It is getting cold outside and soon the winter doldroms will be with us and you, like me, may be needing a shot of sunshine. Well, I am thinking about the Caribbean again and want to go with as little hassle as possible. So I am thinking about the US Virgin Islands, specifically, St. Johns which is the greenest.
Why there? No Passport required, no currency exchange needed, and the cellphone works just like at home!
This time around, we are looking at renting a Villa and bringing along some friends for a house party 50 feet from the beach. They can be had for $3,500/week or $167 per couple per night versus one of the resorts at $509/night. The villas give more privacy and allow us to save money on some meals, by preparing them ourselves.
This GetAway sure beats watching football at the relatives house and dreading the trip home in the snow.
Reading the NY Times this weekend, I noticed that despite the negative talk about the economy, there was no shortage of advertisements for luxury goods. Designer shoes, purses dresses, jackets, suits, jewelry and watches with prices that would choke the average income earner. So my take on this is that the affluent will continue to buy luxury products even in this down economy when they perceive lasting value.
Another trend that is related to this phenomenon is the trend in leisure travel. People are looking for travel experiences that will provide memories that will last a lifetime. The travel can be educational as well as reduce stress. They are looking for experiences that go beyond sight-seeing. They want to connect with the people and cultures around the world. Giving back to others and volunteerism travel are in vogue. Other experiences include such activities as Kayaking, Mountain bike tours, Yoga, Cooking classes, and Wine culture excursions.
Whether at hotels, resorts, or cruises, they want first class gyms,tai-chi classes, accupuncture,or aerobic instruction.
So where do these travelers find information and make reservations for their memory-making trips? Two thirds use their computer or smartphone and do so on-line. Therefore it seems that anyone who wants to tap into this trend would be well served to make that search experience as effortless as possible,
