For many Americans, the classic carol “I’ll be home for Christmas” will literally describe their plans for their holiday weekend, as they prefer to celebrate in most places amid the ongoing epidemic.
Industry sources say about a quarter of people across the country will travel for Christmas and New Year, down from a third last year, and most of them will be driving instead of flying or taking a train.
The AAA predicts that at least 29% fewer trips will be taken today from January 3 compared to the same period a year ago. Despite the current boom boom.584 million Americans may choose to travel, which is at least 34.34 million less than in 2019, the organization says. By comparison, AAA estimates that Thanksgiving travel closed up 15% last month.
Paula Twidel, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said in a statement that there are holidays at the end of the year when Americans venture out more often for longer, more extended holidays. “It won’t happen this year.”
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Tvidale decided to keep many people at home as a result of public health concerns, government guidance against travel and an overall decline in consumer sentiment. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that travel can increase your chances of getting and spreading Covid-19 on your website.)
Consumer finance site ValuePenguin found that 23% of the 1,000 Americans surveyed planned to travel this coming week, compared to 32% who said they would travel to Thanksgiving.
Meanwhile, vacation property management software firm Gesti reported in mid-December that accommodation bookings for both Christmas and New Year’s Eve, while on the rise, were still at a 15% discount compared to 2019. (However, guest officials were optimistic that reserve rates might close the gap by the end of the year, or at least close to the ground.)
Americans who decide to travel in the next two weeks will do so by car. The AAA says road trips will account for 96% of holiday travel, with 81 million Americans crashing into the country’s highways. It represents a decrease of at least 25% compared to last year – despite being away from cars and away from buses, planes and trains.
“The flexibility, safety and comfort of traveling by car,” says AAA. So auto trips will replace other modes of travel. However, ValuePengue found in its survey that 7% of people traveling for the December holidays will, in fact, fly, while 3% plan to do so for Thanksgiving. That may be due to cheaper fares: AAA reports double-digit reductions in average flight prices.
Drivers, too, will save money when topping their tanks this year, with gas prices being 33 cents cheaper per gas than in 2019. But some of those savings will burn into traffic; The AAA has warned road trippers to expect about 20% more congestion on the country’s highways and bypasses.
Where fearless travelers proceed
Immorthend | E + | Getty Images
Traveling but not staying with friends or family? You can find some savings in your stockings. The guest noticed that the rate for New Year’s Eve nights has dropped this month, sitting at the same price as in 2019. This is possible because between general reluctance to travel hosts tend to lower prices to increase bookings.
And where are Dayhard Holiday travelers staying for Christmas and New Year? Global reservation system Amadeus has found that hotel business rates are 50% or more higher than U.S. There are five main places:
- Weil, Colorado
- Key West, Florida
- Sedona, Arizona
- Aspen, Colorado
- Fort Myers, Florida
.
