Vacation? In this economy?

August 9, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

A single hotel room in the US now costs more than a monthly mortgage for some travelers. That is the jarning arithmetic facing anyone trying to take time off in 2025. This episode of Today, Explained asks whether the American vacation—once a middle-class birthright built on cheap gas and open roads—has become a segmented luxury, and what people can do when the numbers no longer work.

Why everything costs more

Business Insider’s Emily Stewart laid out the forces squeezing travelers. Years of inflation have raised prices on nearly everything, but the recent spike in oil prices tied to tensions with Iran has been a specific shock, pushing up gas prices and, in turn, the cost of flights and cruises. This comes after a stretch of high-profile travel disruptions—TSA meltdowns, mass flight cancellations—that have made people view a vacation as “a really expensive disaster” before they even book.

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What you'll learn

1 (01:27) **The Cost Barrier to Vacation** - Host John Clinthill admits he's bad at taking time off and sets up the episode's central problem: vacations are expensive and stressful to plan.
2 (02:34) **Emily Stewart on the "Tricky Year" for Travel** - Business Insider's Emily Stewart explains why 2025 feels uniquely expensive and chaotic for vacationers.
3 (04:41) **The "K-Shaped" Vacation Economy** - Stewart describes how the travel market is splitting between those who can afford to splurge and those who are forced to cut back.
4 (06:59) **Anxiety Abroad: Politics and Unwelcome Feelings** - Stewart explains how geopolitical tensions and American foreign policy are making some travelers feel unwelcome overseas.
5 (10:54) **Silver Lining: Less Crowded U.S. Destinations** - Stewart points out that fewer foreign tourists in the U.S. could mean shorter lines and more space at iconic spots like the Grand Canyon and Disney.
6 (14:07) **Susan Sessions Rugh on the Golden Age of Road Trips** - Historian and author Susan Sessions Rugh joins to discuss the history of the American family vacation, starting with her own recent trip to Arches National Park.
7 (16:31) **The Automobile and the Freedom of the Road (and Its Limits)** - Rugh details how the car created a uniquely American vacation culture, but also highlights its dark side.

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Show Notes

Gas is expensive and Europeans want us to stay home. How can you still make use of that precious PTO?

This episode was produced by Denise Guerra, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill.

Tourists take selfies in front of the Barcelona Cathedral. Photo by Paco Freire/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images.

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