Reply to Why is everything so expensive (general rant)

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Yes. The one that gets me is hotel prices. And we stay in budget-to-midlevel hotels, so I'm talking like, at best, and Embassy Suites. And not in NYC or something, but like in Nashville or Denver. You will wind up spending $250 a night for one room, and then you'll have to pay for valet parking on top of that, they won't come clean your room unless you ask, and the pool will be out of service when you get there.

It honestly makes me feel like there is no point in traveling. You wind up spending so much money on flight and accommodations that are barely serviceable, and then you're struggling to stay in budget before you even get to anything you do while there. It's ridiculous. Throw in all the service charges and cleaning fees and other random charges that are tacked onto everything and it's like, I should just stay home and get nice takeout or something. Spend the money I'd spend on a hotel on having someone clean my own house and some high threadcount sheets and call it a day.

We are trying to save to move out of the HCOL DMV and even that is hard. I don't know. The world is not built for middle class people.[/quote]

I agree, hotel prices are insane, flights too, and service is the worst ever, as if airlines and hotels were doing you a favor by letting you travel. [/quote]

It's that last part. It would be one thing it the cost of hotels and flights had gone up but it felt like the service level was at least consistent with like 2016/2017 level service. But since Covid, service especially at hotels and restaurants is just down the toilet. I know they are having trouble staffing and retaining staff and that's a huge part of it. But when you're paying so much more to get so much less service, it is painful.

We used to be able to do a quick weekend getaway like what OP is talking about for a few hundred dollars. Maybe a night in a hotel in Richmond or Charlottesville or Philly, a dinner out, plus travel, Maybe go to a museum or other attraction. Nothing elaborate. We'd go to Philly where they have those BYO restaurants for alcohol and it would make dinner super cheap -- buy a good bottle of wine or tequila for margaritas on the way. Get discount Amtrak tickets or just drive.

This now costs twice what it used to and it's just not worth it. Every aspect of it costs so much more. The hotel that used to be $180 is now $300. Valet parking for one night is $50 instead of $20. Dinner sans alcohol is $90 instead of $60. The alcohol is $40 instead of $25. And so on. The Amtrak tickets are twice as much even buying early on discount. Or gas is pricier. The car we drive in is pricier. Museum tickets are pricier.

We make about 15% more now than we did in 2017. That trip costs 100% more. It doesn't add up.

In terms of actual value for money, we are poorer now than we were 7 years ago. Our money doesn't go as far, it's' harder to save, and even when we do save, it offers us less leverage than ever.

It's like trying to climb up the down escalator. I don't think we'll ever make it to the top.[/quote]

No arguing on the higher costs for travel related expenses. [b] But if you make 15% more-- let us say it is $20-50K more than 2017 for your household.  That is more than enough to spend double on a couple weekend trips to Philly[/b].  Same situation for others, which is why the travel costs are high.[/quote]

But why should service cost be doubled when people’s actual income is not doubled? Yes, it’s enough to afford it, but people have to spend a higher proportion of their income to do it. And they’re spending a higher proportion on many other things.[/quote]

The subject of this thread is to rant, which is perfectly fine and actually fun.  But look at fast food worker salaries since 2019.  Also look at the typical white collar salary.  They are up 15-30% on average compared to 2019.  It is a fact.  Do I spend 100 percent of salary on services?  No.  Services are mostly discretionary, except for home/auto insurance and a few other things.  So the typical employed worker makes a lot more $ compared to a few years ago and it is reflected in service costs.  A good analogy would be Disney World.  I cannot justify the cost of $150 per day per person for tickets and will not go there with the kids (they are not interested in Disney anyway).  Check the crowds though, it is pretty insane.       [/quote]

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