The price of conspicuous travel
I asked ChatGpt about why Europe was so expensive this summer. While I don’t disagree with any of the below, but part of it, perhaps the largest part, must be just greed.
One Example, London. I have some clients headed a little off the beaten path in the Amboise Valley, the Channel Islands, Somerset. They begin in Paris and end in London. I’ll make an example in London (but this is just as true in Paris)
The best hotel in Bath was running 330 GBP a night, a decent hotel with a good location, 120GBP a night. The best hotels in London were in the 2000GBP a night and a decent hotel with a good location? 350GBP a night.
In Ultra popular Mykonos I have clients going and a two bedroom villa at the one resort with a private beach was over 8000 Euro a night. In out of the way Corfu, I have a villa that’s nicer, has closer access to 4 beaches and a whole week is almost 8000 per night.
And to just hammer this in, in places with lots of great deals, the airfare is brutal (Asia, Africa, Australia, I’m looking at you!)
Chatgpt:
The cost of travel to Europe this summer may be higher than usual due to several factors:
High demand: With the easing of travel restrictions and the rollout of vaccines, there is a surge in demand for travel to Europe. As a result, airlines and hotels are charging higher prices to capitalize on this demand.
Limited capacity: Many airlines have reduced their capacity due to the pandemic, leading to fewer available seats and higher prices for the remaining seats.
Supply chain disruptions: The pandemic has caused disruptions in global supply chains, resulting in higher prices for things like fuel, which can drive up the cost of travel.
Government regulations: Some countries in Europe have implemented entry restrictions and requirements, such as mandatory quarantine or negative COVID-19 test results, which can increase the cost of travel.
Dynamic pricing: Airlines and hotels often use dynamic pricing, which means that prices can fluctuate based on demand, availability, and other factors.
All these factors combined can result in higher prices for travel to Europe this summer. However, it's worth noting that prices may vary depending on the destination, time of travel, and other factors, so it's always a good idea to shop around and compare prices from different airlines and travel providers.
