November 3, 2024

RTC

Safe Travel USA

Travel is booming ahead of summer, but it’s more expensive

As the calendar moves toward Memorial Day — the unofficial start of summer — AAA is predicting a 25% increase in air travel this year compared to last.

Manuela Mocan, a travel advisor at World Wide Travel of Cornwall, knows how travelers can save some money on their next family trip.

While many people stopped traveling during the pandemic, Mocan said that’s changing.

“The pent-up demand that we’ve seen over the past two years with the lifting of restrictions at many destinations, travel simply exploded,” Mocan said. “People cannot wait to get out of the house and travel.”

People in the travel industry call it revenge travel.

“Throughout the pandemic, the only little bit of travel we’ve seen was domestic, very little international,” Mocan said. “Now, all of a sudden, everyone is ready to go back to Europe.”

Business is booming again at Worldwide Travel.

AAA predicts over 39 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend, an eight percent increase from last year.

Whenever there is a long weekend, people like to use the days off and build around it. But if you’re traveling on busy holiday weekends, you can also expect to find higher prices on flights and hotels.

Mocan, who has 20 years of experience in the industry, said there are some ways to save money.

“Do a little bit of preparation,” Mocan said. “You want to stay away from the peak season. If you can travel in the shoulder season, always better prices. If you tend to travel Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, the prices tend to be a little less.”

Mocan said prices for flights have also increased over the last year.

“Oh my gosh, there’s no comparison,” Mocan said. “Last summer, it was such a good time to travel everywhere because you got some really, really good deals, both on hotels and on your airfare. Right now, if you look for July, airfare going to Mexico or Jamaica, $1,100 for tickets. It’s really, really expensive.”

She also suggest buying travel insurance in case of emergency and checking the COVID-19 requirements for your destination.

If you’re hitting the road this summer, the gas prices might leave you with a little sticker shock.

“It’s more expensive than in France,” said Guillaume Pareau, who traveled to the U.S. from France.

It’s been his dream to road trip throughout the United States.

“I’ve seen a lot of American movies, American soap and horror, and I like this country,” he said.

So these high gas prices, aren’t stopping him?

“No, no, no. It’s OK,” he said.

Whether you’re traveling somewhere near or far, Mocan said everyone should take some time off and get away.

“For me, I think this is what traveling means first and foremost, making memories with my family,” Mocan said.