Sure thing about Thanksgiving travel: costing more
Going away this Thanksgiving? Your trip will probably cost more no matter what you do — even if you stay at home.
- The average round-trip airfare through Sunday to the ten most popular destinations in the US has jumped to US$373. That’s 11 percent higher than last year, according to an analysis by Orbitz Worlwide Inc.
- Rising the most: flights to New York, with a 20 percent jump over the year before. The average round-trip price: $342.
- The average hotel rate for the nation's top 25 destinations is expected to jump nearly 5 percent to $126.35 per night, according to a report by TravelClick Inc.
- That report showed New York has the highest average hotel rates, $205.99 per night. That is an increase of 3.7 percent over last year, says TravelClick.
Driving? No escape. Gas prices in some areas such as California reached the highest levels ever in the week before Thanksgiving, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. An Associated Press report says Virginia travelers will see a 52 cent increase per gallon over last year.
Can you at least eat cheap if you stay home?
No.
The average cost of a Thanksgiving dinner in the US will rise 13 percent this year. That is the biggest increase in two decades. Turkey prices are up $3, pumpkin pie is up 41 cents and stuffing will cost 24 cents more.
Analysts say political unrest in the Middle East, pipeline problems in Oklahoma and the down economy could all have something to do with the increase in Thanksgiving costs, according to New Hampshire TV station WMUR.
For those who want to know the worst days to avoid air travel, both next Sunday and Monday are expected to be the busiest.
The all-around busiest travel day will be Thanksgiving Day.
That’s when 90 percent of holiday travelers will be driving, according to AAA. But that is also predicted to be the lightest day for air travel.
One of the worst airports to avoid, if possible, is infamous O’Hare, which was named among the five worst weather airports in the US recently by meteorologists at the Weather Channel. The major Chicago airport is prone to flight delays and cancellations due to bad weather.
"Snow, ice, thunderstorms, wind, fog. You name it, they have to deal with it" at O'Hare, said Weather Channel meteorologist Jonathan Erdman Sr.
By David Wilkening
David
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