Consumers still traveling despite state of the economy

April 24, 2008 | Online Travel

Kayak.com asked more than 3,800 users how the struggling U.S. economy has influenced their summer travel plans, and found that while the economic downturn has caused an overwhelming 79% of travelers to alter their vacations, users still intend to get away this summer.

“While talk of a recession has put a damper on most people’s summer travel plans, Kayak.com users have found thrifty ways to head out of town,” said Drew Patterson, Kayak.com VP of Marketing. “Searching for the right deal is even more important when prices are high and budgets are tight, and Kayak.com’s filtering and sorting tools make it easy to find the best option. In addition, tools such as Flexible Search, Fare Alerts, Best Fare Trend Chart, Kayak Buzz, Weekend Search and the new Search by Segment make finding the most affordable dates of travel fast and easy.”

When asked what was most influential in planning a summer vacation, 41% cited cost-conscious factors including choosing a destination with affordable airfare (18%), bunking up with friends or family rather than checking into a hotel (16%), and opting for destinations within driving distance (7%). Dozens wrote in complaining about the price of Europe this summer, and most plan to avoid the continent until the dollar improves against the euro.

According to survey responses, economic softness is affecting both the destinations travelers are considering (for 78% of respondents) and transportation to those destinations (for 64% of respondents). Of those who altered the destination of their summer vacation—more than a quarter (28%) said that they’ll stay closer to home, 23% will drop a star from their usual standard and 20% will choose a location where friends and family can offer room and board.

Despite the tough times, most Americans are preserving their summer vacation rituals. Over 90% of respondents plan to spend more than five days on vacation this summer. Only 23% of Kayakers plan to play hooky from work by calling in sick.

The most painful part of summer travel? Forty-two percent of Kayakers dread receiving the credit card bill the following month, while 23% cite airline delays as the biggest aggravation, followed by weather and traffic woes, each with 15%.