Traveling this summer is going to be expensive, but Ohioans still plan to do a lot of it

No big surprise: vacation travel this year is expensive.

Anyone trying to book flights and hotels, whether overseas or here at home, has seen the sticker shock. Same thing with amusement parks.

But those increased prices are not expected to deter Ohioans from getting out this summer. In fact, Columbus airport officials expect to break travel records this year.

People should be prepared to pay top dollar for trips this summer.

Say you're going to Rome. Jeannie Gualtieri, owner of Active Travel in Hilliard, said she recently booked hotel rooms there for a traveler which ranged from $2,600 to $4,000 for three nights. "It's all about location," she said.

Airfare on American Airlines to Rome? That ran $2,400 round trip, for a "premium economy" seat that buys you another six inches of space.

But of course international travel can be pricey. What about a trip to Universal Orlando for a family of four? That is running at $3,500 for five nights at a Universal property and four days at the parks, said Erin Geiger, a travel agent with Travel By Design based in Ashville in Pickaway County.

And that doesn't include food costs. Or plane fares or the cost to drive to Florida.

High travel costs have punctured pocketbooks since COVID-19 restrictions began easing more than two years ago, Pent-up demand continues to contribute to exorbitant prices.

The Columbus Regional Airport Authority expects 1 million passengers to depart from John Glenn Columbus International Airport and Rickenbacker International Airport between June 1 and July 31, which would break the record of 996,000 during the same time period in 2019.

The Memorial Day weekend should have 15,200 average daily passenger departures from May 26 to 29, up 10% from 2022, the airport authority forecasts.

Memorial Day gas prices far lower than 2022

As for the Memorial Day weekend on the road, travelers will pay much less for fuel than they did a year ago when prices were still spiraling following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In Ohio, gasoline prices are averaging $3.49 per gallon, nearly a dollar per gallon lower than a year ago.

More: OPEC+ to cut oil production. Here's what it means for Ohio's spring gas prices

Diesel prices are averaging $3.97, down from $5.24 a year ago.

According to AAA, 42.3 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home this weekend, up 7% from 2022.

"People this year are taking vacation or traveling haven't been able to do so the last two years, and feel comfortable and safe about traveling," said Ike Reynolds, owner of Reynolds Travel in the Polaris area.

"We went from no business to business rolling in from everywhere," he said.

Still contributing to high costs: Businesses from airlines to hotels to cruise lines still aren't fully staffed after COVID, Reynolds said.

Rob Elking, owner of Grandview Travel, said what are called average "load factors" — percentage of seats filled per flight — remain high, at 97% to 98%, compared to 92% before COVID.

"Higher demand, higher pricing," Elking said.

Demand is easing somewhat, though, Geiger said. "We're not nearly as busy as we were before COVID and immediately after COVID," she said.

But...

"Everything has gone up. Everything has increased," she said.

One-day tickets at a Disney park in Orlando cost $109 for everyone 10 and up. For kids 3-9, it's $104. "Big savings," Geiger joked. Children less than 3 years old are free, she said.

Elking said a four-night package for a family of four in New York City, including air fare, hotel room, ticket to the 9/11 museum, a Broadway show, a Circle Line tour on the Hudson River, and other attractions can run $4,000-$5,000.

Depending on how much you want to pack into your trip, "You can hit $5,000 pretty quickly," Elking said.

Reynolds said that the cost of a week in Paris likely runs about $4,500 a person, including air fare, a hotel and some sightseeing. But that doesn't even include the cost of food and beverages, he said. A nice dinner in Paris can cost $75-$100 per person, he said.

Food and beverages can be pricey at all-inclusive resorts too, Gualtieri said.

At the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, a can of pop can cost $5, and a small pizza $30, she said.

Beer can run $12-$15, she said, a price familiar to Nationwide Arena patrons.

Find savings online and with flexibility

Closer to home, it can still cost you to have fun here in Ohio. At Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, a Saturday ticket can go for $49.99 online, and $80 at the gate. A summer pass is $105.

Online prices on Cedar Point's website are always the cheapest, said Jill Bauer, public relations manager for Shores & Islands Ohio, which promotes the Sandusky area.

"If anybody's paying gate price, I feel very, very sorry for them," Bauer said.

Bauer said travelers on a budget can pay less expensive lodging prices the farther they stay from Cedar Point, and if they come at times when there aren't events, such as the Bash on the Bay music festival on South Bass Island Aug. 23-24.

Bauer said discount coupons for businesses are available on the Shores & Islands website.

North of Cincinnati at King's Island amusement park, which is also owned by Cedar Fair, a Saturday ticket can be bought for $54.99 online compared to $85 at the gate, and a summer pass goes for $109.

Angel Mateo, who owns Island Travel in Worthington and is opening an office in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, said people planning at the last minute to travel need to be flexible, especially when it comes to dates.

"The thing is, people must know it's going to be more expensive this year," Mateo said.

Mateo said one-way travelers can reduce their costs is by taking charter flights.

"The biggest benefit is that they are nonstop flights," she said. "That's a big perk. I’ve also seen that the airfare can be more affordable."

Mary Cropper, a travel agent who specializes in national parks, including the Grand Canyon, for Audley Travel in Boston, said being flexible when it comes to scheduling can also help reduce costs.

But even with rising prices, Mateo said people should still consider a trip.

"I always tell my clients, 'You deserve a vacation, that recharge time to disconnect,'" she said.

"Americans work, work, work. A lot of people don’t even take their vacations every year."

Dispatch business reporter Mark Williams contributed to this story

mferench@dispatch.com

@MarkFerenchik

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Despite rising travel costs, Columbus airports expect record summer