Fesibility 20 Report

Families of Four
Morgan Rushing
Phillip Arce
Soni Ali

Best Summer Vacation for a Family of Four
Table of Contents iii
Table of Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... v
Methods........................................................................................................................................... 1
Data ................................................................................................................................................. 3
Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 3
Individual Assessments ............................................................................................................... 5
Honolulu, (Oahu) Hawaii........................................................................................................ 5
Colorado Springs, Colorado.................................................................................................... 6
New York City, New York ..................................................................................................... 7
Las Vegas, Nevada.................................................................................................................. 8
Orlando, Florida ...................................................................................................................... 9
Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 11
Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 11
Index ............................................................................................................................................. 15
Works Cited .................................................................................................................................. 17

Introduction v
Introduction

Planning a summer vacation can be a real headache since there are countless things one can to do
pass the time. Some will spend the summer sleeping in to make up for lost sleep, while others
will work to get a head start on their schooling or work experience. Some will stay home to work
on the hobbies they normally do not have the time for, while others will take their families out on
trips to exotic places. For families who elect to travel, they can have a difficult time finding an
affordable place to vacation in, especially when one considers the current economy. When it
comes to selecting a location, there are several things one should consider: affordability,
available family activities, and other factors such as climate and crime. The purpose of this
feasibility report is to help a family of four find the best value vacation spot in the United States
for a seven day trip during the month of July. We have designed this feasibility report to
evaluate, compare, and outline the costs and other factors of the following five popular vacation
spots in the United States:
Honolulu, Hawaii
Colorado Springs, Colorado
New York, New York
Las Vegas, Nevada
Orlando, Florida
The following report will present our methods of collecting data, our findings in the form a
general overview and individual assessments, and our conclusions and recommendations.

Methods 1
Methods

In support of our recommendations, we have evaluated the feasibility of each destination through
the use of the following criteria:
Average Airfare
Hotel Costs
Activities
Rental Car Costs
Weather/Climate
Geography
Crime Rate
To compile the necessary information for this study, we researched the average airfare cost for a
non-stop flight from the DFW area to each of the proposed destinations. We then priced the
cheapest hotel price between three hotel companies (Marriott, Holiday Inn, and Hyatt). Then we
looked up three possible activities in each location and listed the information detailing what they
entail and how much each one costs for a family of four with children of ages 8 and 9 during a
weekly period from July 8 to July 14. We also explored the costs for renting a car in each
location assuming they arrive and rent one from the closest major airport through Budget car
rental and gathered additional data including the weather/climate, geography, and crime rates for
each location. Lastly, we summed up the total vacation expense (not including food, souvenirs,
or other expenses), ranked the geography and weather/climate on a scale of 5, with 1 being the
best, and reflected the crime rate on a scale of 100, with 100 being the safest. In the next section,
we will provide a general overview of the data followed by individual assessments of each
location.
Data 3
Data
Overview
Criteria

Honolulu,
HI
Colorado
Springs,
CO
New York
City, NY
Las Vegas,
NV
Orlando, FL
Air Fare
per Person
(Avg.
Rate)

$1159.00 $340.00 $522.00 $358.00 $326.00
Hotel
Costs
Courtyard
Marriott
Waikiki
Beach
$ 174
USD/night
Colorado
Springs
Marriott
$ 79
USD/night
Courtyard
NY
Manhattan/
5
th
Ave.
$116
USD/night
Hyatt Place
Las Vegas
$94.57
USD/night
Holiday Inn
Express and
Suites
Orland Int.
Airport
$85.29
USD/night
Total
Activities
Cost
$747.95

$371.96 $883.00 $254.80 $898.98
Total $6936.95 $2680.70 $4355.00

$2534.22 $2981.88
Rental
Compact
Car
(Budget)
$512.00

$474.83

$688.00

$280.00

$267.16

Geography
Rank
Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 4 Rank 5 Rank 3
Climate/
Weather
Rank
Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3(Tie) Rank 4 Rank 3(Tie)
Crime Rate
(Scale of 1-
100; 100
being the
safest)
24 of 100

