Exotic not on the map for summer travel

Young Chang

The key words for Newport-Mesans making travel plans for the summer do

not seem to be “far” and “exotic.”

Local travel agencies have instead been booking flights, cruises and

round-trip packages to sunny, nearby places such as Hawaii and Mexico.

And though they’re not hearing that people are afraid to fly after Sept.

11, they are still dealing with travelers not wanting to stray too far.

“They’re afraid of being stuck some place and not being able to get

home,” said Astrid Carlson, leisure manager for Back Bay Travel in Costa

Mesa. “People are thinking closer to home, and I think home and family

have come very much to the forefront.”

Hot spots include Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean, said Rika Laham,

travel agent for HIS International Tours in Costa Mesa.

Carlson said she’s come across the same trend but is surprised because

it’s usually Hawaii or Mexico that draws travelers in a season, rarely

both.

“And cruises have been popular,” she said. “Some to Alaska, especially

for families.”

Engin Kadaster, vice president of Newport International Travels in

Newport Beach, said bargains are plentiful when it comes to sea

adventures. The only downward pattern on the water this year occurs in

European cruises, as fewer vessels are stopping in Greece, Turkey and

other points on the Mediterranean coast.

Other deals include cruises to Alaska, round-trip tickets to the Big

Island of Hawaii, flights to Mexico and packages to Europe that include

reasonable hotel prices.

“Your dollar goes a long way in Europe,” Carlson said of the exchange

rate nowadays.

Which could explain why one of the hottest Euro-travel spots this

summer will be Spain.

“We didn’t have any Europe for a while, but I think people are feeling

more comfortable,” Carlson said. “We have had requests for Spain and

Italy.”

New Zealand and Australia are also tourist areas for the summer.

But a region that has lost appeal this year is the Middle East.

Carlson got numerous requests last year for trips to Egypt and other

countries in the surrounding area but the popularity has died down.

“It’s just a very unsettled area, and you don’t know what’s going to

happen,” she said.

But nearby Turkey, which was a well-frequented spot last year with its

historical sites, shopping opportunities and beaches, is still attracting

tourists.

“Not as much as we did before, but it is picking up,” Kadaster said.

“It’s quite a safe place.”

When it comes to Asian flavors, China’s all the rave with discounted

air fares and hotel accommodations.

“People are still looking for a good value,” Kadaster said. “We’re

still in some sort of recession, I guess.”