There?s definitely something in the air this Spring across the United States, and I?m not talking about pollen. It?s the collective groan heard ?round the country each time motorists stop to top off the tank. Rising gas prices aren?t a new phenomenon by any stretch, the memories of the 2008 gas ?crisis? are still fresh for many (with the remnants still languishing on credit cards for some), but it looks like?we?re in for another high priced Spring travel season.
The cost of a gallon of gas is bearing down on $4 with few signs of slowing down. Whether you blame the government, consumer spending, foreign oil or just the good old economy, unless you?re planning to hoof it to your family vacation this year, chances are you?re going to need to budget some extra money toward getting to your dream destination.
According to a new survey by the U.S. Travel Association,?travelers could alter vacation plans to control summer vacation costs and business travelers will travel less thanks to the rising cost of crude oil.
?If travelers are spending more on gas, they are spending less on (lodging), attractions, shopping and restaurants, which could have a negative impact on our overall economy,? said?Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. ?We need to find solutions that reduce the burden which rising gas prices are placing on everyday travelers.?
According to the survey?s findings, vacationers planning to travel by car this summer, more than half (54 %) said that an increase in gas prices would affect their summer leisure travel plans, and an even higher percentage (57 %) indicated altering travel plans if gas prices increased by at least?$0.26 ? $1.25. Roughly one-quarter (26.8 %) of business travelers said that an increase in gas prices would affect summer business plans.
Almost half (44%) of vacationers traveling by car said that an increase in gas prices would cause them to take fewer trips this summer. Almost one-fifth (19%) of business travelers using a car would take fewer trips.
Forty-three percent of leisure travelers planning to fly this summer said that an increase in airfare due to higher oil prices would affect their summer plans, with one-quarter (25%) of business travelers planning to fly saying the same.
?It?s important to remember that, along with the housing crisis, a surge in gasoline prices was one of the leading factors that pushed the economy into recession in 2008,? said?David Huether, senior vice president of economics and research at U.S. Travel. ?There is a very real probability that if gas prices continue to climb, Americans will change and reduce their travel plans, which would work against the positive economic momentum?that had?been building in recent quarters.?
Finally, almost half of all travelers (43%) said their vote for a presidential or congressional candidate this fall would be influenced by higher gas/oil prices.
So what?s a traveler to do? The logical choice it to make cost cutting measures elsewhere. By staying in a by owner vacation rental, you?ll see more value for your hard-earned dollar, and even have some green leftover for the ride home. Fully equipped kitchens will help you save money by preparing a few meals yourselves instead of dining out three times a day. Free parking at most rentals erases the need for parking fees and valet costs and the sheer size of many rentals allows travelers to accommodate larger groups for less money ? fit the whole family into one fabulous beach rental this summer instead of piling into a block of tiny hotel rooms.
Good thing Scenic Rentals offers more than 2,000 by owner vacation rentals worldwide. From Downtown?Disney to Midtown Manhattan, you?ll save time and money when you find your ideal vacation rental through Scenic.
Just visit our destination page at http://www.scenicrentals.com/ to start your search and Take a Vacation from Hotels!
This entry was posted on Saturday, March 31st, 2012 at 9:06 am and is filed under Budget Friendly Travel, U.S. travel news, Why you should choose a private vacation rental over a hotel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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