Planning a Gulf Beach Trip? Here’s Why You Better Book It Now

(KMDL-FM) When school lets out in places like Lafayette, Louisiana, about half the town heads for Gulf Shores, Pensacola, Navarre, and other points east for a well-deserved beach vacation. The following week, when those folks get back, the rest of Lafayette goes to the beach. Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration, but it's closer to the truth than you might believe.

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Many families often book the same condo or resort for the same weeks every year, and if you're one of those kinds of travelers, then kudos to you. You might already have your accommodations booked. But for the rest of us, who only decide to make a trip to the beach when we're sure a hurricane isn't coming, there is a universal reason why we might not be able to find the best spots at the best prices.

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Why Are Gulf Coast Beaches Expected to be Crowded This Summer?

All the confusion in recent weeks regarding TSA Security lines and the extended wait times has many people swearing off air travel, at least for the next month or so. And, assuming the elected officials in Washington can get their private agendas out of the way of the people's need to travel, we might have a conclusion to the partial government shutdown, which has created that nightmare.

Another strike against flying the friendly but often contested skies will be an expected rise in air fares. The cost of fuel will certainly cut into the airlines' profit margins, and we know what they do when the going gets tough: they add the expense to your ticket.

So, that's two strikes against air travel for the foreseeable future. That means that all of those vacationers who might have booked a trip to a faraway destination will now be looking to book a vacation that's within driving distance.

We asked Google how many people live within an 8-hour drive of Gulf Shores, Alabama. How many folks do you think that is? Three, maybe four million people? How about 30 to 40 million people? Now, if just a small percentage of those folks decide to "drive to the beach" instead of flying somewhere else, you can see why your favorite condo or resort could be booked to capacity.

Officials in Gulf Shores are already seeing a major uptick in vacationers who are now flying into its airport. They are also seeing increases in bookings overall for vacation rentals. This includes condos, apartments, Airbnbs, and houses.

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If you slept through basic economics in school, the rule of supply and demand will figure in here as well. As the demand goes up and the supply goes down, the natural economic reaction is to raise the price. So, expect to pay more if you wait too long to book your space.

It's true you will be paying more for gas on your drive over to the beach. But that's a sacrifice most vacationers are willing to budget for. Gulf Coast economists suggest that people will still pay for their "big trip" this summer, but they might not spend as freely when they get there.

Gulf Coast Souvenir Shops Could Suffer This Summer

This could mean a dip in hermit crab sales, sales of airbrushed t-shirts, and those pooka shell necklaces that teenage boys with fine hair mustaches like to wear. Oh, the horror of not visiting the overpriced Gulf Coast gift shop. 

Seriously, if you do plan on a beach vacation this summer, the advice we are getting to pass on to you is this: book now and lock in your price. Also, it ensures that you get the location at the destination that you want. You know, you could always find a good beach closer to home if you know where to look.