Q: I am taking my 10 and 12-year old sons to Los Angeles at the end of August. I wanted to take them to Universal Studios Hollywood, but the tickets are $69 each. What’s more, I’ve been told at this time of year we need to get Front of the Line passes because it’s so crowded. Those tickets costs $129 each. Can you suggest a less expensive way to experience behind-the-scenes Hollywood?A: There’s no doubt that Universal Studios is pricey. That’s because in addition to the studio tour, the ticket price also includes general admission to their amusement park. Because your kids can go on rides at home, I’d suggest the Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour. Kids ages 8 and older are welcome and it costs $45 per person for a tour that lasts just over 2 hours. Then I’d head over to Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood to check out the  footprints of movie stars dating back to the 1920s. It doesn’t cost a penny, unless you want to have your photo taken with one of the characters–Mickey Mouse, Darth Vader–trolling the area for tips. 

According to Travel Troubleshooter Chris Elliott, the bad news about business travel gets worse when you consider it impacts everyone’s leisure travel. That’s because business travelers subsidize the discounted rates that leisure travelers pay. When they stop going places, leisure travelers have to make up the difference. “Either the price we pay for hotel rooms, rental cars and airline tickets — especially airline tickets — will have to go up, or we’re going to see some big names in the travel industry go down,” Elliot said.

Have you noticed prices going up when you are planning your vacations?

Q: I’m traveling to Hawaii next winter. Should I buy my plane tickets now?

A: We called Tom Parsons, publisher of bestfares.com, to get his take on the constantly changing airfare scenario and how it could pertain to flights to and from Hawaii next winter. His advice? Wait.  “Hawaii is getting beaten up right now,” he said, referring to the global recession that’s keeping not only Americans but also the Japanese from dancing the hula. Rates from MSP to Honolulu for next winter are currently costing around $700 and Parsons thinks they are unlikely to go much higher. But if you wait a few months and monitor the fares every two weeks or so, you very well may come upon a bargain as the airlines try to fill their seats. At the very least, he advises travelers to wait until Southwest Airlines begins service to Denver (scheduled to start this May). That should lead to cheaper prices to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, where Hawaii-bound flights are much cheaper than what we Twin Citians usually pay.

Other tips: If you want a good fare, stay away from holidays and spring break.  Schedule departures on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

According to the ninth annual Expedia.com Vacation Deprivation survey, a growing number of Americans (34% up from 31 % last year)  are not using all of their vacation days. While Expedia has (for obvious reasons of commercial self-interest) been banging this drum for years, the uptick takes on a new gravity due to the recession. The point of the survey has traditionally been to explain the benefits — from decreased stress levels to increased productivity upon returning to work — of taking a break from the grind. We arguably need those benefits now more than ever. But with so much economic uncertainty, it’s harder than ever to click on the “purchase” button.

The Escape Artists want to know if your travel plans have changed for the year. Are you taking advantage of the fare sales being offered? Are you planning a vacation closer to home?  Have you become a recent convert to all-inclusive resorts? Do you feel like you need a week in the Northwoods more than ever? Are you too nervous about a potential layoff to book a ticket? Please share your thoughts, plans and money-saving strategies with us.

The name couldn’t be more goofy, but take note if you are looking to squeeze money out of your budget for a trip.  TravelMuse has a new Yacation Calculator (see what we mean?) to help you see how much money you can save a year by ditching the double lattes and mani-pedis. The website walks you through some common purchases — take out sandwiches, glasses of wine — and  asks how many times a week/month/year you are willing to do without them. After tallying your potential savings, TravelMuse suggests trips you can take according to your interests. Try it and let us know what you think.   

First comes a deep sigh. Then, “We are sad to say that due to the bad economics that are going on, the Historic Anderson House has had to close its doors.” So says the recorded message at the telephone number of the Wabasha hotel, known for its abundance of cats. Built in 1856, it had been the oldest operating B&B in the state until it closed recently.

I only stayed at the Wabasha hotel once, but it was, as they say, a night to remember.

I’d fled from a hearby loud rental house squeezed between a working railroad track and a busy street, knocked on the locked door of the Historic Anderson House and was delighted when the front desk clerk, who was closing down for the night, welcomed me in. She suggested I stay on the second floor — people checking for ghosts occupied the top floor– and offered a cat to keep me company. I wasn’t visited by apparitions, but the plump cat did its part to interrupt my sleep; she wanted to sleep on my head. I viewed this as a sign of affection and found it sweet rather than annoying.

I’ll hold fast to the final sentence of the recorded message: “Hopefully one day you will be able to come back again.”