AAA projects that the number of Americans traveling over the Fourth of July holiday weekend will increase 17.1 percent from 2009, with approximately 34.9 million travelers taking a trip at least 50 miles away from home. Last year, 29.8 million Americans traveled during the same period. The organization also reports that vacation packages and online hotel bookings via AAA.com are up over last year.
“While financial markets continue to have volatility related to the European debt crisis, the landscape of the U.S. economy is in a much different place than it was one year ago,” says Glen MacDonell, director, AAA Travel Services. “It is encouraging to see such growth this summer as Americans take to the road to visit family, friends, and great vacation destinations.”
Hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings are also expected to increase 4 percent from a year ago with travelers spending an average of $143 per night compared to $137 last year. Travelers planning to stay at AAA Two Diamond hotels will pay only 1 percent more at an average cost of $102 per night.
