Colonial News News
Dianne and Larry Wiggins relax by their pool at home in Plymouth Meeting. The couple opted for a staycation this year.
Political upheaval, fearsome meteorological events and the ongoing threat of terrorism aside, plenty of local folks seem to be venturing well beyond home turf this summer.
Which is not to say local travelers are clamoring for package tours to Yemen or Afghanistan. On the other hand, even as Africa and the Middle East roil with revolution, Athenian protesters riot in city streets and Japan struggles with the horrific aftermath of this year’s earthquake, people are booking vacations abroad.
Yes, the fallout from Mexico’s drug wars may be spreading, Syrian refugees may be seeking asylum in parts of Turkey, and Mumbai is surely reeling from last week’s terrorist bombings. Nonetheless, plenty of folks are still packing up and heading out to see the world. And despite the lure of Internet-based self-planning, many of them are — apparently — conferring with the pros before they go.
“We haven’t seen any slow-up,” says Jackie Silverman, a consultant with Liberty Travel at 457 W. Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting. “Our numbers are good … definitely steady. In fact, our current numbers are up. We’re busier this month than we were for July of last year.”
Those clients are traveling “just about everywhere,” Silverman notes.
“Actually, I’m seeing all kinds of people — doing everything. Instead of just doing Mexico and the usual ‘safe’ places, people are going everywhere. We’re seeing real variety in people’s travel destinations … from the standard European capitals to, say, Fiji. People are going to Morocco. Interest is actually up in Morocco. Even Dubai is popular.
“We’re literally seeing everything … across the board. People are still going to Greece … and Egypt as well. They know about the unrest in Cairo, and some of them ask us to make note of their interest and put their Nile cruise on hold ’til things quiet down. But others are going now. They realize that tour operators stay on top of these things and know whether it’s OK or not … or have enough experience to take alternate routes if trouble erupts along the way. A reputable tour operator isn’t going to put people in … danger.”
Exactly, agrees longtime Whitemarsh travel agent Georgene Robertson Borusiewicz, whose Robertson Travel at 628 Germantown Pike has been a Lafayette Hill fixture for the past four decades.
“Professionals have access to all kinds of information and rates that people who aren’t in the business never get to see,” Robertson Borusiewicz says. “People go on the Internet, lock themselves into some rate that seems good and then discover they’ve gotten themselves into some sort of bind they can’t get out of. What they don’t realize is, they’re getting one — usually biased — side of the story.”
The Robertson spokeswoman says cruises are perennially popular with her agency’s customers, although “for our clients the Med is dead.”
That is, the Mediterranean.
“The people we’re seeing — and our clientele ranges from the mature, high-end traveler to honeymooners — are avoiding it,” Robertson Borusiewicz continues. “They’re doing a lot of Jamaica, Bermuda … and New England. New England isn’t as warm as the islands, but it’s still a terrific cruise.
“I know some people think the islands are too hot during the summer, but just about any time of year is good in the Caribbean, because they always have the trade winds. We still do a lot of Mexico, too. The drug problems exist in some parts of the country, but resort areas like Cancun and the Riviera Maya are fine. There’s more of a drug problem in Philadelphia than in those areas. Continued…
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Dianne and Larry Wiggins relax by their pool at home in Plymouth Meeting. The couple opted for a staycation this year.
“Think of it this way. When there was an earthquake in California, people from abroad were fearful about coming to the U.S. But we know that an earthquake in California doesn’t affect Philadelphia. That’s why it makes sense to deal with a professional when you’re planning a trip to a place that’s unfamiliar to you.”
Her point is borne out in travel advisories posted by foreign governments regarding their citizens’ trips to the United States.
For instance, at www.fco.gov.uk, British authorities, indeed, report that the West Coast of the United States, including Hawaii, Alaska and “the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico” is “prone to earthquakes.” They also recommend travelers be alert to the recent occurrence of “significant tornadoes … in several states” and forest and brush fires as a potential danger in many dry areas.
The site also notes “violent crime related to the drugs trade is a major issue in the Mexican states along the border with California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas,” and adds “violent crime, including gun crime, is not limited to the border areas.”
In addition, Great Britain’s citizens are informed about the danger lurking on American highways:
“In 2009, there were 33,963 road deaths in the USA. This equates to 11.1 road deaths per 100,000 of population compared to the UK average of 3.8 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2009.”
Of course, not everyone is looking to vacation abroad. The beach — especially the Jersey Shore — continues to be a top draw for many local residents, and some are more than content with staycations.
Dianne and Larry Wiggins, for example, enjoyed hearing about daughter Lauren’s recent trip to Ireland and still reminisce about her solo journey to the South Pacific last year. But the two are perfectly happy to pass summer 2011 poolside in their Plymouth Meeting backyard.
“No airport, no crowds, no traffic,” Dianne laughs. “We walk out the back door, and we’re there.”
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- See Full Story
Dianne and Larry Wiggins relax by their pool at home in Plymouth Meeting. The couple opted for a staycation this year.
