Memorial Day travel has almost full tank

As Americans count off the days till Memorial Day, the official start of the summer travel season, observers are wondering whether high gas prices will empty traveler tanks. Probably not, weighs in AAA.
 

They predict about 100,000 more travelers will be taking trips this weekend. But predictions are also that these travelers will be spending less.
 

According to AAA about 100,000 more travelers will be taking a trip this Memorial Day. Travel experts say while most people will be traveling, they will be spending less on their travel expenses – from about $700 compared to $800 last year.
 

Robert Darbelnet, the president and chief executive of AAA, said the slight increase reflects a significant rise in expected air travel and a gradually improving economy. But he acknowledged that high fuel prices are a concern for many consumers.
 

"Some travelers will compensate for the higher fuel costs by cutting other areas of their travel budgets," Darbelnet said in a statement.
 

AAA expects about 34.9 million people to head for the highways or airports during the final weekend in May, a small boost from the 34.8 million who traveled during the same weekend last year.
 

While car trips will be down slightly, they still represent nine out of 10 holiday journeys.
 

"Memorial Day travel experienced a gain of more than 14 percent in 2010, and this year we expect to add slightly to that gain due to an increase in air travel and an improvement in the overall domestic economic picture," said AAA Regional President Brad Roeber.
 

He said median spending is expected to be US$692, a decrease of 14 percent from $809 last year.
 

A survey of intended travelers found that six out of 10 said rising gasoline prices would not impact their travel plans. Of the remaining four out of 10 travelers who said rising gas prices would impact their travel plans, 70 percent will economize in other areas and the rest will take a shorter trip or travel by an alternate mode of transportation.
 

AAA expects gasoline prices will average US$3.91 during the holiday weekend, 37.2 percent higher than a year earlier. That is almost 39 percent higher than the same time a year ago.
 

Nearly 2.93 million leisure air travelers (8 percent of holiday travelers) will fly during the holiday weekend, up 11.5 percent from last year’s 2.63 million.
 

Travelers across the board will be spending more on average, even if they try to economize.
 

According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, Memorial Day holiday airfares are expected to be 14 percent higher than last year with an average lowest round-trip rate of $201 for the top 40 US air routes.
 

Hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to increase 5 percent from a year ago, with travelers spending an average of $148 per night compared to $142 last year.
 

Travelers planning to stay at AAA Two Diamond hotels can expect to pay 10 percent more with an average cost of $109 per night. Weekend daily car rental rates will average $38, just $1 higher than last year.
 

Car rental rates are also up, averaging $38 per day during the weekend, up $1 from last year.
 

By David Wilkening