Pack Your Bags, America: 8 in 10 to Travel This Summer
Americans Expect to Spend an Average of $941 on Summer Getaways; Of
Those Taking Summer Vacations, 72% Plan to Travel Domestically vs. 15%
Internationally
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–With spring in full swing, Americans are looking ahead to summer
getaways, with 8 in 10 planning to travel this season. According to the
most recent American
Express Spending & Saving Tracker, 80% of Americans, or
195.9 million people, plan to travel in the coming months and expect to
spend an average of $941, per person, on their trips.
Millennials, in particular, plan to travel more this summer than the
average American (89% vs. 80% general population), despite busy
lifestyles and plans to save money in 2016.1 The small
percentage of Millennials staying local (11%) attribute their lack of
summer travel plans to experiencing major milestones in their lives,
such as a new baby or a new job (18% vs 10% general population).
“More than any other season, Americans see summer as a chance to take a
break from their everyday,” said Claire Bennett, Executive Vice
President, American Express Travel. “Beach trips remain the go-to summer
vacation, but we’re also seeing outdoor activities, such as visiting
National Parks and historic landmarks, making a notable appearance on
the list of popular summer travel plans.”
Work-Less Weekends & Walks in the Park
On average, American employees get 14 total vacation days a year. Of
those working Americans, they plan to take an average of eight vacation
days this summer, and to maximize their travel, among all with summer
vacation plan many are considering weekend getaways (64%, on par with
2015). In fact, Americans are planning an average of three weekends
away. Choosing among several long holiday weekends, many Americans will
travel Fourth of July weekend (35%), followed by Memorial Day weekend
(24%) and Labor Day Weekend (21%).
Most Americans (72%) are planning stateside getaways (vs. 15% looking to
go overseas), and the most popular trips consist of:
- Beach trips (40%)
- Trips to see family (34%)
- Road trips (31%)
- Outdoor adventures like hiking, biking and camping (21%)
- National Park visits (21%)
With the National Parks Service Centennial this year, perhaps it’s no
surprise that trips to National Parks make the list of top five vacation
plans this summer. A whopping 78% of Americans are interested in
visiting these historical landmarks, with Yellowstone National Park
(25%) at the top of the list, followed by the Grand Canyon in Arizona
(22%) and the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island in New York City (22%).
More Planning Means More Savings
Traveling in general comes at a price, and Americans are prepared to
tackle the expense:75% have set aside money for their summer getaways
(vs. 81% in 2015). Additionally, 91% of Americans will use specific
cost-cutting measures to save money, such as opting to drive instead of
fly (38%), dedicating more time to finding deals (30%) and simply
planning a shorter trip (27%).
Devoting more time to research and planning seems to contribute to a
more affordable trip. Almost half (46%) of Americans, for example, plan
their trips more than a month out, up significantly from 37% in 2015. In
addition to planning well in advance, they’ll do their due diligence
researching, visiting an average of six websites before booking trips.
Americans also want to feel self-assured in the process, reporting the
leading factor in booking summer travel is feeling confident they’ve
found a great deal (46% vs. 42% in 2015).
About the American Express Spending & Saving Tracker
The American Express Spending & Saving Tracker research was completed
online among a random sample of 2,000 adults, including the general U.S.
population, as well as an affluent demographic defined by a minimum
annual household income of $100,000. Interviewing was conducted by
Ebiquity between April 28 and May 4, 2016. The overall margin of error
is +/- 2.5 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence; the
results have a margin of error of +/- 2.4 among summer travelers and +/-
3.3 for millennials.
About American Express
American Express is a global services company, providing customers with
access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build
business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com
and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress,
foursquare.com/americanexpress,
linkedin.com/company/american-express,
twitter.com/americanexpress,
and youtube.com/americanexpress.
Key links to products and services: charge
and credit cards, business
credit cards, Plenti
rewards program, travel
services, gift
cards, prepaid
cards, merchant
services, corporate
card and business
travel.
About Ebiquity, Plc.
Ebiquity are independent marketing performance specialists. Ebiquity
enables brands across the world to make better informed decisions to
improve their brand and business performance across integrated
communications channels. Learn more at ebiquity.com.
1 Americans say saving more money remains the number one
resolution for 2016, beating out exercising more, eating healthier and
losing weight. (American Express Spending & Saving Tracker, January
2016)
Contacts
Jane Di Leo, 212-640-8055
jane.e.dileo@aexp.com
