There is one common theme. For almost everyone, the decision of whether to stay or go is a tough one. Money is tight, and nobody knows where the bottom of the market will be. Travel plans were not made lightly. Budget travel is on the agenda almost universally.

Melody Brooke and her husband normally take three weeks of vacation a year, but her business folded this year due to the tough economy, and her husband's had a tough time here. So, their "timeshare sits empty."

Lisa Brock is a small business owner, making today's economic conditions particularly worrisome. Nonetheless, she and her husband are heading out to Egypt. "While we considering NOT spending the money - we decided we have earned it and we can manage - even if we have to give up eating out or theater/concert tickets to do so." Making cuts elsewhere can give you the elbow room you need to decompress.

Like Brock, Jennifer Tipton is self-employed, and time away from work means that money isn't coming in (I can relate; I've been there. Yet, she says, travel is very important to me. If I do not take a break from working and my daily life I will not be the best I can be at my job." Working in personal fitness, she needs to keep her energy up and is planning a big trip for the end of the summer.

Christel Hall has seen clients in her writing/consulting business cut back this year and thus calls herself "employed and cautious." She's combining her vacation with a three-day conference for work, adding three days to the front of the trip to relax.

Kathryn Rippy and her husband "need a vacation very badly," but they are "holding onto our money right now." She hasn't had a real vacation since before the birth of her child more than a year ago, and her job as an independent management consultant is both demanding and "lumpy" (hey, my old gig, too!). Her husband's a consultant as well, and a tough market is magnified in that line of work. But, they need a break and are using frequent flier miles and hotel points to take a short trip out to Key West. Several others responded that they are hitting the road but scaling down their plans.

"Some R&R is definitely in order," for Ty Mays, who was laid off twice during the Bush administration. To unwind for a little bit, he's driving to Jacksonville and then taking a bargain cruise to the Bahamas ... "and there will be no souvenir or duty free shopping for me!"

Carmen Shirkey and her boyfriend are headed to Amsterdam, despite the fact that her boyfriend's plant shut down last week. They had already booked the trip and are following through with it. "Lots of people at his company said they were taking a trip to blow off post-layoff steam," she says, "and I think it'll do him a world of good to just forget about things for a week." This isn't the first I've heard of this situation. Many choose to get away and relax ... and worry about the real world when they get home.

Perhaps the most interesting story came from Anna Broadway. She writes, "I'm employed in a fairly stable industry, but certainly not immune to all the economic anxiety in the air these days." She hasn't budgeted for a vacation but did want to head to the Isle of Man for her 30th birthday last summer. To go this year, her plan is to use her tax return to finance her wanderlust, "since I had not included that money in my financial planning for the year."

"I hear it's supposed to be a good year for travel bargains," Broadway continues, "so it seems like the timing might not be so bad for a vacation after all."

Well, come back to Gadling from time to time, and you'll see where the deals are!