DALLAS, Texas—U.S. vacationers would quite drive than fly this vacation season as they search acquainted, versatile, and budget-friendly journey choices. New knowledge from Motel 6 and Studio 6 reveals that over half of these touring to have a good time winter holidays this 12 months will hit the highway to their vacation spot (51 %) quite than take to the sky (13 %).
The research, which surveyed 2,000 U.S. vacationers who plan to have a good time winter holidays this upcoming season, discovered a rise in highway vacationers from final 12 months (up 2 % OnePoll 2023), a selection pushed by the proximity of their vacation spot (46 %) and the will to save cash (26 %). For a lot of, the enjoyment of a highway journey lies within the journey itself, believing highway journeys make the journey expertise extra fulfilling (80 %), which can be as a result of they admit to having a most well-liked or “assigned” seat within the automotive when touring with household (39 %).
“There’s simply one thing comforting and nostalgic about packing into the household automotive with a trunk crammed with presents and casseroles and road-tripping to your vacation celebrations. It’s no shock we’re seeing an uptick on this trusted journey selection this 12 months given the present setting,” stated Julie Arrowsmith, president and CEO, G6 Hospitality, the mother or father firm of Motel 6 and Studio 6.
Acquainted Locations and Traditions
From the household hometown to grandma’s home, vacationers plan to lean into a way of familiarity throughout the vacation season and go to the locations they know quite than discover someplace new (63 %). Actually, many admit that visiting or touring to see household and mates is considered one of their favourite vacation traditions (50 %) and most use their paid day off to spend high quality time with family members (54 %).
Vacation Lodging
Typically, the vacation spot for the celebration doubles as makeshift lodging, as most U.S. vacationers who have a good time winter holidays will keep at household (52 %) or mates’ houses (14 %). Nonetheless, this may result in overcrowded homes (30 %) and difficult sleeping preparations, prompting vacationers to hunt alone time inside lower than a day (19.6 hours) into the journey on common. To keep away from sleeping on the ground (26 %) or making do with the sofa (22 %), one in 4 vacationers will go for a lodge or motel this vacation season.
Late Planning
This vacation season, U.S. vacationers are juggling the joy of celebrations and journey with the realities of a busy and difficult 12 months. Motel 6 discovered that vacation vacationers anticipate to plan their journeys three weeks prematurely on common, with some (23 %) not planning to e-book forward. It’s no surprise that vacation journey plans are sometimes left to the final minute, with many delaying their vacation bookings attributable to monetary constraints (39 %) or in hopes of discovering higher offers (35 %), which in flip causes stress (64 %). Reductions play a giant position in influencing these budget-conscious vacationers (21 %).
