Access America Survey Shows More Planning Holiday Travel

Access America Survey Shows More Planning Holiday Travel
By Kate Rice

Nearly six in 10 Americans (57 percent) say they’ll take a holiday trip this year, up from 50 percent last year. On top of that, they say they’ll spend more; holiday travel spending is expected to reach $65.2 billion, a 10 percent increase from last year, according to the Access America Vacation Confidence Index.

Travelers intend to spend $980 on average, down slightly from $1,040 budgeted on average last year. But with significantly more adults expecting to take a trip, overall spend will increase to $65.2 billion. While car travel is still the most popular mode of transportation (56 percent), more travelers intend to fly to their destinations this year than they have in the past.

A third of travelers (34 percent) plan to fly this year, up from 26 percent last year, and 27 percent in 2009. Holiday and family go hand-in hand, so it is not surprising that two-thirds of parents with children under 18 reported that a holiday vacation is important.

Nearly half (49 percent) of Americans plan on booking their travel at least two months in advance (compared to 42 percent in 2010) and nearly a quarter intend to book their trip between one and two months out.

This year, the vacation deficit index, defined as those who believe it is important to take an annual holiday trip but are not confident they will take one, is down to one in five Americans (21 percent) from nearly one in three (32 percent) last year.