Americans Taking Far More Vacation Trips Than in Years Past
If you think the United States is a nation of homebodies, think again. A new survey suggests that among Americans who travel for leisure, appetite for vacation trips more than tripled in just 2018 alone.
TurnKey Vacation Rentals surveyed more than 1,026 U.S. “travelers”—in this case, those who have stayed in a vacation rental at least once—and found that they are hitting the road much more frequently than in prior years.
Most travelers surveyed said they took three or more trips in 2018, while a year earlier, the majority had reported three trips or fewer. In fact, for all age groups except those younger than 25, the largest segment of respondents took five or more trips in 2018, while in 2017 the most common response was two trips—an increase of 250%.
Among those under 25, the most typical choice for 2018 was three trips.
Women respondents were twice as likely as their male counterparts to travel five times or more per year, but they also preferred shorter trips. In fact women favored trips in which they were away three to four days at a time, while men preferred five- to seven-day trips.
Male respondents were also more willing to travel further, as they were less likely than women to mind traveling six hours or longer to get to their destination.
The most common destination for travelers was the beach, and respondents were most likely to travel four to six hours to get to their final stop. Cars were also the most popular mode of transportation, the survey found.
Since consumers are taking more frequent trips, they may be looking for some of the amenities of home. The survey found that 64% of respondents preferred to stay in vacation rentals over hotels while traveling, up 10% from 2018—though, as mentioned, only travelers who had previously used a rental were polled.
Travelers who chose vacation rentals over hotels said they most valued the space and amenities found in rentals, followed by the cost and location. There were some differences based on demographic, as the cost of the rental was deemed more important to travelers 34 and younger, while the location of the rental appeared to be more important to those 35 and up.
If you’re a frequent traveler, look for ways to minimize your costs. For example, credit cards that offer travel rewards can cut down on the amount you spend on airfare and hotels. There are also other strategies you can employ to save money. For example, you might get a deal by renting accommodations from local homeowners in the area you plan to visit or by looking beyond the biggest hotel chains.
