Reflection On Traveling Mid-2021: Inflation is Real

We are finishing our first vacation post-COVID. We traveled to Winter Park, CO where our family owns a timeshare. We traveled by car and spent one night in a hotel. Here are some real examples of inflation as we traveled:

• Gasoline is expensive. In Winter Park, the average price-per-gallon was $3.79.

• Hotel rooms are expensive. We stayed at a La Quinta Inn in North Platte, NE, and the room cost $130 for the night. In years past, this hotel would cost less than $100 per night.

• Food is expensive. Whether eating at a fast-food restaurant, a dine-in restaurant, or buying food at a grocery store, everything is expensive. For our family with six adults and one child, the average meal would cost $150. Keep in mind this is not fine dining. This could be at a sit-down restaurant where burgers, fries, salads, and some entrees filled out the menu. The average cost of a hamburger with fries is $15 ($10 for a "meal" in a fast-food restaurant).

Conclusion: inflation is real. Based on the average increase in travel cost, prices seem on average to be 30 percent higher than when we made this trip two years ago.