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Gas and airfare prices have jumped. Americans are traveling this weekend anyway
AAA projects 45 million Americans will travel by car or plane as higher gas and airfare prices curb some hotel stays.
AAA projects a record 45 million Americans will travel this holiday weekend, despite airfares rising over 20% and gas prices averaging $4.55 a gallon.
Adam Sacks, president of Tourism Economics, attributes the resilience to a disconnect between consumer concern and action, noting households earning $150,000 or more drive most leisure spending.
According to Laura Lee Blake, CEO of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, some travelers are bypassing hotel stays, shortening trips, or using airline miles to manage costs.
John Mercagliano changed vacation plans from London to Arizona to save money, while Frantz Simon committed to a 12-hour drive to Georgia for his grandson's high school graduation.
Rental manager Connie Lear reports that customers managing 42 units near Yosemite National Park are shortening stays, signaling broader shifts in booking habits as travelers balance cost and destination priorities.