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.
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.
Media contact:
Cat Jordan
+1 (212) 484 4982
cjordan@travelzoo.com
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/travelzoo-survey-americans-spring-into-summer-with-more-long-weekend-trips-300454646.html
SOURCE Travelzoo