Gas prices throw a wrench into vacation plans: Families prepare for ‘costly’ 2022 travel
“Gas prices skyrocketed,” she explained. As of Friday, the average cost of a gallon of regular gas in Tennessee was $4.03, according to AAA.
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Claywell did the math: the 24-hour round trip to Tybee Island and back in the family’s Dodge Grand Caravan would cost them nearly $300 with gas prices at $4.25.
To cut costs, the Claywells are considering switching to a road trip to Santa Claus, Indiana, which is less than four hours away.
travel demand is still high, a recent study from AAA found travelers are adjusting their vacation plans to compensate for rising gas prices.And how high are they expected to get?
High gas prices are making travelers adjust their plans
A survey of more than 1,000 U.S.-based travelers conducted by AAA last month found 52% of plan to take a vacation this summer. Of those travelers, over half (58%) said they would consider changing their plans if gas prices got “high enough.”
Some travelers, like Amie Jones of Sparta, Tennessee, are pushing back the family vacation.
Jones and her family were planning to take their camper to Gatlinburg, Tennessee – a three-hour drive – while two of her kids were on spring break. Once gas prices spiked, though, they decided to travel somewhere closer to home this summer to cut costs.
“My husband, he drives to Lebanon in Tennessee (for work), which is about an hour drive. We’re already forking out a little bit more on gas, so we decided we’ll just do a staycation,” Jones said. “With the camper, we only get maybe 10 miles a gallon. We were just afraid what we budgeted for was going to go mostly to gas.”
Can I switch to regular gas to save on high gas prices?
Summer travel demand still high, despite gas prices
Twidale noted that 2022 bookings within warm-weather destinations like Hawaii, Florida and Mexico are actually surpassing 2019 levels, according to AAA data.
Other travel companies are also seeing a surge in 2022 bookings.
A March 10 statement from vacation rental site Vrbo said demand for Vrbo properties this summer is already outpacing last summer by nearly 15%. Airlines are also seeing spring and summer bookings surpass 2019 levels.
Twidale credited pent-up demand after the 2020 shutdowns and the additional discretionary income many Americans have in their pockets.
“(Travel) will be more costly,” Twidale said. “Is it enough to make people change their mind about actually taking time off enjoying the vacation? I don’t think so.”
Instead of outright canceling vacation plans, Twidale expects to see travelers alter their plans to save costs.
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For travelers looking to save costs on their 2022 vacation, Twidale suggests:
► Changing travel dates to avoid peak room rates or flight prices;
► Taking advantage of travel rewards and points;
► Finding destinations that don’t require rental cars or driving; or
► Considering a staycation that will put fewer miles on their car.
Twidale also suggested making plans and bookings including airline ticket purchases as soon as possible; this is not the time to wait for prices to go down.
“It’s all in the planning,” she said. “I would say book early.”
HAVEN’T BOOKED AIRLINE TICKETS YET?:Don’t dawdle. Bookings are bonkers, pushing prices up
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