Roads, Skies to be Stuffed with Thanksgiving Travelers

PHOENIX, Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Across the state and country, more people will enjoy their Thanksgiving feast at a table away from home this year, according to AAA's annual travel forecast.

Nearly 839,000 Arizonans will travel over Thanksgiving weekend, a 4.6 percent increase over last year, according to AAA. Nationwide, 42.5 million Americans will travel over the holiday, a 4 percent increase compared to 2010.

"The increase we're expecting tells us that consumers chose family over frugality when making their Thanksgiving travel decisions," said Amy Moreno, director of travel services for AAA Arizona.

The table below illustrates projected 2011 Thanksgiving travel compared to 2010:

Economic impact, or lack thereof, on travel plans revealed

Sixty percent of intended travelers state that the economy has either no impact on their travel plans or that things have improved for them since last year. The remaining 40 percent of travelers state that they will scale back as a result of current economic conditions.

Road trips aren't deterred by pump prices

Flexibility, affordability and convenience make road trips the preferred choice of travel this holiday. While the cost of fuel is nearly 20 percent higher compared to last year, nine out of 10 Arizonans are expected to take to the roadways this holiday weekend.

Hotel rates, airfares increase

Hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond or mid-range lodgings are expected to increase 6 percent from last year, with travelers spending an average of $145 per night compared to $136 last year.

Fuel costs, steady demand and capacity cuts have resulted in airfares increasing 20 percent from 2010. Despite this price spike, more than 55,000 Arizonans will take to the skies this Thanksgiving holiday.

Togetherness is core of travel activities

For many, the Thanksgiving holiday is about reconnecting with friends and family. Therefore, it's no surprise that the top five travel activities include: dining (72 percent), visiting friends/relatives (67 percent), shopping (49 percent), touring/sightseeing (43 percent) and/or going to the beach/waterfront (27 percent).

Research for Thanksgiving travel projections is derived from IHS Global Insight, a Boston-based economic research and consulting firm. The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as trips that include travel of 50 miles or more from Wednesday, Nov. 23 to Sunday, Nov. 27. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades.

AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance, vacation planning, discounts and financial services to more than 800,000 Arizona members. Annually, AAA's Roadside Assistance responds to more than 450,000 calls across the state. In 2008, AAA was ranked the No. 1 "socially responsible" brand by Landor's BrandAsset® Valuator. In 2010 and 2011, AAA Travel earned Lovin' Life After 50's favorite travel agency category in the publication's annual reader's choice awards. Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers and the motoring public.

Stay connected with AAA Arizona on the web via:

AAA.com
teendriving.aaa.com/AZ
twitter.com/aaa_arizona

SOURCE AAA Arizona