Travel Budgets Are on the Upswing
American consumer travel budgets rose steadily this year, with the average budget at $5,710 per trip in the third quarter, an increase from the first-quarter average of $5,239 per trip, according to Triplogy by Rand McNally’s 3rd Quarter Travel Trend Report. The top five most-requested countries in 2011 were: the U.S., Mexico, Italy, the Bahamas and Jamaica, according to the survey. The top five most-requested cities were: Las Vegas, Orlando, Cancun, Miami and Honolulu.
Americans List Travel as Top Lifetime Goal . . .
If Americans could only accomplish one goal in their lifetime, 72% would choose a travel-related goal, a survey commissioned by Princess Cruises found. Travel far outdistanced other top goals, including professional (15%) and academic (7%).
. . . And Most Have a Travel Bucket List
Nearly two-thirds of Americans, 65%, have a bucket list of places they want to visit and things they want to do before they die, according to the Princess survey. Younger Americans embrace the bucket list concept the most. Those ages 18 to 34 are more likely to have a bucket list than those 35 and older (70% vs. 63%). Nearly half, 46%, said they believe having a concrete plan to cross off one item per year is the best strategy for moving through their lists.
More Americans Are Planning Holiday Travel . . .
More Americans plan to travel this holiday season than last year, according to the third annual Access America Vacation Confidence Index. The Index, published by Mondial Assistance USA, revealed that nearly six in 10 (57%) Americans are confident they will take a holiday trip this year, up from 50% in 2010. This increase is expected to bump total holiday travel spending to $65.2 billion, a 10% increase over last year.
. . . But They Expect to Spend Slightly Less
Individual travelers said they plan to spend slightly less on holiday travel this season – averaging $980, down from the $1,040 budgeted last year. Car travel is still the top mode of transportation (56%) for holiday travel. But more travelers indicated an intent to fly to their destination this year, with 34% planning to fly this year, up from 26% last year.