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- 3
- See Full Story
Dianne and Larry Wiggins relax by their pool at home in Plymouth Meeting. The couple opted for a staycation this year.
- 1
- 2
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- See Full Story
Dianne and Larry Wiggins relax by their pool at home in Plymouth Meeting. The couple opted for a staycation this year.
Political upheaval, fearsome meteorological events and the ongoing threat of terrorism aside, plenty of local folks seem to be venturing well beyond home turf this summer.
Which is not to say local travelers are clamoring for package tours to Yemen or Afghanistan. On the other hand, even as Africa and the Middle East roil with revolution, Athenian protesters riot in city streets and Japan struggles with the horrific aftermath of this year’s earthquake, people are booking vacations abroad.
Yes, the fallout from Mexico’s drug wars may be spreading, Syrian refugees may be seeking asylum in parts of Turkey, and Mumbai is surely reeling from last week’s terrorist bombings. Nonetheless, plenty of folks are still packing up and heading out to see the world. And despite the lure of Internet-based self-planning, many of them are — apparently — conferring with the pros before they go.
“We haven’t seen any slow-up,” says Jackie Silverman, a consultant with Liberty Travel at 457 W. Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting. “Our numbers are good … definitely steady. In fact, our current numbers are up. We’re busier this month than we were for July of last year.”
Those clients are traveling “just about everywhere,” Silverman notes.
“Actually, I’m seeing all kinds of people — doing everything. Instead of just doing Mexico and the usual ‘safe’ places, people are going everywhere. We’re seeing real variety in people’s travel destinations … from the standard European capitals to, say, Fiji. People are going to Morocco. Interest is actually up in Morocco. Even Dubai is popular.
“We’re literally seeing everything … across the board. People are still going to Greece … and Egypt as well. They know about the unrest in Cairo, and some of them ask us to make note of their interest and put their Nile cruise on hold ’til things quiet down. But others are going now. They realize that tour operators stay on top of these things and know whether it’s OK or not … or have enough experience to take alternate routes if trouble erupts along the way. A reputable tour operator isn’t going to put people in … danger.”
Exactly, agrees longtime Whitemarsh travel agent Georgene Robertson Borusiewicz, whose Robertson Travel at 628 Germantown Pike has been a Lafayette Hill fixture for the past four decades.
“Professionals have access to all kinds of information and rates that people who aren’t in the business never get to see,” Robertson Borusiewicz says. “People go on the Internet, lock themselves into some rate that seems good and then discover they’ve gotten themselves into some sort of bind they can’t get out of. What they don’t realize is, they’re getting one — usually biased — side of the story.”
The Robertson spokeswoman says cruises are perennially popular with her agency’s customers, although “for our clients the Med is dead.”
That is, the Mediterranean.
“The people we’re seeing — and our clientele ranges from the mature, high-end traveler to honeymooners — are avoiding it,” Robertson Borusiewicz continues. “They’re doing a lot of Jamaica, Bermuda … and New England. New England isn’t as warm as the islands, but it’s still a terrific cruise.
“I know some people think the islands are too hot during the summer, but just about any time of year is good in the Caribbean, because they always have the trade winds. We still do a lot of Mexico, too. The drug problems exist in some parts of the country, but resort areas like Cancun and the Riviera Maya are fine. There’s more of a drug problem in Philadelphia than in those areas.
“Think of it this way. When there was an earthquake in California, people from abroad were fearful about coming to the U.S. But we know that an earthquake in California doesn’t affect Philadelphia. That’s why it makes sense to deal with a professional when you’re planning a trip to a place that’s unfamiliar to you.”
Her point is borne out in travel advisories posted by foreign governments regarding their citizens’ trips to the United States.
For instance, at www.fco.gov.uk, British authorities, indeed, report that the West Coast of the United States, including Hawaii, Alaska and “the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico” is “prone to earthquakes.” They also recommend travelers be alert to the recent occurrence of “significant tornadoes … in several states” and forest and brush fires as a potential danger in many dry areas.
The site also notes “violent crime related to the drugs trade is a major issue in the Mexican states along the border with California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas,” and adds “violent crime, including gun crime, is not limited to the border areas.”
In addition, Great Britain’s citizens are informed about the danger lurking on American highways:
“In 2009, there were 33,963 road deaths in the USA. This equates to 11.1 road deaths per 100,000 of population compared to the UK average of 3.8 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2009.”
Of course, not everyone is looking to vacation abroad. The beach — especially the Jersey Shore — continues to be a top draw for many local residents, and some are more than content with staycations.
Dianne and Larry Wiggins, for example, enjoyed hearing about daughter Lauren’s recent trip to Ireland and still reminisce about her solo journey to the South Pacific last year. But the two are perfectly happy to pass summer 2011 poolside in their Plymouth Meeting backyard.
“No airport, no crowds, no traffic,” Dianne laughs. “We walk out the back door, and we’re there.”
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