Who's holding off on vacation plans for 2009?

aroobagirl · Post by **aroobagirl** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 7:26 pm

Husband is in construction Mgt and was laid off 9/2/08. (Anyone have a job in DC area?)
So next year isn't looking very good right now! Thankfully we have November 2008 paid for, we need to de-stress! All I can say is thank God I am federal employee!

P-600 · Post by **P-600** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 7:32 pm

We are going in January for one week only because we got a great deal. Air (nonstop), Car and Villa for 2 for under 3k. I think that is a great price for high season. We typically make breakfast, bring lunch to the beach and go out for dinner nightly. With the economy like it is and my husband's telephone not ringing (builder) we my have to cut back on the dinners but I'd eat PB@J to be on STJ.

Connie · Post by **Connie** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:02 pm

We were just talking about this tonight.

One thing we never wanted to give up was traveling.

We use to go to Florida alot. For 12 years we went to Sanibel. We love it. Once we found the VI's we were hooked.

We've always had a vacation account, but that doesn't seem to cover it anymore. We've had 4 VI trips in the last 2 years.

This Summer we will probably head on back to Sanibel because the cost is much cheaper.

suzycc218 · Post by **suzycc218** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:29 pm

Thank you, California Girl! I hope we can make it happen somehow. Love your pictures! Really makes me want to go. Just found out about this forum today; been spending most of my time at TA, but will now enjoy this one, too.

sea-nile · Post by **sea-nile** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:42 pm

I booked a place for June 2009 but I haven't bought airline tickets yet.
I put a deposit down on an April dive trip to Cozumel. I am just being optimistic that everything will be fine for us and that we will have jobs.

designbyroe · Post by **designbyroe** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:47 pm

I used to think I was a dummy since I did not have $$$ in the stock market but now I guess not.

I am still going to STJ, and living in FL it is not as $$$.
I am lucky, my work has not slowed and god willing it will not........
I want to give the people and business in STJ as much support as I can........

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 9:23 pm

suzycc218 wrote: Just found out about this forum today; been spending most of my time at TA, but will now enjoy this one, too.

Suzy, you'll like it here. Everyone's really fun and really friendly, and really helpful. And we all post lots of pictures in our trip reports and there are 2 regular Friday pictures, too! You should also check out the "Off Topic" forum when you get a chance. Any topic goes over there!

seagrape · Post by **seagrape** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 9:30 pm

Unfortunately, everyone is hurting. We're in that boat, too. Luckily, being teachers, our jobs are intact. I can't imagine not being on STJ at least three times a year. We just won't give that up. They way we see it, you have to be happy because you never know what's going to happen, or when! A nice float in a warm, clear ocean is enough to get our minds off the financial crisis...not to mention a Carib or two!

brenda · Post by **brenda** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 9:39 pm

If we have the funds, we will be going to STJ at least once and hopefully twice next year. I really need to get away to the islands to keep me sane in this world. Right now we are OK, but if something happens with my husbands job, it's a whole new ballgame. Just keeping our fingers crossed. We also don't have kids, so that makes a difference as well.

verjoy · Post by **verjoy** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:19 am

We will be going to Florida in October '09 for my aunt's 100th birthday. We are her closest relatives so we will be there unless something drastic happens.

It occurred to me that Florida is a good "jumping off" point for the Caribbean. We were considering a canal cruise or St John but not booked yet.

I think we will hold off booking until things settle down some. My annuity has taken quite a hit and thats just through the end of September. It was pretty small to begin with by the time we get the news on October there may not be anything left.

I am not too worried yet as my husband has retirement incomes from Federal and State plus we both get social security.

cptnkirk · Post by **cptnkirk** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 5:41 am

Well we are going in May and I don't know if I'll have a job then. Shop is headin to Mexico. Honey has a good job so we should be Ok. Unless she looses her job we shall return at least one more time in 2009. We live way below our means here at home so we seem to have no trouble working out getting to the islands. Glad I went Stable Value in January have only lost 6 percent in my 401k this year

Now when to get back in I feel a bounce around the corner. Maybe have to dip my toes in just a little to test the waters.

piscesgirl0314 · Post by **piscesgirl0314** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:05 am

We're going in june for 10 days. Our villa is booked and paid for...BUT we haven't bought airline tickets yet...We're going to hold off on that until after the first of the year...we spent $2100.00 on airline tickets for myself, husband and daughter when we went in 2007...I'm prepared to pay the same for 2009...hopefully not too much more...We went to Disney this year...unfortuantely we can only do one BIG trip a year...but we live a little over and hour away from the Outerbanks of North Carolina so we do long weekends there...I WISH I could do 5 weeks a year...thats AWESOME!!! Maybe one day...

tjwgrr · Post by **tjwgrr** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:14 am

We're booked for late April- FF tickets, half of villa deposit paid, and deposit on rental car.

Bought trip insurance with cancel for any reason adder. Unless either my wife or I lose our jobs, we'll be going. We also normally head to Naples, FL late fall or early winter, but those plans are shelved this year.

It's still hard to justify an expensive vacation when our portfolios are worth 40% less than a year ago..... but we're in it for the long haul and we've still got 20++ years before we can "officially" retire.

Berlingirl · Post by **Berlingirl** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:21 am

Booked tickets for all four of us to Stj for April 2009 last May. Paid half on our lodging so far (plus security deposit), all are nonrefundable. Final is due 60 days prior to arrival. That said, just cancelled a 3 day trip we were taking to Bermuda using FF points for my BIG BDay coming right up. Put them back into the account. Hadn't paid for the hotel, just had a confirmation so no lost $ on lodging. Just couldn't see going watching the world turmoil lately.

(Plus don't want to leave kids right now) We're saving well over 1k plus there by staying at home. DH is small business worker/partial owner so that is a complete crapshot during a good economy...now it's week to week. My work is down to one day per week...not anticipating any improvement there either. Wish I had the foresight to work in a medical field or any type of government/federal job as a career. Now who wants to hire an old lady? Retirement plans, what retirement plans???

So God willing we'll be in STJ in April of next year and that's as far as we've gotten. That trip is a dose of sanity we're looking forward too.

We can eat in a lot and have a couple of special dinners out just like always!

Islandtripper · Post by **Islandtripper** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:21 am

Fortunately our first trip for just the two of us in January is mostly paid for. We used dividend miles so that didn't hurt. We were thinking of a family trip for ours and at least one other family next summer. The kids would love the snorkeling and beaches. Now with less job security and losses in college funds, we will probably go back to the Jersey Shore or Delaware beaches.
Of course we can always hope for a major turn around and book that villa!

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Who's holding off on vacation plans for 2009?