Prepare for trails, crowds and traffic: This holiday travel season is set to be one of the busiest yet.
During the 10-day year-end holiday travel period from Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, to Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, the American Automobile Association projects that a total of 115.2 million travelers will travel 50 miles or more from home — a 2.2% increase from last year.
This year will mark the second busiest since AAA began tracking Christmas and New Year’s travel in 2000. The busiest year was 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic halted travel worldwide, according to AAA’s year-end forecast.
AAA expects the airport to have its busiest holiday season yet with a projected 7.5 million air travelers, surpassing 2019’s record of 7.3 million.
“This year-end vacation forecast, with an additional 2.5 million travelers compared to last year, reflects what AAA Travel has been observing throughout 2023,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, in a news release.
“More Americans are investing in travel, despite the cost, to make memories with loved ones and experience new places.”
Fortunately for those hopping on a plane for their trip, the average ticket price is slightly lower than last year, AAA reports.
AAA expects the airport to have its busiest holiday season yet with a projected 7.5 million air travelers, surpassing 2019’s record of 7.3 million. AAA
“It depends on the route and destination you want. There are last-minute deals to be found, but if your preference is a non-stop flight with seat selection, AAA recommends booking early and protecting your investment with travel insurance,” shares Twidale.
Meanwhile, the majority of travelers will drive to their holiday destinations, with nearly 104 million people expected to go — up 1.8% from 2022. Travel by car this year was also the second highest on record after 2019 when 108 million people hit the Road.
According to INRIX, a provider of transport data and insights, Saturday, Dec 23 and Thursday, Dec 28, will be the busiest days on the road and Saturday, Dec 30 will see more traffic than a normal Saturday.
The majority of travelers will drive to their holiday destinations, with nearly 104 million people expected to hit the road. Getty Images
“Nationwide, drivers could see travel times up to 20% longer this holiday season. In major metros, particularly in Denver, Minneapolis, and Washington, DC, drivers can experience nearly double the usual delays,” Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said in a statement.
“Avoid peak commute times and use traffic apps, local DOT notifications and 511 services to minimize holiday travel traffic frustrations.”
The best time to hit the road for a holiday trip is either before lunch or after 7pm
The number of people using other modes of transport such as buses, trains and cruises is also expected to surpass 2019.
AAA projects that more than 4 million will use alternative modes of transportation in the year-end season compared to 3.66 million in 2022 and 3.89 million in 2019.
In the post-pandemic era, interest in cruises has increased, and the industry is gearing up for the influx of cruise bookings that typically come in the new year.
“Savvy travelers know that right after the holidays is the best time to book a cruise,” says Twidale. “That’s when cruise lines offer some of the best deals, and AAA members get exclusive benefits in addition to those discounts.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
