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‘There are bargains out there’ as summer travel season heats up
Hot summer fun.
From backpackers to beachcombers to global travelers, about half of adult travelers expect to travel more this summer than last year, according to a recent survey.
“Demand for travel is not slowing down,” Paula Twidale, senior vice president at AAA Travel, told Yahoo Finance. “It will be busy all summer.”
Demand for holidays in Europe, in particular, is extremely high, leading to crowded cities and expensive hotel rooms. Room rates are rose around 10% for summer trips to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Dublin, London, Paris and Stockholm.
“There are bargains to be had if you can be flexible with your travel dates and book as quickly as possible,” Hayley Berg, chief economist at travel booking app Hopper, told Yahoo Finance. “If you haven’t booked your summer plans yet, do so as soon as possible. Now is the ideal point to get a good deal.”
See more information: The best credit cards for travel
Record Independence Day Travel Rates
During the week of July 4 alone, AAA projects that 70.9 million Americans will hit the road, a 5% increase over last year. Most of these tourists will drive to their destination. Good news if you’re one of those road warriors: Gas prices are lower than they were last year, when the national average was $3.58. Today average gas price in the US it is US$3.45 per gallon.
Prices at the pump will likely continue to fall further as we get closer to Independence Day, according to the AAA report, and will remain relatively stable until after Labor Day. One potential disruptor: Hurricane season could send prices crashing down if a storm hits Gulf Coast oil production and refining centers.
During the week of July 4 alone, AAA projects that 70.9 million Americans will hit the road, a 5% increase over last year. (Getty Creative) (sarayut Thaneerat via Getty Images)
A record number of Americans — 5.7 million — will also depart on a jet plane during the July holiday, according to AAA. And rates are lower than last summer. Domestic airfare for the Fourth of July weekend is down 18% from last year, averaging $263 per ticket, according to Hopper’s new report.
“Add jumping on a plane as a national Fourth of July pastime, alongside backyard grilling,” Expedia travel expert Melanie Fish told Yahoo Finance. The Saturday before the holiday begins the busiest week of air travel of the summer.
But that’s just a slice of the action. This summer, more than 57,000 flights are scheduled to take off from U.S. airports, bringing an estimated 13 million American travelers to destinations across Europe.
See more information: The best airline credit cards
Paris is among the most popular international destinations – mainly due to the Paris Olympics in July. But Japan holds the crown as a top year-round destination, according to research from Expedia. Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto are the fastest growing cities for summer travel. “Africa is the number 1 trending region in Kayak,” said Jake Bouvrie, vice president of data science and chief economist.
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The most popular destinations are “domestic cities like New York and Las Vegas, but we are also seeing double-digit spikes in Amsterdam and Tokyo,” Fish said.
I spoke with several travel experts about the best ways to save on summer travel, and the mood was decidedly upbeat.
They all noted that they expect an increase in the number of Americans traveling in the next two months and agree that many will likely find it cheaper than a year ago for many destinations.
8 expert tips for stress-free travel this summer
1. Be flexible
If you’re looking forward to spending the Fourth of July holiday, you’ll still find the best last-minute airfare if you book a trip starting on Thursday, July 4 and returning on Tuesday of the following week, Berg said.
“This will save travelers an average of 32% or about $121 per ticket compared to the more popular Wednesday to Sunday trip,” she said.
To be honest, if you haven’t set your plans for the 4th of July yet, calm down. Holidays like Fourth Day and Labor Day are generally the most expensive summer dates.
“Flexible travelers can save 15% on their nightly hotel rate, for example, by staying during cheaper weeks or weekends this summer,” Berg said. “Mid-August currently offers the most deals for flexible travelers.”
This is also the best time to save on international air tickets.
2. Europe for sale
From the US, many airfares to European destinations fell 37% in July and August compared to 2023, according to data from Hopper. Fares to Canada and the Caribbean cost less than $500 per round-trip ticket, while trips to Europe average about $900 per round-trip ticket, Berg said. The most booked destinations on Hopper include London, Paris, Rome, Dublin and Barcelona.
Paris is among the most popular international destinations – mainly due to the Paris Olympics in July. (Getty Creative) (Matteo Colombo via Getty Images)
That said, if you choose to travel to Europe in September or early October, you can see bigger savings, around 23% or around $195 on round-trip airfare.
3. Stay away from crowds
The most affordable offers are outside major European cities.
“Explore off-the-beaten-path locations,” AAA travel consultant Wendy Marley told Yahoo Finance. “There are great values that can be found in destinations like Madeira and the Azores. Not only do you get that great European culture, but you also get a lush tropical vacation spot.”
4. Pay attention to reservation times
Domestic travelers should generally book two to three months in advance to get the best prices and availability. For international travelers, Berg recommends booking three to five months in advance.
The worst time to book a flight is less than a week in advance for domestic travel or more than 90 days in advance for international travel — travelers paid 15% more than average during these periods, according to data from Expedia.
And the standard advice for flyers remains. “Travelers who fly midweek – Tuesday or Wednesday – can save an average of 18% or $51 per ticket on domestic airfare,” Berg said.
The worst time to book a flight is less than a week in advance for domestic travel or more than 90 days in advance for international travel — travelers paid 15% more than average during these periods, according to data from Expedia. (Getty Creative) (izusek via Getty Images)
5. Shop seasonal deals
Rates decrease considerably in the autumn season, especially for Europe in September. You can save almost a third of peak summer prices by traveling in September compared to peak summer months, according to Berg.
6. Keep an eye out for the best rates
If you know where you’d like to take off, set up an airline ticket price tracker. You will receive a notice whenever rates drop. Each of the major travel apps, like Hopper, Kayak, and Skyscanner, offers fare tracking, as does Google Flights.
Do a search on Kayak “best time to travel” tool to get an idea of when you can get the best deals. For example, I typed Washington, DC, to Geneva for seven days and suggested making my trip in October.
“We recommend going to Geneva in October because the airfare is reasonable ($617), the weather is cool (51°F), and it is less crowded than usual, with fewer tourists around,” the website reported.
7. Free up those loyalty points
“Take advantage of all your rewards points, including frequent flyer miles, hotel loyalty and credit card points,” said Marley.
A rewards credit card that offers no foreign transaction fees, for example, is a must if you’re leaving the country. When making a purchase, ask for it to be charged in your local currency to get the best exchange rate.
See more information: The best rewards credit cards
Prepare for a weaker dollar abroad. (Getty Creative) (Nathan Bilow via Getty Images)
8. Prepare for a slightly weaker dollar abroad
The dollar was worth about 93 euro cents on June 22, down from 0.95 euros last October, according to currency conversion experts. Wise. For those traveling to London and the UK, $1 will get you 79 cents – down from nearly 83 cents in October.
Entrance fees to places like the Eiffel Tower have skyrocketed. This month, an adult ticket to the top of the tower will cost about $38, a 20% increase from last summer.
Is life.
Kerry Hannon is a senior columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist and author of 14 books, including “In control over 50: how to succeed in the new world of work” and “Never too old to get rich.” Follow her on X @kerryhannon.
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