The Travel Thread

[pdub]

I don't quite understand where the surge is coming from.
The USA's population growth has been minimal over the last 5-10 years.
But the parks ( from what I gather and first hand experience at Acadia multiple times a year ) are getting more packed by the season.

What gives?
International travel/tourism?
US citizens finding parks a more affordable/better way to entertain?
A successful advertising campaign from the parks?

I know this is totally against what the National Parks stand for ( Federal land for all ) buuuuut I kinda wish there was an week, it could be right out of either edge of peak season, where only people from the state could attend - i.e. show a state drivers license to get in.

Went to Acadia this weekend—worst it’s ever been. Couldn’t find a spot to park for Jordan Pond. Circles forever for Sand Beach. Swarms of people. Lines of cars. Traffic.

Place is almost not worth going to anymore.

[Shirley]

I don't quite understand where the surge is coming from.
The USA's population growth has been minimal over the last 5-10 years.
But the parks ( from what I gather and first hand experience at Acadia multiple times a year ) are getting more packed by the season.

What gives?
International travel/tourism?
US citizens finding parks a more affordable/better way to entertain?
A successful advertising campaign from the parks?

I know this is totally against what the National Parks stand for ( Federal land for all ) buuuuut I kinda wish there was an week, it could be right out of either edge of peak season, where only people from the state could attend - i.e. show a state drivers license to get in.

Went to Acadia this weekend—worst it’s ever been. Couldn’t find a spot to park for Jordan Pond. Circles forever for Sand Beach. Swarms of people. Lines of cars. Traffic.

Place is almost not worth going to anymore.

That's so sad to hear.

Early in the 3.5 year saga that started in Nov of '17, i.e., waiting for my wife to succumb to the inevitable, I often wondered WTF am I going to do now? So, eventually, I landed on the idea that I would take off from FL and drive up to New Hampshire where I've never been to visit a friend there, then make my way across the country by no particular route thru KC, Co. SLC, and California on my way to Washington State where I've never been either, visiting friends, fishing, and camping along the way.

Then Covid hit and staycations became a thing and I started hearing about all the national parks being overwhelmed, so I put the trip on the back burner. No problem, because as soon as the original problem resolved it was now time to take care of my then 94 y/o Mother, so I decided to look at the cup as half full and something that would buy me more time while waiting out the crowds to take my trip.

Now it's > than 2 years later from when I would have begun, my Mother's in skilled nursing which means she's much less in need of so much of my help, but from what I hear and the update you provide, it seems once again unlikely to happen any time in the near future.

dammit

First world problem...

[KUTradition]

we don’t go up the Cottonwood canyons at all anymore since there are so many people…it’s Uintas or bust if we want to actually get away

[TDub]

we don’t go up the Cottonwood canyons at all anymore since there are so many people…it’s Uintas or bust if we want to actually get away

runnin with the skinwalkers?

[Shirley]

we don’t go up the Cottonwood canyons at all anymore since there are so many people…it’s Uintas or bust if we want to actually get away

Sadly, the Wasatch being overwhelmed doesn't surprise me after watching what's been happening there since the mid-80s. And, imo, especially after the 2002 winter Olympics.

[KUTradition]

we don’t go up the Cottonwood canyons at all anymore since there are so many people…it’s Uintas or bust if we want to actually get away

runnin with the skinwalkers?

ha! i have a newish colleague that is based in Florida, and that was one the first things he asked me about

[KUTradition]

we don’t go up the Cottonwood canyons at all anymore since there are so many people…it’s Uintas or bust if we want to actually get away

Sadly, the Wasatch being overwhelmed doesn't surprise me after watching what's been happening there since the mid-80s. And, imo, especially after the 2002 winter Olympics.

