BELLEVUE, Wash., Aug. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the
Expedia.com® travel analytics team announced the result of a study
of booking patterns to determine the optimal options for travelers
over Labor Day. It revealed that the
worst day to travel for Labor Day is
expected to be Friday, September 2,
and the most crowded airport will likely be Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International Airport.
The Expedia travel analytics team has identified top
destinations for last-minute hotel deals, which days are best (and
worst) for Labor Day travel, where to
find impressive package deals and which airports to avoid, if
possible.
John Morrey, vice president and
general manager of Expedia.com, advised, "The best way to save on
travel this Labor Day is to book a
package. A real advantage of booking with a company like Expedia is
you can purchase your hotel and your airline at the same time,
which can save you hundreds of dollars, sometimes more.
There's also the added convenience of booking on a single site.
Also, try to be flexible with your travel dates. Heading out a day
or two earlier may make a big difference."
Heading out early for Labor Day
will help people avoid the busiest travel day, the Friday before
Labor Day. The two days prior –
Wednesday, August 31 and Thursday, September 1 – may yield both savings
and peace of mind.
Airports to Avoid
The number one airport to avoid for
Labor Day travel, based on the number
of flights passing through it, is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport. In order, the ten busiest U.S. airports
will likely be:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- Los Angeles International
Airport
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Air
- San Francisco International
Airport
- Denver International
Airport
- Seattle-Tacoma International
Airport
- McCarran International Airport, Las
Vegas
- Charlotte Douglas
International Airport, Charlotte
Last Minute Hotel Deals to Steal *
Average Daily
Rates (ADRs) refer to hotel rates in a given city, and are good
measure of the city's relative affordability. Expedia analyzed data
based on standalone hotel bookings made between May 30 and August 7, 2016 in an effort to
see which cities offer the best rates for last-minute bookings.
In ten markets nationwide this summer, travelers have been able
to secure particularly good deals by waiting until they are within
three days of travel to book hotel rooms, versus booking those
rooms more than seven days out. In some cases, ADRs drop by almost
30 percent. Given this, the following cities are strong candidates
for last-minute Labor Day
savings:
- In Phoenix this summer,
ADRs have dropped by nearly 30 percent when booked within three
days of travel, versus more than a week out.
- In Austin, hotel rates
have dropped by nearly 30 percent in the same time frame.
- In New Orleans, hotel
rates have dropped 25 percent.
- In Detroit, rates have
dropped by more than 20 percent.
- In Cape Cod, rates have
dropped by more than 20 percent.
- In Chicago, rates have
also dropped by more than 20 percent.
- In Dallas, rates have
dropped by 20 percent.
- In Mexico's Riviera
Maya, rates have dropped by just less than 20 percent.
- In Fort Lauderdale,
rates have dropped by just less than 20 percent.
- In Orlando, rates have
also dropped by just less than 20 percent.
Top Package Deals **
Package deals yield some of the most significant savings in travel.
When a consumer books a hotel, flight and/or a car at the same time
on Expedia, the combined price can be hundreds of dollars lower –
sometimes more than a thousand dollars lower – than if booked
separately. Expedia analyzed US bookings from July 4, 2016, through July
25, 2016, to determine destinations with strong package
deals.
It found that London is
showing particularly strong package savings for Labor Day travel, with savings of just over
$1,350 for package bookings. The
current dollar-to-pound exchange rate also makes the UK a prime
destination for savvy travelers. Other destinations showing deep
savings for package deals over Labor
Day include:
- Paris, with savings averaging
just less than $1,350 for package
bookings;
- Hawaii, with savings to
Maui in excess of $1,200, and Oahu, with savings of nearly $1,100.
- Mexico – in particular,
Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Riviera Maya, Playa Del Carmen, Tulum, Puerto
Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta,
Riviera Nayarit or Los Cabos –
with savings of just more than $1,000
for flights and hotels booked together; and
- Punta Cana, Dominican
Republic, with savings of nearly $750 for package bookings.
Understanding the value of packages, steering clear of packed
airports and prioritizing last-minute destinations are particularly
important travel hacks for this Labor
Day weekend, which promises to be exceptionally busy.
Expedia.com travel analysts have spotted a spike in Labor Day weekend rental car demand, which is up
nearly 20% in 2016 versus the year prior. Despite the crowded roads
and skies, great deals and ideal destinations abound for travelers
who make informed decisions about how to celebrate the unofficial
end of summer.
About Expedia.com
Expedia.com® is one of the world's largest full service travel
sites, helping millions of travelers per month easily plan and book
travel. Expedia.com (https://www.expedia.com/, 1-800-EXPEDIA) aims
to provide the latest technology and the widest selection of top
vacation destinations, cheap tickets, hotel deals, car rentals,
destination weddings, cruise deals and in-destination activities,
attractions, services and travel apps. With the Expedia® Best Price
Guarantee, Expedia.com customers can get the best rates available
online for all types of travel.
Expedia, Expedia.com, Expedia Rewards, Find Yours, Vacation
Deprivation and the Airplane logo are either trademarks or
registered trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other
countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be
the property of their respective owners © 2016 Expedia, Inc. All
rights reserved. CST # 2029030-50.
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