11 of 100

22 of 100

14 of 100

2 of 100

Data 5
Individual Assessments

Honolulu, (Oahu) Hawaii

Airfare Average per Person: $1159.00

Hotel/Cost: Courtyard Marriott Waikiki
Beach $ 174 USD/night

Activities: $747.95

Activities Breakdown
1. Pearl Harbor Tour
129.99 per adult, 123.99 per child,
children under 1 year old are free
Professional tour guide
Waikiki Hotel pick up and drop off
USS bowfin Submarine Admission
USS Missouri Battleship Admission
Pacific Aviation Museum Admission
USS Arizona Memorial
Historic Honolulu City Tour
Pearl Harbor Visitor Center
Total: $507.96

2. Surf Lessons from Alyshas Surf School
$40 per person for a 1 hour lesson
Total: $160 per hour

3. Snorkeling in the Hanauma Bay for a
family of 4 (2 kids and 2 adults)
Three-hour snorkeling in bay
Snorkel gear provided
Choice of time (7 am, 8 am, 9 am)
Waikiki Hotel pick up and drop off
Total: 79.99

Rental Car Costs: $512.00

Total Amount: $6936.95

Geography: Rank 1
Third largest island of Hawaiian
Islands
Mountains and extinct volcanic
craters
Beaches (Waikiki)
Rainforests
Waterfalls

Weather/Climate: Rank 1
High 88
Low 73
Sub-tropical
Avg. Annual Precipitation 22.02 inches

Crime Rate: 24 of 100
1 in 247 chance of being a victim of violent
crime
1 in 37 chance of being a victim of property
crime

Additional Information/Comments
The scenic beauty of the island makes the
trip worthwhile for explorers and
photographers alike. In addition to the
activities listed in this assessment there are
countless things to do that do not cost
anything such as hiking, swimming,
exploring, camping, and so much more.

6 Best Summer Vacation for Families of Four
Colorado Springs, Colorado


Hotel/Cost: Colorado Springs Marriott
$ 79 USD/night

Activities: $371.96

1. Winter park
1-day passes, adults $49 each, kids $39
each, $43.99 for equipment per person
Total: $351.96

2. Hiking in Garden of the Gods
15 miles of hiking trails throughout
the park
Total: No charge

3. Rocky Mountain National Park
Wildlife viewing
Camping and hiking
Fishing
Scenic drives
Picnicking
Total: $20 for an automobile (all
passengers included)



Geography: Rank 2
High, flat plain
Mountains (Rocky)
Rolling plains to the east

High 85
Low 57
Mild and dry

Chance of being a victim of violent crime
1 in 220
Chance of being a victim of property crime
1 in 24

The mountains near this town provide an
opportunity for skiing and snowboarding.
However, during the summer moths there is
not enough snow on the ground for such
activities.

Data 7
New York City, New York


Hotel/Cost: Courtyard NY Manhattan/ 5
th

Ave. $116 USD/night

Activities: $883.00

1. Broadway Show
The Lion King - Wednesday at 2 pm
$168.75 per ticket
Total: $675.00

2. Visiting the Statue of Liberty
$33 per adult, $19 per child
Total: $104.00

3. Visiting the Empire State Building
Total: $104.00



Geography: Rank 4
Rivers (East, Harlem, and Trinity)
Bays (Hudson)
Islands(Long, Ellis, and Manhattan)
Beaches
Large Metropolitan area

High 83
Low 68
Humid

1 in 110
1 in 43

The City is one large metropolis that spans
across the Trinity, Harlem, and East River
and incorporates several islands, including
Long Island, Ellis Island, and Manhattan. It
also contains the enormous Central Park and
tall architecture such as the Empire State
Building, Chrysler Building, and Freedom
Tower. However, there are certain parts of
the city families should avoid such as the
Bronx.