#progress

it’s shocking how quickly it sells to have changed just since i was in grad school. moved away for ~4 years and the canyons became overrun. we still occasionally drive up Big Cottonwood and over Guardsman’s Pass (mainly when family is in town, or to see fall colors), but the traffic generally isn’t worth it, especially on the weekends

[TDub]

we don’t go up the Cottonwood canyons at all anymore since there are so many people…it’s Uintas or bust if we want to actually get away

runnin with the skinwalkers?

ha! i have a newish colleague that is based in Florida, and that was one the first things he asked me about

the Uintas are famous for that

[KUTradition]

runnin with the skinwalkers?

ha! i have a newish colleague that is based in Florida, and that was one the first things he asked me about

the Uintas are famous for that

last time we were camping up there (end of June) we thought we experienced something truly bizarre…for about 12 hours

then, after getting cell service and doing some googling, we found out it was just musk’s fucking starlink satellites

[zsn]

Same in Tahoe area. There are areas where we’d see no one, except the locals, and now it’s overrun with tourists. We know that they are tourists because we can tell that they have been there at day’s end. Locals leave no trace.

[mjl2]

Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded.

~Yogi Berra

[KUTradition]

United doing what i’ve been advocating for for years…window seat passengers now boarding first

[ousdahl]

DIA you picked a helluva day to only have half the security lines open.

[pdub]

United doing what i’ve been advocating for for years…window seat passengers now boarding first

While I agree logistically, I’ll be avoiding United due to this if I can.

I’m an aisle guy and try if possible to just bring a carry on. If I have to wait til all the window peeps get on that’s less of a chance for me to find an overhead spot near my seat.

[Back2Lawrence]

United doing what i’ve been advocating for for years…window seat passengers now boarding first

While I agree logistically, I’ll be avoiding United due to this if I can.
I
I’m an aisle guy and try if possible to just bring a carry on. If I have to wait til all the window peeps get on that’s less of a chance for me to find an overhead spot near my seat.

Coming soon. A carryon surcharge.

[Shirley]

United doing what i’ve been advocating for for years…window seat passengers now boarding first

While I agree logistically, I’ll be avoiding United due to this if I can.
I
I’m an aisle guy and try if possible to just bring a carry on. If I have to wait til all the window peeps get on that’s less of a chance for me to find an overhead spot near my seat.

Coming soon. A carryon surcharge.

I'm all about the isle.

And I fly Southwest whenever I can, where you can check two bags for free*.

#winning




*free is my favorite number

[pdub]

Southwest is generally more expensive than your standard airline but yes, I do like their bag policy.

[jfish26]

Southwest is generally more expensive than your standard airline but yes, I do like their bag policy.

The bag policy is nice. As is the change flexibility. And I do find the entire process logical and predictable.

But it's Companion Pass that keeps me 100% loyal. If Delta were to offer a substantially comparable benefit, I'd strongly consider changing my loyalty. But unless/until that day comes, you'll find me in a middle seat on SWA rather than any seat on any other carrier.

[DrPepper]

I love airports and travel. I don't fly with my current job, but did in an earlier chapter. It was enough to keep track of points with several carriers. I hate SWA boarding. I don't want to stand around like cattle on SWA when I can board last with a designated seat with anyone else. I board early enough on other airlines to get an overhead bin for carry-on or have a credit card that gets me free checked luggage (eg Delta) and board late when I do not need an overhead bin.
185k miles per year is a lot for companion tickets on SWA, but I would like them if I had them.

[jfish26]

I love airports and travel. I don't fly with my current job, but did in an earlier chapter. It was enough to keep track of points with several carriers. I hate SWA boarding. I don't want to stand around like cattle on SWA when I can board last with a designated seat with anyone else. I board early enough on other airlines to get an overhead bin for carry-on or have a credit card that gets me free checked luggage (eg Delta) and board late when I do not need an overhead bin.
185k miles per year is a lot for companion tickets on SWA, but I would like them if I had them.

I would guess that most Companion Pass holders get it primarily through co-branded Chase cards (rather than primarily through travel). Especially since Covid.

The spend requirements seem like quite a lot, BUT if you're reasonably tech-proficient you can identify some fairly low-hanging-fruit bonuses to get you there. For example, somewhat randomly, booking hotels through SWA's portal can yield fairly substantial bonuses; our weeklong family vacation last year to a standard Hilton property netted 92,000 (!) points. A couple years back, we got 22,000 points/night for a standard Sheraton property in New Orleans. I don't really understand why - by NO means was that representative of spend (not even 10x).