Luxury California Resort Offers £11 ‘survivor’ package

Despite the recession hitting the travel industry, upscale resorts are becoming increasingly innovative to fight decreasing occupancy rates and an overall contraction of the travel industries.

San Diego resort, the Ranch Bernardo Inn, has been offering the ‘survivor’ package for £11 per family per night, where a family has full run of resort facilities including use of all amenities but comes with no hotel room.   Holidaymakers intending to take advantage of the rates are expected to bring additional supplies such as torches, sleeping bags, inflatable mattresses and even toilet paper.

While many of Southern California’s luxury resorts are fighting the effects of the recession by offering extra services, Rancho Bernardo is luring guests with the opposite.

The most basic package, the ‘survivor’ package, is $19 (£11) with no bed, toilet paper, towels, air-conditioning and only with a single light bulb in the toilet for safety.  The next package up adds a bed for $39 a night.

Family of four, the Billingtons, say it will be their only family holiday they will be taking this year, and due to the economic situation will be ‘keeping it lean’.

“The boys get to feel like they’re camping, and I get to go to the spa,” said their mother, Erica Billington, 37.

Luxury travel and accommodation has been hit hard by the recession, as corporate travel planners and businesses strip back spending on lavish first-class holiday in favour of more cost-effective travel options.

Thanks to Reuters for the above quotes.  For more information please visit their website.