A Jersey Shore vacation will cost families a bit more this summer

First, the good news: June 21 marks the official first day of summer. The not-so-good news? Celebrating summer at the Jersey Shore will cost you more than it did last year. According to Affinity Federal Credit Union, families will spend 16.6% more to vacation at their favorite Shore destinations this year.

Basking Ridge-based Affinity has tracked typical Jersey Shore summer vacation activities and necessities to calculate cost changes over the past year. The research, released June 16, found the following jumps in costs:

• 31.4% in travel, including gas and parking
• 18% in beach services, such as beach tags, chair and umbrella rentals
• 10.5% for food and drink, including coffee, taffy and pizza
• 11.5% for leisure activities, including mini golf, amusement park rides and parasailing

But there is more good news: The team at Affinity offered families advice, saying planning ahead will allow them to stay on budget while still enjoying their vacations. The financial planners suggest families prioritize their top activities and budget items, and then shop around for extras and “non-experience based activities,” such as snacks or beach chair rentals.

For example, families can bring more beach towels from home instead of renting chairs or pack sandwiches instead of eating every lunch at a restaurant.

Also, apps and websites like GetUpside, GasBuddy, AAA TripTik Travel Planner, Waze and MapQuest can help drivers find the best prices on gas and help locate those gas stations along your route. Affinity also advised researching gas-savings cards from retailers as well as cash-back or bonus credit cards.

“Nothing compares to summertime at the Jersey Shore,” Jacqui Kearns, chief brand, strategy, and wellbeing officer of Affinity, said in a statement. “At Affinity, we are committed to the financial wellbeing of our members, and we recognize the role vacations play in living a healthier and happier life. No doubt, inflation will impact vacationers, but planning ahead for these higher prices allows families to still enjoy the Jersey Shore experience while remaining on budget.”

In a related blog, Kearns also pointed out that entry into all of New Jersey’s state parks, forests and recreation areas will be free of charge this summer.

Despite rising gas prices, a recent survey by GasBuddy found that 58% of Americans still planned to road trip this summer. Additionally, New Jerseyans may see some budget breathing room after Gov. Phil Murphy and state leaders announced a deal June 15 to expand the governor’s proposed ANCHOR Property Tax Program to now provide $2 billion in property tax relief to 2 million New Jerseyans.

“Shore businesses still need the support of visitors so keeping your vacation plans in place and making adjustments where needed can be mutually beneficial as businesses recover from the pandemic slow down and the related challenges that are now going into the third summer,” Kearns added in her blog.

Affinity’s research was conducted through a May 2022 survey of New Jersey Shoretown businesses and compared to products and services surveyed in summer 2021, Affinity said in the statement.