“Some people will get sticker shock at the cost” of all inclusive vacation ranches, says the executive director of the Dude Ranchers Association, Colleen Hodson. Meals activities and lodging can run up to $6,000 or more for a family of four that wants to spend a week rustling cattle.
However, because of the dip in the economy, ranch owners are now coming up with new marketing ideas that can keep their accommodations fully booked and save families a lot of money on their dude ranch vacation.
Owners are now promoting the idea of a la carte pricing, offering an occasional sale, recommending shorter stays, and giving off-season discounts.
It makes a lot of sense all around, since an ever increasing number of people are tightening their vacation budgets.
Recently quite a few travel deals for vacation ranches are began to show up on the Internet.
For example, the 320 Guest Ranch in Big Sky, Montana recently offered a 4-night package for a family of 4 for under $1,000.
And they didn’t skimp on their “Keep It Cowboy Package”. Either. In addition to lodging and daily breakfasts, it included a choice of 2 activities, such as a hayride or a horseback ride, and a pig roast.
Recently more than 20 vacation ranches advertised discounts that ranged from 5% to 50% off their regular rates.
And as a far as the vacations go, Hodson probably summed it all up when she said, “It gives families a chance to step back and reconnect in beautiful surroundings. Two years later, kids will have forgotten the name of their cruise ship. But you ask them the name of their wrangler or their horse, and they’ll remember it.”
