AAA Reveals What Summer Travelers Can Expect to Pay
Phoenix, Ariz. May 5, 2008 – Travelers looking to stretch their summer travel budget need look no further. Today, the auto club released its annual Vacation Costs Survey, which revealed the most and least expensive destinations for summer travelers, while offering savings tips to help maximize vacation dollars.
“One of our main goals in releasing this annual survey is to help travelers plan ahead,” said Don Nunnari, vice president of membership products and services for AAA Arizona. “In the current economy, the last thing you want to do is return from vacation and realize you have exceeded your travel budget.”
According to the survey, on average, two adults can expect to pay $164 per day for lodging and $80 per day for food, for a total travel cost of $244 per day. Travelers can expect to pay more to vacation in a major metropolitan area. However, travelers on a tight budget should not avoid these destinations. Taking advantage of discounts and being flexible with travel dates can make these trips more affordable.
According to the survey, the five most expensive cities to vacation in this summer include:
City |
Avg. Vacation Cost (per day)* |
Honolulu |
$673 |
New York City |
$606 |
Miami-Miami Beach |
$370 |
San Diego |
$361 |
Las Vegas |
$358 |
* Average daily cost for two adults for food and lodging.
On the contrary, the five most economical cities to vacation in include:
City |
Avg. Vacation Cost (per day)* |
Tulsa, Okla. |
$179 |
Albuquerque, N.M. |
$179 |
Wichita, Kan. |
$194 |
Oklahoma City, Okla. |
$194 |
Fresno, Calif. |
$207 |
* Average daily cost for two adults for food and lodging.
“The key to maximizing your travel dollars is planning ahead,” said Nunnari. “Taking the time to do some pre-trip planning can make a big difference in stretching your vacation dollars.”
With record high fuel prices and fuel surcharges being tacked on airfares, AAA encourages travelers to plan ahead in order to maximize their travel dollars. The auto club would like to offer the following travel budget tips to summer travelers:
- If you drive, budget your fuel costs in advance. Use AAA’s Fuel Cost Calculator (www.fuelcostcalculator.com) to determine what your roundtrip fuel costs will be based on the year, make and model of your vehicle. Travelers who use the online mapping tool, Internet TripTik®, can also plot the cheapest gas stations along their route.
- Book as early as possible to ensure availability, selection and the best rates for airlines and hotels.
- Consider traveling during the off-season. Planning your vacation after the summer travel season can help you save substantially.
- Bring your own food. Bring enough to feed the family for one or more meals a day to cut back on the costs of eating out. Also, reduce meal costs by eating your main meal at midday to take advantage of lower lunch prices at restaurants.
- Purchase traveler’s checks and try to bring enough cash to avoid the use of ATM machines and surcharges.
- Take advantage of discounts such as AAA’s Show Your Card & Save program. Members who show their AAA card to over 155 nationwide partners can save on attraction tickets, lodging, dining and much more. Members can learn more by visiting www.AAA.com and clicking “savings” from the home page.
AAA has been tracking vacation costs since 1950 when the average daily cost for meals and lodging was $13. The 2008 Vacation Costs Survey cannot be directly compared to 2007 estimates due to a change in available data and calculations.
AAA’s meal and lodging costs are based on published prices from more than 60,000 AAA Approved and Diamond Rated® lodgings and restaurants listed in AAA’s widely distributed TourBook guides.
AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and auto travel services to nearly 800,000 Arizona members. Annually, AAA’s Emergency Road Service responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on the streets and highways of the state as well as providing insurance, travel, and financial services to AAA members and motorists. Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.
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