For Summer Travel Deals, Stay Off The Beaten Path
sam kemis
According to a February survey by NerdWallet, the majority of Americans, 7 out of 10, plan to travel for pleasure in the next 12 months. Many Americans want to travel this summer and many of them are hoping to find a good deal.
Air travel is almost back to epidemic levels. In February and January, the number of passengers passing through TSA checkpoints fell by only 19% compared to the same period in 2019. Hotels are full and vacation rentals are growing rapidly.
“Overall summer travel demand in 2022 will increase by 20% to 25% compared to 2019,” said Jamie Lane, vice president of research for Airdna, a vacation rental data platform that tracks data trends from Airbnb travel in Vrbo. "When we started in 2021, demand was 20% lower than 2019 levels. And now when we start 2022, it's 20% higher than 2019 levels."
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Oil price volatility can affect summer travel costs. Jet kerosene prices in the US Gulf hit $3.46 in March, compared to a low of $0.46 in May 2020.
Where's the deal with so many factors influencing the price of a trip? And which addresses should travelers on a budget avoid?
Zig, while the others run to Mexico
Rising inflation reminds consumers of a simple economic truth. When everyone wants something, it's not enough, the price goes up. This applies to real estate, microchips, and airline tickets.
So when planning a trip this summer, it helps to know where the demand is high.
“Holiday areas are up 40% from 2019,” Lane said of vacation homework.
Mexico has become a popular destination for American tourists due to its proximity and simple testing requirements. In fact, by early 2022, the number of people leaving for Mexico exceeded 2019 levels.
Summer travel deals to Mexico may still be available, but will be harder to find than lesser-known destinations. The same is true for America's wildlife, especially national parks.
"Demand is highest in small rural towns," Lane said. "Demand has doubled compared to 2019."
Instead, Lane suggests targeting destinations that rely heavily on foreign tourists and are slower to accept tourists.
"Croatia, Italy and Greece, these countries are recovering very slowly. And their demand is down 40-60%. There has never been a price increase like that from the US.
Flight bookings to Europe have plummeted since the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war, according to Hopper's addendum, which suggests continental travel may be slow during the summer. That is, the proposal must be followed.
write (some things) too late
The epidemic has changed the number of planned travelers. Instead of setting the date months in advance, many start asking for directions just weeks later. And despite the many misconceptions about travel, it's still a great way to get a deal.
"Usually if you book early, you'll pay more," Lane said, noting that Airbnb's pricing algorithm will lower prices at the last minute to fill any remaining space. “The closer to where you live, if it's not repaired, you'll get a discount.
The same is true for hotels, where booking weeks or days after booking is often cheaper than months. Car rental deals are also often easier to find at the last minute.
This comes with two big caveats. First, if demand exceeds supply in a given area, prices may rise a few weeks before the trip rather than fall. Worse, accessibility can dry up completely, leaving few cars or vacation homes behind.
Second, last minute flights are usually more expensive. This is not a hard and fast rule. There may be last minute offers, but most of the time they arrive about a month later.
stay flexible
The only thing we don't know what will happen this summer is that. There may be other options. Borders can be closed. International conflicts can escalate. Who knows.
As a traveller, this means that flexibility is very important in finding deals.
Instead of making a clear plan for visiting a specific place, follow his advice. View available flights: accommodation offers on selected dates. Plan your trip accordingly. Flexibility is always important for budget travel. Now it is necessary.
Also, make sure to only ask for addresses that can be easily changed or cancelled. Good deals on airfare with budget airlines like Spirit can lead to drastic changes and cancellation fees. The same goes for the cheap base rate, which cannot be changed or canceled altogether.
Essence:
Way back, but probably never going back to normal. Finding a deal requires understanding what has changed, where others have gone, and more importantly, where they haven't.
Focus on the big cities this summer, avoid the countryside and resorts and try to book accommodation and car hire closer to your travel dates. And always set a price that is volatile or can be canceled.
"Last minute orders in Croatia. You'll find lots of cool stuff," suggests Lane.
The article "Off the beaten track for a summer trip" originally appeared on NerdWallet.
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