From Deseret News archives:

On the go — Like other Americans, Utahns don't plan to stay home in 2008

Published: Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008 12:22 a.m. MST
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Hawaii: That's part of the appeal of Hawaii, too. Plus it seems like an exotic location, but you don't need a passport and can speak the language, she adds.

Disneyland and Disney World: "We have so many children that it's no surprise that these places are at the top."

Regardless of where you go or how much you have to spend, Potts says, you need to plan, you need to know what things are important to you. Trade-offs may be necessary. Would you rather have a nice hotel and drive an economy car? Would you rather stay in a luxury place but stay fewer days? Would you rather pay for attractions than high-end accommodations?

Another bit of advice: Book early. A lot of the less-expensive and/or very popular places fill up very quickly, she says.

Margaret Workman, a travel agent based in the Atlanta area, has also noticed no lack of interest in travel these days. "I see a lot of people who want to go back to a place they really like or somewhere they know will be safe," she says.

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Ground operators tell her there have been "a ton of cancellations" for Kenya, in view of its recent political troubles. "There never were a lot of people going to Myanmar, but those numbers are practically dead." However, travelers do seem to be returning to Israel and Egypt. "Nepal is scary right now, but a lot of people are going to India."

And for some reason, "there's a whole lot of interest in Italy. The euro is just as high there as anywhere else, but a lot of people are still going to Italy," Workman said.

She, too, has noticed the popularity of cruises — "bookings are going up, up, up. It doesn't matter if it is one of the smaller ships or one of the thousand-passenger ones. They are staying booked."

All-inclusive resorts and packages are also very popular, she says. "People like to pay once and be done with it."

Among other travel trends for 2008 that these and other industry experts see include:

Close to home: The Deseret Morning News/KSL survey found that less than 15 percent of the respondents are planning on visiting a foreign country this year. National numbers may be higher, but there's still a surge of interest in going local.

According to The Associated Press, visits to national parks were up 1.3 percent last year, and the forecast is for an equal or larger increase this year. Experts say travelers are also expected to return to New Orleans to take advantage of the revitalization since Hurricane Katrina. San Francisco, Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago and other cities are all expecting lots of visitors.

Recent comments

With all the terror, war, and recession going on in the world today,...

Gus | Feb. 10, 2008 at 2:11 p.m.

Wait and see is all that can be said about upcoming vacations in the...

Bob G | Feb. 10, 2008 at 5:52 a.m.

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Elizabeth Arave

A cruise ship sits in the Puget Sound, a busy port. Cruising attracts more and more people each year.

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