Same experience.

Traveling is cheaper now than it was in the 1980s. Flights are much cheaper and it's also easier to find hotels and dining. In the 1980s into early 1990s, international travel meant Europe and it was much more challenging to go anywhere else in the world, but now it's easy and as straightforward as going to California. And it isn't always more expensive than traveling locally in the US.

The upper middle and upper classes are also wealthier than ever. In the 1980s the typical UMC family was a doctor/lawyer dad with a mom who stayed at home or was a teacher or a real estate agent or a nurse. Today it's two doctors, two highly paid executives, you get the idea. Incomes have exploded. It's all part of the bifurcation of America.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The rich are richer today.

NP here. This, but I also think travel has become easier to book thanks to the internet. Back when I was a kid in the 90s you couldn’t just jump online and book your own airfare. I have memories of my parents calling up the airlines.

And you couldn’t just get on a computer and research resorts and safaris etc. or read travel blogs about all sorts of cool places. You had to wait for your Conde Naste or have a travel agent in the know. Which is why I think vacation homes were more popular and people would just go back to the same place instead of finding new places to book.

I think this is a big reason. My family did travel a lot when I grew up, probably more than most people I knew. My parents would research hotels using books and we then we were much more flexible when we got somewhere as we would just see what activities we could do once we were there.

I think we're all more aware of it because of social media and social media perpetuates a culture of wanting to share "unique" and impressive experiences.

I didn't post our trip to Gatlinburg, TN on social media (even though it really was fun).

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to see it, does it make a sound?

changes to,

If I go skiing in Vail and don't post it to social media, will people know to be envious of me?

Anonymous wrote:The rich are richer today.

NP here. This, but I also think travel has become easier to book thanks to the internet. Back when I was a kid in the 90s you couldn’t just jump online and book your own airfare. I have memories of my parents calling up the airlines.

And you couldn’t just get on a computer and research resorts and safaris etc. or read travel blogs about all sorts of cool places. You had to wait for your Conde Naste or have a travel agent in the know. Which is why I think vacation homes were more popular and people would just go back to the same place instead of finding new places to book.

Anonymous wrote:I have wondered this too. I also grew up in an affluent bubble. Maybe you went on a school trip to Italy in high school or a service trip to Central America, and maybe skiing to Vail once in a while, but no one went on these trips 3-4x a year.

We are comfortable but I do wonder how people afford this?

Op here. Yes exactly what I’m talking about!

The rich apple I knew were much more likely to own a second home at the beach then take international vacations. Maybe one or two bucket list type trips right after retirement. But the people I know take 4-5 bucket list type trips a year! How do they afford that??

I think it’s related to social media. Guaranteed, part of the attraction to taking all these bougie trips is posting the photos to Facebook and Instagram after.

Flying is cheaper. I wonder if it is in part frequent flyer programs. All the people I know who take numerous vacations use miles for these trips. They may also have miles to pay for part of their hotel/resort stay.

I have wondered this too. I also grew up in an affluent bubble. Maybe you went on a school trip to Italy in high school or a service trip to Central America, and maybe skiing to Vail once in a while, but no one went on these trips 3-4x a year.

We are comfortable but I do wonder how people afford this?

Anonymous wrote:Even with all the inflation in housing/college/healthcare costs, the UMC is wealthier today than the UMC in the 80s-90s.

Really? I usually hear the opposite. Nowadays all I hear are people complaining about how much easier Boomers had it wrt housing, healthcare, education fees, etc.

DC attracts people who are really into travel.

Even with all the inflation in housing/college/healthcare costs, the UMC is wealthier today than the UMC in the 80s-90s.

Like others said, it’s disposable income.

Also—keeping up with the Joneses.

Anonymous wrote:The rich are richer today.

Yup- more disposable income among the top 10%, and travel (especially the flying part) is cheaper (accounting for inflation) and easier (more flights to more destinations) than it was 30-35 years ago

The rich are richer today.

When do you think it become the norm for people to travel so aggressively? I feel like everyone we know travels for every school break and for long periods in the summer (like 2-3 weeks in Europe). These aren’t small driving trips either. The families we know go from very expensive ski vacations (have you ever added up the cost of flights, lodging, lift tickets, gear rentals, etc. for family of 4-5 to ski for a week in CO or UT? It’s nuts) in the winter to luxury beach vacations in the Caribbean for spring break. Or, if they want to “mix it up,” they’ll do Costa Rica for spring break and an African safari for their summer trip.

I looked up the price for the villa rental a friend stayed in and the private boat tour they did and it was not cheap. And again then add in flights, food, etc. for 4-5 people. Then like I said they’ll go on a long trip this summer too which will probably be even more expensive due to the length of the stay.

We live in an affluent suburb so I understand I live in a bit of a bubble. However, I grew up in a similar bubble and I really don’t remember this, do you? Back when I was a teen, people traveled much less. Even rich families stayed home more. They might take one “big” trip and then a less expensive beach trip drivable somewhere on the East Coast rather than 4 trips to international destinations.