For many Americans, the classic Christmas song “I’ll be Home for Christmas” will literally describe their plans for this holiday weekend, as most choose to celebrate during the ongoing pandemic.
Only about a quarter of people across the country will travel for Christmas and New Year, up from about a third last year, and most of them will drive rather than fly or take the train, industry sources say.
AAA predicts that there will be at least 29% fewer trips today through January 3, compared to the same period a year ago. While up to 84.5 million Americans can choose to travel despite the current Covid surge, that’s at least 34 million fewer than in 2019, the organization says. In comparison, AAA estimates that Thanksgiving travel was down by up to 15% last month.
“During the holiday season, Americans often go out for longer, more elaborate vacations,” Paula Twidale, senior vice president at AAA Travel, said in a statement. “That will not be the case this year.”
More from Personal Finance:
Vacation travel is behind schedule, but last minute bookings can help
The promise of a vaccine may spur travel, but some changes will persist
Men take more risks with travel than women, research shows
Twidale cited public health concerns, official government guidelines against travel, and an overall drop in consumer confidence as factors leading many to stay at home. (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that travel can increase your chance of getting and distributing Covid-19 on their website.)
ValuePenguin found that only 23% of the 1,000 Americans surveyed planned to travel this weekend, compared to 32% who said they would travel for Thanksgiving.
Meanwhile, in mid-December, Guesty, a holiday property software company, reported that while the number of bookings for both Christmas and New Year’s Eve accommodation increased, it still fell 15% compared to 2019. (Guesty officials, however, were optimistic that reservation rates close the gap. the end of the year, or at least land close.)
Americans who decide to travel for the next two weeks are likely to do so by car. AAA says road trips make up 96% of vacation travel, with as many as 81 million Americans hitting the country’s highways. That would mean a drop of at least 25% from last year – despite a shift to cars and away from buses, planes and trains.
AAA says car travel will replace other modes of travel thanks to “the flexibility, safety and comfort of car travel”. However, ValuePenguin found in its research that 7% of those traveling for the December vacation will indeed fly, an increase from the 3% planned for Thanksgiving. That may be due to cheaper airline tickets: AAA reports double-digit declines in average flight prices.
Drivers will also save money refilling their tanks this year, with gas prices 33 cents cheaper per gallon compared to 2019. But some of those savings will disappear in traffic; AAA warns road visitors to expect about 20% more congestion on the country’s highways and byways.
Where intrepid travelers go
Imgorthand | E + | Getty Images
Are you traveling but not staying with friends or family? You may find some savings on your accommodation in your stocking. Guesty found that the average nightly rate for New Year’s Eve bookings had fallen this month, at the same price as in 2019. That’s probably because hosts are lowering prices to encourage bookings amid the general reluctance to travel.
And where do die-hard holidaymakers stay for Christmas and New Year? Global reservation system Amadeus has found that the top five destinations in the US, with hotel occupancy rates of 50% or more, are the following:
- Vail, Colorado
- Key West, Florida
- Sedona, Arizona
- Aspen, Colorado
- Fort Myers, Florida