AAA: Memorial Day travel highest for a decade
AAA Travel says the upcoming Memorial Day holiday will be the busiest for 10 years with up to 37.2 million Americans taking a short vacation.
Reflecting cheaper gas prices compared to recent years, more than 88% are expected to travel by car during the May 21 to May 25 holiday period.
While gas prices have risen in recent weeks, it is still at a five-year low for the time of year, and more than a dollar less than a year ago.
An improved job market is also encouraging more leisure travel, the AAA said.
AAA president Marshall L. Doney says holiday air travel volume will likely rise 2.5%, with strong demand for beach vacations.
"Following a harsh winter, many Americans are trading in their snow boots for flip flops and making plans to start the season with a vacation getaway," Doney said.
However the AAA says there will be a slight dip in the number of trips made by other modes of transportation during the Memorial Day period.
It predicts a combined 1.6 million people will travel by bus, train and cruise ship, down from 1.7 million a year ago.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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