Travel For 2011

[logbags]

I wonder if the same persective is held in Europe. Just spoke to a friend at Laguna and she said tourists were thin. The big rush is from the Scandanavians who usually arive Dec 26th onwards. The Russians might well be the saviours of this years high season. Got an email from a Swede last night and he is not coming over as he thought it was all booked out. When I left on the 8th there was empty rooms everywhere. Just who is telling the truth? The T.A.T keep inflating the figures it seems, this is stupid as people hear that and think it is too crowded or fully booked so don't come or go elsewhere. I've seen this twice this week alone.

BRAZIL, India and the Philippines are among the list of must-see destination in 2011, travel exports have revealed.

Using travel trends and statistics, Travel.com.au has released a list of destinations, travel tips and airlines for the new year.

While affordable airfares and its rich culture were the key factors for Brazil’s selection, interest in India continues to rise as well as the Philippines, which is becoming increasingly popular due to the political unrest in Thailand and its untapped beaches.

Old favourites such as the US and New Zealand also made the cut.

Los Angeles was singled out due to the strong Australian dollar and airfares than can be scored for under $1000. Travel.com.au has predicted that travellers will utilise LA as a port of travel and will head down to the south of the US on road trips.

Meanwhile New Zealand has become one of the most sought-after destinations for 2011 with more Australians expected to take shorter breaks to our neighbouring country due to heavily discount airfares.

Holiday patterns will also change next year. Gone are the days where Australian travellers would save up their annual leave over a few years and spend months overseas - holidaymakers will now book their travel two or three months in advance to score a cheap seat.

Adventure tours and cruises will remain popular holiday options, while stopovers will become increasingly popular next year with most airlines allowing a free stopover on most fares.

Australians will holiday for an average of three weeks in Europe, ten days in the US, four-five days in New Zealand and seven days in Asia, Travel.com.au’s research shows.

Edited December 16, 2010 by logbags

[Peterocket]

I know two large hotels in the Laguna area that are filled to capacity and having to pass bookings on to other hotels.

My friends bar in the same area is also up almost 100% in takings compared to last low season.

[logbags]

I was told that too. Was told both Sheraton and Dusit are both full until April. There's a couple of places at the mouth of Laguna that are doing real well. I get very mixed messages, the girl I spoke to was right on the beach in front of the Sheraton and she said it was very quiet.

The jist of the post was firstly the article stating the perceived political instability and the fact I hear and see otherwise to what the T.A.T often says. I think the package tour sector is always ok, it's all the inbetween places that battle.

[Ulysses G.]

The Philippines has way more ripoffs, is more expensive and is much more dangerous than Thailand. Anyone going there to avoid danger in Thailand will get an unpleasant surprise.

Edited December 16, 2010 by Ulysses G.

[madmitch]

I was told that too. Was told both Sheraton and Dusit are both full until April. There's a couple of places at the mouth of Laguna that are doing real well. I get very mixed messages, the girl I spoke to was right on the beach in front of the Sheraton and she said it was very quiet.

The jist of the post was firstly the article stating the perceived political instability and the fact I hear and see otherwise to what the T.A.T often says. I think the package tour sector is always ok, it's all the inbetween places that battle.

I've said this before and I'll say it again. Hotels claim to be booked out because they have allocated all their rooms to tour companies. This year in particular, the tour companies are not selling all their Thailand packages, meaning empty rooms being reallocate and advertised on the late booking sites and if they are not booked there, they remain empty.

You only have to use your eyes to see how much quieter Phuket is this year. Can you imagine how it would be without the Russians?

[logbags]

I was told that too. Was told both Sheraton and Dusit are both full until April. There's a couple of places at the mouth of Laguna that are doing real well. I get very mixed messages, the girl I spoke to was right on the beach in front of the Sheraton and she said it was very quiet.

The jist of the post was firstly the article stating the perceived political instability and the fact I hear and see otherwise to what the T.A.T often says. I think the package tour sector is always ok, it's all the inbetween places that battle.

I've said this before and I'll say it again. Hotels claim to be booked out because they have allocated all their rooms to tour companies. This year in particular, the tour companies are not selling all their Thailand packages, meaning empty rooms being reallocate and advertised on the late booking sites and if they are not booked there, they remain empty.

You only have to use your eyes to see how much quieter Phuket is this year. Can you imagine how it would be without the Russians?

Well I'm not rainman myself. I've been in hospitality since 1985 and I always have a good look whilst moving around Phuket. I mentioned to some Thai friends lately it was lucky the Russians were coming and they said they are keeping a lot of places going at present.

I saw an add on TV last night by Flight Centre advertising 8 nights all inclusive on Phuket for $1280. That's cheaper than I normally pay for a 3 month plane ticket. This shows there must be rooms available. Hotels talking up their bookings is a two edged sword. Many people don't go if they think it's going to be too crowded.

The baht is too strong, 29 baht for a USD? It was 36 or so and I remember the pound was 66 or something a few years back. This has a huge effect on spending. The Russians may be flush but many other European are not.

This constant talk of attracting "high end" tourists is tedious. Phuket has guest houses and low end places as well as the big expensive boutique hotels. It is the working class man that keeps places like Patong going.

Then there is the fact Patong is becoming just like any western city with malls and shopping centres taking over with all the western franchises like McDonalds, KFC etc. If things are much cheaper than home people will go, but if everything starts being equal in price or similar, why waste your money on a plane ticket?

If you think the exchange rate doesn't effect peoples spending patterns your deluded.