Will the down economy squash vacation season?

By: Michelle Carolla | SCNow
Published: May 15, 2008

Just in time for the summer tourist season, nearly everything we buy costs more than last year. So, what does the higher price of gas, food and hotels mean for vacation plans this year?

News 13 hit the beach to find out We met this Cincinnati family poolside at a local hotel. They told us the economy isn't keeping them from their now 25-year tradition of their mother-daughter-sister trip to Myrtle Beach.

They normally fly and did so this year, but the struggling airline industry put a crimp in their trip.

"We usually have a direct flight from Cincinnati, but they canceled that. I think it has something to do with the fuel prices and everything going on with gas prices," said Leslie Vogel.

Vogel said they save up all year for this vacation so they plan to spend about the same as they did last year. Her sister, Julie Highly said they do cut corners by not eating in restaurants.

"We do cook in the room and we probably will do it a little more this year than we've done in the past,” said Highley.

Vogel said they canceled plans for their annual family vacation, choosing to stay at home this year instead. “It's become really difficult when you have a family of four with the increase in gas prices."

Tom Moore spent several decades managing hotels in Myrtle Beach, seeing the ups-and-downs in tourist patterns. He manages a hotel on the south end of Ocean Boulevard. News 13 spoke with him last year at the beginning of the season. He said they ended up in sales by nearly 10 percent. This year, they jury is still out.

"January, February and March were real good,” said Moore. “We were up a little over last year, and then first of April it dropped off." Moore says July reservations are strong. People are still booking for the week, just not as many as in 2007. Moore said they turned away reservations the last few years. Even though that's not the case now, they're reinvesting in the future by building a new tower next door with another 114 rooms. He said they're taking advantage of the better rates in the construction industry.