We're Traveling Country Once Again

Americans are jettisoning the 'staycation' in favor of hitting the road.

June 01, 2011

NEWTON, Mass. - Rising gasoline prices will not hold back Americans this summer as they eschew the "staycation" in favor of a road trip, Marketing Daily reports. A TripAdvisor survey found that 86 percent of respondents are planning a trip this summer, up 3 percentage points from 2010.

"There is definitely going to be a bump in the number of leisure trips compared to last year," said Brooke Ferencsik, TripAdvisor spokesperson. "Most Americans only have two to three weeks a year, and not taking advantage of that precious time just isn't an option. Summer is when the kids are out of school, and they are not willing to forgo that holiday ?" not for a bad economy, not for bad weather, not for high gas prices. They may make modifications ?" stay in less expensive places, shorten the trip ?" but they're not giving up the family vacation."

Pump prices continued to decrease over the holiday weekend, but still hover above last year??s prices. Thirty-nine percent of respondents are factoring in the cost of filling up while planning their trip. Eighteen percent will schedule fewer trips, while 12 percent will go shorter distances. Only 5 percent decided to stay home. Twenty-four percent said they would not drive more than 200 miles from home.

However, 26 percent are budgeting more than last year on travel, and 42 percent will spend around the same as in 2010. Ferencsik said there??s been an increase in cities as vacation destinations, with half of respondents planning to visit a major city, such as Boston, New York or Washington, D.C.

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