AAA Projecting Slight Increase In Holiday Travel—

Higher Gas Prices, Vacation Costs Don’t Discourage Travelers This Memorial Day

HAMDEN — High gas prices and high vacation costs are putting only a slight damper on Memorial Day travel this year. Despite those high prices, vacationers, who are poised to kick off the travel season in the next week, are still expected to hit the road and fly the skies this Memorial Day holiday, AAA Connecticut Motor Club reports.

As the summer travel season goes into full throttle, AAA estimates that 37.6 million Americans — a .9 percent increase over last year — plan to travel 50 miles or more from home Memorial Day.

Of this year’s 37.6 million travelers, approximately 31.4 million travelers, or 84 percent, expect to drive to their destination of choice, reflecting a .7 percent increase from the 31.2 million who drove a year ago. Another 4.3 million, or 11 percent, plan to travel by plane, up 1.5 percent from last Memorial Day. A projected 1.9 million, or 5 percent, will travel by train, bus, or other mode of transportation, about even with a year ago.

Holiday auto travelers found national gas prices on May 25 averaging $2.87 for a gallon of self-serve regular, down four cents from a month ago but 75 cents higher than this time last year. National prices hit record levels on September 15, 2005, at $3.06 a gallon.

On the state level, Connecticut’s average gas price for a gallon of self-serve regular on May 25 was $3.09, eight cents higher than last month and 86 cents higher than this time last year. Connecticut average prices hit a record level on September 11, 2005 at $3.19 a gallon.

Regardless of higher costs, AAA travel agents across the nation continue to see increased interest in summer travel compared to a year ago, especially on the international scene, which continues to grow in popularity. In addition, cruise sales for AAA travel agencies are up 4.7 percent, online bookings have increased 35 percent, and sales of trip insurance are up four percent during the same period last year.

Travelers who fly can expect to see full planes, busy airports, and higher airfares this weekend even though AAA’s Leisure Travel Index shows flights averaging ten percent more this year than last year.

Folks who plan driving vacations contend that gas prices have a small impact on overall vacation costs and to compensate many intend to take shorter trips, fewer driving vacations, or travel by using fuel-efficient vehicles.

Hotel rates are also up about five percent from a year ago. The greatest increase will be seen in rental car rates — up about 19percent from a year ago — adding almost $6 to the average daily car rental rate, the highest average rate for Memorial Day weekend in the past six years.

Where Are We Going?

Cities again top the list of preferred destination this holiday with 23 percent of the travel volume. Small towns and rural areas took a close second with 22 percent followed by ocean and beaches, 16 percent; mountains, eight percent; lakes, 13 percent; home/amusement parks, six percent; and state and national parks, one percent.

The remaining 12 percent knew they were going somewhere, but had not decided where at the time of the survey.

Where Are We Staying?

Guest bedrooms across the country will be full this Memorial Day holiday with 41 percent of travelers saying they expect to stay with friends or relatives. Hotels and motels rank second with 35 percent; followed by cabins and condos, eight percent; and campers/trailers/RVs/tents, five percent. About seven percent plan no overnight say while the remaining three percent were not sure where they were staying at the time of the survey.

Research for Memorial Day travel is based on a national survey of 1,500 adults by the Travel Industry Association of America, which conducts special research for AAA. AAA’s national survey is based on data from the Oil Price Information Service, the nation’s most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information.

On the state level, AAA surveys about 1,000 gas stations in Connecticut to compile the daily average gasoline prices. Nationally, the nation’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization surveys 60,000 gas stations.