Las Vegas, Nevada


Hotel/Cost: Hyatt Place Las Vegas
$94.57 USD/night

Activities: $254.80

1. Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey
Present Legends
Plaza seats $22 per ticket
Total: $88

2. Visiting the Hoover Dam
Adults $11, kids $9, parking $7
(Driving yourself)
Total: $47

3. Adventure Dome Indoor theme park
Tickets $29.95 per person taller than 48
Total: $119.80



Geography: Rank 5
Approx. 600 sq. miles of Desert
(Mojave)
Mountains (Sierra)

High 105
Low 77
Hot, windy, and dry

1 in 124
1 in 31

The city has a thriving nightlife marked by
the bright neon lights of the cityscape. There
are many shows and attractions open to the
public besides However the constant
presence of vices such as alcohol and
gambling and the lax laws on prostitution
make it not suitable for children.

Data 9
Orlando, Florida


Hotel/Cost: Holiday Inn Express and Suites
Orland Int. Airport $85.29 USD/night

Activities: $898.98

1. Disney World Magic Kingdom 1-day
pass
Total: $408.98

2. Surfing Lessons from Surfguy Surf
School
$45 per person per hour
Total: $180 per 1 hour

3. Giraffe Ranch Safari Vehicle Tours
$69.99 per adult, $59.99 per child
Close up encounters with wildlife
Wildlife feeding from vehicle
Total: $259.96



Geography: Rank 3
Lake
Between Atlantic Ocean and Gulf
Coast

High 92
Low 74
Warm
Abundant sunshine

1 in 97
1 in 15

The city is located Between the Atlantic
Ocean and the Gulf Coast and houses
several major theme parks such as Universal
Studios, Sea World, and Disney World.
Although child friendly, the high congestion
of tourists make it more likely for thefts and
other property crimes to occur if one is not
careful.

Conclusions 11
Conclusions

The data reveals that in terms of price Honolulu, Hawaii was the most expensive with a total of
$6939.95 cost for basic expenses, while Las Vegas, Nevada was the cheapest destination with a
total cost of $2534.22 for basic expenses. Although, Hawaii was the most expensive destination,
in terms of geography it ranked first because of its natural scenery followed by Colorado
Springs, Colorado; Orlando, Florida; New York City, New York; and Las Vegas which was
ranked last for its apparent lack of scenery. In terms of their climate, we awarded the best climate
to Hawaii which is known to have a sub-tropical climate during the summer months with a
decent high of 88 and low of 73. Colorado Springs followed second best in terms of climate
because of its mild and dry summers ranging between 57 and 85 while New York and Orlando
tied for third since they have similar weather during the summer which consists of humid days
with high annual precipitation average. Las Vegas ranked last because of its desert climate and
the resulting extreme heat the city normally endures during the summer months which can reach
temperatures as high as 105, making it uncomfortable for an average adult tourist alone. The
last criteria we assessed was the crime rate for the five locations, where we discovered from our
source, Neighborhoodscout.com, that Honolulu is the safest followed by New York City, Las
Vegas, Colorado Springs, and Orlando. In addition to the proposed criteria, we also made some
side notes for vacationers to consider before making a decision.
Recommendations 13
Recommendations

Based on the data and conclusion, we recommend Orlando, Florida.

Orlando is not the cheapest destination, but it is about half of the price of the most expensive
destination of Honolulu, Hawaii and provides the most activities for both kids and adults. It
contains the major theme parks such as Disney World along with many other attractions that are
available to provide children with sense of adventure, and if you feel like relaxing, the beach is
just a short drive away. Although the climate and crime rate are alarming and admitted turn-offs,
if the travelers take certain precautions and keep a state of awareness as they go about on their
vacation, those factors should not be a problem for them. For an all-around fun and affordable
family vacation, we recommend Orlando, Florida.
Index 15
Index

Activities, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Average Airfare, 7
Crime Rate, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Geography, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 23, 24
Hotel Costs, 7, 9
Rental Car Costs, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Weather/Climate, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Works Cited 17
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