The summer travel trend: Closer, cheaper trips
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Move over, Euro Summer — Americans are staying closer to home this year.
Why it matters: Higher gas prices and airfare have pushed many travelers to rethink long-haul trips.
The big picture: The Iran war has sent oil prices soaring, causing airlines to cut flights and raise fares, and drivers to pay more at the pump.
- Flight and hotel bookings have already dipped, Virginia Tech professor Mahmood Khan previously told Axios. "People are very hesitant to make long-term bookings."
- Meanwhile, budget travelers are mourning the loss of Spirit Airlines.
Zoom in: Booking site Expedia reports travelers are choosing Philadelphia, Palm Springs, Fort Lauderdale and Puerto Rico over New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Honolulu.
Zoom out: Travelers still heading to Europe are swapping popular (and pricey) hot spots like the Amalfi Coast and Lake Como for lesser-known alternatives.
Between the lines: Mexico, Iceland and Ireland have some of the most affordable airfares for U.S. flyers this summer, per Kayak's summer travel dashboard.
- In New Orleans, Breeze and Southwest have expanded their seasonal direct flights to Cancun.
- Meanwhile, British Airways has five direct flights weekly to London.
By the numbers: Nearly three-quarters (73%) of Americans say they plan to take a summer vacation this year, up from 66% from last year, per a new survey from transportation company Enterprise Mobility.
- Even so, most travelers (69%) say they're opting for weekend getaways, with about half citing affordability as the reason.
- 89% say they plan to stay domestic for their next trip.
The bottom line: Travelers aren't giving up on summer — they're getting more strategic.