunningham observed. ’They need people to come back.’

Other locations are also offering big discounts. For example, Cunningham said discounts of 20 percent can be found in the Caribbean and Disney is offering free dining through the beginning of October.

Disney has made similar offers the ’past couple of years,’ Cunningham said, but added this year they’ve extended the offer by four weeks.

’This past year it’s been one promotion after another,’ she said.

’Florida is a popular family destination in general,’ adds Shaun Seufert, a spokesperson for AAA of Western and Central New York.

Seufert said the economic downturn is making it more affordable for families to travel this year.

’Some families are wanting to take a vacation that maybe they put off last year,’ Seufert said. ’Travel as a whole is more affordable. The industry has really responded.’

Polling AAA’s Williamsville and Ken-Ton locations, Seufert said there’s a ’split among attitudes’ with where the travel club’s members are heading. Those who are staying within an 8-12 hours’ drive of Western New York are almost as numerous as those planning a far-flung trip.

Popular destinations nearby include the Finger Lakes, Cedar Point in Ohio, Hershey, Pa., Lake George, Montreal and Washington, D.C.

Conspicuously missing from the list is New York City, which Seufert attributed to the relatively low fare offered by several airlines that offer service to the Big Apple.

Overall, ’there’s really no middle ground,’ Seufert added. ’If they’re not staying local or doing a weekend trip, they’re going way out west.’

Popular TripTik inquiries have been for Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, and Alaska. Seufert is at a loss for why Alaska is suddenly being requested.

However, ’If you’re cruising, there are some really fantastic deals for that destination,’ he said.

The economic downturn and a lack of demand for hotels in some places means that a savvy traveler can hit the jackpot, Seufert said. He noted some people who wait until the last minute can strike a great deal.

’And our agents are very good at keeping an eye on what’s happening with your specific trip,’ Seufert said.

Locally, people are also looking at state parks, Seufert said. Despite the two-month climb in gas prices, the per-gallon cost of gas is still nearly $1.40 lower than it was in mid-June last year, providing relief to drivers.

If families are now planning to take the vacation they set aside last summer, that could explain why season passes are down slightly this year at Martin’s Fantasy Island.

’I don’t think it has to do with staycations, I think it’s more about the economy,’ said Mark McGuire, a spokesperson for the Grand Island amusement park, which on Thursday went into full swing with its summer hours.

There’s been a shift in the groups booking tours at the park as well, McGuire said. The number of larger groups booking are down, but there’s been ’an uptick’ in bookings from small-business type groups.

’The bigger groups, like autoworkers, may be scaling back,’ McGuire said.

Groups who are visiting are local and are likely taking advantage of the park’s atmosphere, at a reasonable cost compared to other amusement parks.

Families who do opt to stay local this year have plenty of outdoor activities and destinations from which to choose. But they may want to cast an eye toward the sky.

As McGuire noted, despite the changes in group visits at Martin’s, the biggest factor for attendance remains Mother Nature.

’Daily attendance varies on the weather,’ McGuire stated, noting Friday attendance was better than rain-soaked Thursday. ’We are definitely weather dependent.’

Contact night city editor John Hopkins at 693-1000, ext. 150.