Three dollar a gallon gas is not a welcome sight at the pump, not when unemployment is nearly 12% and home prices are falling at 2% per month. On top of everything else, we here in Las Vegas just got hit with a fat 7% electricty rate increase. When you live in the desert and the temperature at times hits 115 degrees you don’t have a lot of choices about paying for power, you either pay or suffer the physical pain.
Looking to the short term future I would say that things are going to get worse before they get better, and I consider myself to be a relatively optimistic person. Las Vegas is seeing double digit decreases in sales tax income, visitor volumes are consistently down and have you checked to see just how far room rates have fallen? You can stay in the Wynn Resort or the Belaggio this Summer for less that it costs to stay in a Ramada Inn in upper Michigan.
I guess that the bargains are the upside to all of this insanity. Fewer travelers means that you can play “lets make a deal” on a wide range of travel products and services. Almost every cruise line has a major discounts going on their cabins and on their on-board credits. The discounts are much larger for 2010 cruises than they were even for 2009.
I have seen flight / auto trip combo packages to Ireland that include airfare from NYC for $ 249! That’s a bargain price even for those of us who are suffering through these slow times.
Local Las Vegas restaurants have joined in the discounting frenzy by offering $ 50 dining coupons at discounts of 20% to 50% off, and if you have shunned the shows like The Beatles or Jersey Boys, its time to take a second look. Like everthing else, there are some great deals around.
Its not much of a silver lining, but maybe some of the bargain discounts will get you a vacation or a dinner that you thought you couldn’t afford.
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It’s been over a decade since I’ve been to Vegas, and those deals are tempting. I was in Niagara Falls last week and that area seems to be doing quite well considering the economy. There are deals to be had there, but I don’t think they’re as good as the ones mentioned above.
It sounds like the housing market is worse in Nevada than in some areas.
Not only in the travel industry can you find bargains but also with household services. I have had to cut my expenses and when I targeted my entertainment center, that meant that basic telecommunication services was the solution. After speaking with a representative at my local provider, I was able to cut my costs by one third. Good deal!
Since Nevada will be hit with a 7% increase in electricity charges, why can’t the state or even Vegas look into solar panels as an alternative for a source. Lots of sunshine there!
As for travel deals, I would certainly take advantage of the market these days if I could afford it! Maybe later.
Solar energy isn’t bad at all but the thing is that its not enough. Making it enough would cost too much expenses that could be done with nuclear power. As you know it is dangerous and nobody would want a nuclear reactor in their neighborhood.
That’s a good thought. Come to think of it people who are traveling now have decreased all of a sudden and hotels and other places have to lower their rates just to attract those remaining people who travel easily. A good opportunity IF, you have money.
You can’t exactly take advantage of bargains if you don’t have any monety.
At least we can still travel despite of the crisis we are facing…We have some fare discounts in our country and it work !