NEW YORK, May 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Long weekend trips are in. Nearly three
quarters of Americans are planning to take a long weekend trip this
summer, according to data released today by global travel deals
publisher Travelzoo (NASDAQ: TZOO). The Travelzoo® Summer 2017
Travel Trends Survey also found that half of travelers said they
were likely to take more long weekend trips than they did last
year.
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Planes, Trains and Automobiles
When it comes to a long weekend trip, defined as an extra day
added to a weekend, Americans aren't afraid to go the distance. A
majority of travelers are willing to travel three or more hours
from home for their long weekend. Americans taking domestic long
weekend trips will overwhelmingly travel by car. For those whose
destinations are over five hours from home, 40% of survey
respondents say they will swap their car for a plane or train.
Weekend in Paris,
Anyone?
Travelers are showing an interest in long weekends to
Europe, especially when the price
is right. While only 9% of respondents are planning a longer
vacation (five days or more) to Europe in 2017, just over half would take a
spontaneous long weekend trip. With new low-cost carriers like WOW
air and Norwegian, fares to Europe
are more competitive than in recent history. More than 65% of
respondents would travel to Europe
for a weekend if the airfare was $500
or less. In line with findings from Travelzoo's Spring 2017 Travel
Trends Survey (Feb. 2017), the latest
survey also finds that nearly 60% of Americans will travel
domestically for their primary vacation this year.
A Season of Reasons
With the average American getting just two weeks of vacation
time annually according to data from the U.S. Travel Association's
Project: Time Off, it's surprising that one of the least cited
factors in planning a long weekend trip is taking advantage of a
national holiday-even with three opportunities to do so between
Memorial Day and Labor Day. Regardless of the timing of their
trips, the majority (85%) of travelers named visiting family and
friends as their main reason to take a long weekend trip.
Life's a Beach
This spring and summer, more than half of respondents would
prefer beach getaways. Most travelers surveyed said they would
spend their time on rest and relaxation combined with touring and
dining. Ultimately, summer vacations, whether short or long, are
just not enough for most travelers. Nearly half of those who travel
for business have taken a "bleisure" trip-combining business with
pleasure by adding extra time at a destination at the beginning or
end of a business trip.
Mike Stitt, Travelzoo's President
of North America said, "Long
weekend trips are in, and the good news is that there are more
options now with lower fares to Europe and the increasing availability of
last-minute deals. Even with the ongoing headlines about safety and
security, Americans are still eager to get out of town this
summer."
Concluding, Stitt said, "It's a known fact that Americans don't
use all of their vacation time. But it's encouraging to see
Americans' increasing interest in long weekend trips, whether that
means combining business and leisure or a quick jaunt to
Europe. This trend could
ultimately mean more trips and more travel experiences overall for
American travelers."
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About the Research
*The Travelzoo Summer Travel Trends 2017 Survey was completed by
1,367 consumers in the United
States who responded to an online questionnaire distributed
by third-party research agency Toluna. The questionnaires were
completed April 3-4, 2017.
About Travelzoo
Travelzoo® provides our 28 million members insider deals and
one-of-a-kind experiences personally reviewed by one of our deal
experts around the globe. With more than 25 offices worldwide, we
have our finger on the pulse of outstanding travel, entertainment,
and lifestyle experiences. For over 15 years we have worked in
partnership with more than 2,000 top travel suppliers-our
long-standing relationships allow us access to the very best
deals.
Travelzoo and Top 20 are registered trademarks of Travelzoo. All
other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.
Contact:
Cat Jordan
Public Relations Manager
Travelzoo
NASDAQ: TZOO
+1-212-484-4982 direct
+1-646-951-3561 cell
+1-212-484-4901 fax
cjordan@travelzoo.com
SOURCE Travelzoo