Travelers Maintain Healthy Appetite for Summer Travel in ‘08 Despite Problems with Gas

A survey from TripAdvisor reveals that 90 percent of U.S. respondents plan for a leisure trip this summer. Only about 71 percent wants to travel by plane but a significant 73 percent wants to drive.

TripAdvisor(R) is the world’s largest travel community. They have announced today that their summer travel survey of 4,000 global respondents made interesting plans this summer. Both global respondents and Americans plan to leisurely travel this summer. There are ninety-one percent coming from the global population and only a percent lower of Americans who responded the same. Half of the annual vacation for summer in the U.S. is also what the fifty-two percent respondents plan to take which is 4 percent down from 56 percent last year. While there are twenty-three percent American respondents who plan to take more vacation this summer than last, and still at the same percentage of respondent will still expect to take the same amount.

Time and Money

U.S. respondents have made it clear that they will take 1-2 weeks of vacation this summer with 41 percent result, which is the same result as last year. The choice to take 2-3 weeks vacation which resulted to 23 percent comes in next, lower than last year. There will be 19 percent that will take three weeks of vacation or more which is nearly equal to last summer.

Also, twenty-seven percent of U.S. respondents prefer to spend longer summer vacation this year. A 40 percent, on the other hand, wants to to spend the same amount this summer.

Majority of travelers this year have already decided to spend a great amount of money on their summer vacations this year on restaurants (46 percent, down from 53 percent in 2007) followed by tours (10 percent, compared to 13 percent last year.) This does not include transportation fees and accommodation.

The Fuel Effect

With the increasing fuel price, there are forty-one percent of worldwide travelers, and 51 percent of U.S. respondents who admits that their summer vacation will somehow get affected. This makes it thirty-one percent of travelers (37 percent of U.S. respondents) decide to take fewer car trips to save on fuel. Also, 15 percent (18 percent of U.S. respondents) have decided to still save on fuel by taking car trips in short distances.

Despite this, there are still 64 percent of travelers (73 percent of U.S. respondents) who wants to bring their car for travel. While a greater percentage goes to travelers flying this summer, seventy-two percent of travelers (71 percent of U.S. respondents).

The Exchange Impact

Twenty-nine percent of travelers (31 percent of U.S. respondents) think that their travel plans will be affected greatly by the changing currency exchange rates. This made the 38 percent of travelers (and 32 percent of U.S. respondents) decide to travel to a destination that has favorable exchange rates while there are 21 percent (19 percent of U.S. respondents) prefer to stay in less expensive accommodation rates.

Memorial Day Plans

Memorial Day isn’t still forgotten. There are twenty-two percent of U.S. respondents who plan to travel for this particular day, in which, 59 percent plan to drive, and 37 percent intend to fly.

Chilling Out

The beach is still prevailing as there are sixty-one percent of travelers plan to visit it this summer. The Florida coast, Southern California, and the New Jersey shore are the top three most favorite destinations of travelers for this year.

As for summer activities, 66 percent of travelers prefer to just relax. City sightseeing, shopping, and visiting a national park are the next three most popular activities while on summer
vacation, according to respondents.

The three most popular vacation destination types travelers plan to visit this summer are beaches (61 percent) cities (49 percent) and lakes and mountains (31 percent).

Teched Out

Gadgets for the traveling bunch will be most likely left behind. Forty-one percent of travelers said they will avoid checking their email while on vacation. Internet (38 percent) will be ignored while 28 percent will leave their cell phones in purpose.

This summer vacation also is going to let travelers give up their normal daily routine. This means no returning of phone calls, emails then followed by no watching of T.V. 33 percent said no diet for the entire vacation.

Great Outdoors

The outdoors is also a choice by travelers.Nineteen percent plan to go hiking, 14 percent intend to go camping and nine percent will go biking this summer. Twelve percent plan to gosailing/boating and 11 percent expect to go scuba diving/snorkeling. Five percent said they will participate in adventure sports such as whitewater
rafting and parasailing.

Cutting Costs and Summer Accommodations

Eighteen percent of respondents said they are most likely to cut costs on their summer travel in their choice of accommodations. Twelve percent plan to eat in more often, 11 percent will save money by using less fuel/traveling a shorter distance, and another 11 percent will save money
by taking a shorter trip/shorter trips.

Hotel will be the choice of accommodation for sixty-four percent of travelers while 24 percent have chosen to to stay at a friend’s or relative’s home.

Green Days

Eco-friendly actions are also in most of the travelers’ plan this summer. There are 32 percent of travelers will recycle more, 31 percent intend to use less fuel, and eight percent said they will stay at eco-friendly accommodations.

“High gas prices, a weak U.S. dollar and the struggling economy are conspiring against Americans, but travelers refuse to stay home this summer,” said Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor.

About TripAdvisor Media Network

TripAdvisor(R) Media Network, operated by TripAdvisor, LLC, attracts nearly 30 million monthly visitors* across ten popular travel brands, TripAdvisor(R), airfarewatchdog.com(TM), bookingbuddy.com (TM), cruisecritic.com(TM), holidaywatchdog.com(TM), independenttraveler.com(TM), seatguru.com(R), smartertravel.com(TM), travel-library.com(TM) and travelpod.com(TM). TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 25 million monthly visitors*, six million registered members and 15 million reviews and opinions. Featuring real advice from real travelers, TripAdvisor-branded sites cover 300,000+ hotels and attractions and operate in the U.S. (http://www.tripadvisor.com), the U.K. (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk), Ireland (http://www.tripadvisor.ie), France (http://www.tripadvisor.fr), Germany (http://www.tripadvisor.de), Italy (http://www.tripadvisor.it), and Spain (http://www.tripadvisor.es). TripAdvisor(R) Media Network provides travel suppliers with graphical advertising opportunities and a cost-per-click marketing platform. Collectively, the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network have won hundreds of awards and accolades from press and industry worldwide. TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the
TripAdvisor Media Network are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE).

TripAdvisor, SeatGuru, Travel-Library, Holiday Watchdog and TravelPod are either registered trademarks or trademarks of TripAdvisor LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Airfarewatchdog, Booking Buddy and Smarter Travel are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Smarter Travel Media LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Cruise Critic and The Independent Traveler are either trademarks or registered trademarks of The Independent Traveler, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.