Stay away from the family

PING! Email arrives from Expedia in the US, providing salvation to all those who dread the annual visit to the family and sleeping on the rickety fold-out bed.

You are not alone!

According to Expedia’s Travel Trendwatch, almost half of adults would actually prefer to pay to stay in a hotel rather than be shoved into a cold spare bedroom that only experiences clean linen and a warm radiator a few times a year.

Whether this is a reflection on the tensions in your average US family is – unfortunately – not addressed.

Alas, Expedia is only a global online travel agent and not a family counselling service. At least, not yet…

On a serious note, the bulletin reveals that the Caribbean has become this winter’s cheap destination as the region is opened up to low cost carriers from the US.

Flights are also expected to be full or close to capacity this winter, Expedia says, despite what it calls “frustrating changes” in carry-on rules laid down by the Transportation Security Administration.

The following quote from the release requires no further comment.

“The addition of winter coats, shopping bags and holiday gifts carried on board will make flights feel even tighter.”

Kevin May, editor, Travolution