Expedia Survey Finds Americans More Likely to Vacation in U.S.

A study by Expedia.com found that 23 percent of Americans are “somewhat likely” to travel internationally next year and that 41 percent have driven cross country.

The American Traveler survey conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive found that nearly half of men (49 percent) have driven across the United States at one point. Just under one in four Americans (23 percent), and one in three students (31 percent) are "at least somewhat likely" to travel internationally in the next year.

Forty percent of Americans report the economic downturn over the past few years did not impact their personal/leisure travel. They "travel as usual," particularly those between 35 and 44 years of age (46 percent). A percentage of young men (13 percent) and women (14 percent) aged 18 to 34 are taking more trips these days, perhaps because a down economy prompts travel destinations to sweeten deals.

Eighty-one percent of Americans have visited at least one of 12 major U.S. landmarks in their travels. Approximately one third have visited the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the Statue of Liberty, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Grand Canyon, while approximately one in four have visited the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Route 66, the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and the Alamo.

The survey also found that 75 percent of those who travel use social media and that 51 percent of those users do so to stay connected while on a trip regularly or periodically. Eighteen- to 44-year-olds are more likely than those aged 45 or older to use social media sites to connect with others during trip.

Seventy-eight percent of Americans rely on reviews when they choose a hotel. The primary review source is friends and family (51 percent). A slightly higher percentage cited friends (44 percent) than cited family (40 percent). The hotel's own website is the second-most-important source of reviews (47 percent).