ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, December 12, 1993                   TAG: 9312120185
SECTION: TRAVEL                    PAGE: F7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Newsday
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SURVEY RESPONDENTS SAY TRAVEL MORE AFFORDABLE TODAY

Complain about high taxes, medical and grocery bills. But don't expect much support if you grumble about travel prices. A recent survey showed that almost two-thirds of Americans (63 percent) believe they get more value for their travel dollars today than they did in the late '50s.

The survey was sponsored by Budget Rent a Car, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.

Asked whether travel is easier and more affordable today, 81 percent of respondents said leisure travel has improved and 88 percent said business travel is better now. Eighty-nine percent believe they get more choice for their car rental dollar today and 84 percent feel that special discounts and low rental rates have given Americans greater mobility.

Another study indicates that travel prices are looking better than consumer prices in this country. The U.S. Travel Data Center recently released a report on travel costs during September showing that prices fell for the first time in three months. According to the center's Travel Price Index, a 5.3 percent decrease in lodging rates led the overall 1.7 percent decline.

No significant increases were recorded in measured travel categories, which include airfares, intracity public fares and other transportation, motor fuel, food and beverages. The largest increase in any travel category was in entertainment, which rose seven-tenths of a percent.

The latest analysis of 100 locations worldwide by the management consulting firm of Runzheimer International held a couple of surprises. Moscow turns up among the most expensive and Bordeaux, France, one of the least expensive.

The most expensive city - $455 a day - is Tokyo, followed by Paris at $353, New York at $330, Moscow at $328 and Hong Kong at $326.

Least expensive destinations were London, Ontario, at $100 a day; Panama City, Panama, at $108; Bordeaux, France, at $123; Colombo, Sri Lanka, at $125; and Quito, Ecuador, at $129. 


 by CNB