We made the last-minute decision to revisit Catalina Island for the last days of 2024. While thinking about what to do for the New Year's Eve, we came up with various ideas ranging from Disneyland, Universal Studios, and San Diego's Coronado Island. During a discussion, I came up with the idea of Catalina Island, and it was unanimously passed among my family members.
Catalina Island is a popular tourist destination in Southern California. There are a two towns, the larger of which is Avalon. The last time I visited with my family was nearly eight years ago. The island itself is approximately 22 miles long and eight miles wide at its broadest point. The best way to get around Avalon is by golf cart. Avalon is the only city in California authorized by the state legislature to limit the number of vehicle licenses issued. The waiting time to obtain a vehicle permit on Catalina Island exceeds 20 years!
As we made our last-minute decision to spend New Year's Eve on Catalina Island, I noticed some oddities with the hotel prices. We were able to reserve a nice room overlooking Avalon, except that the room charge per night was almost doubled compared to off-season prices. This is a real-world example of supply and demand, a key factor in planning any vacation. We typically create our traveling plans months ahead so as to get a better rate for hotels or air fares. Hotels and airlines use their own databases and tools to forecast numbers of guests based on historical data, upcoming events, or seasonal demand. With the aggregated numbers, these companies can adjust their pricing, accordingly, raising prices during peak tourist seasons.
To get to Catalina Island, there are three ferry routes that serve different departure sites to Avalon. The ferry ride is an enjoyable experience, with calming views and the fresh, relaxing ocean breeze. Ticket prices for the ferry were also double what it was eight years ago. That is an example of what people would call inflation. Of course, Catalina was definitely a place worth visiting even with rising costs. It is gorgeous, unique and an excellent place for a short-term stay. And you don't have to fly over if you are from SoCal!
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