Are you planning on traveling this summer? You're not alone. According to travel booking site Expedia, 85 percent of Americans will travel this summer, according to a poll it conducted.
For the majority of those not planning on traveling this summer, they cite costs as the No. 1 reason for not going away.
Perhaps these tips from Expedia will make it more affordable to travel:
- Hotel – "Travelers are becoming more accustomed to booking last minute, which could work in their favor this summer. Being flexible and waiting about a week before your trip starts could save you more than 15% on hotel costs. For those who cringe at the thought of missing out on a specific property or not staying with other travelers in your party, booking 21-30 days in advance could still mean nearly 10% savings. Regardless of when you decide to book, remember the cheapest average daily rates are found on Fridays," Expedia said.
- Flights – "The 'sweet spot' for airfares is about three weeks to a month (21-30 days) ahead of time. Remember to purchase flights over the weekend, particularly on a Sunday. Nearly 30% of Americans are flying to their destination, so this next tip is super important: choosing flights that take off on Thursday or Friday can save travelers around 10%," Expedia said.
- Car Rental – "It's never a bad idea to avoid putting miles on your car. Booking a comfy rental 14-20 days in advance could save you around 5% this summer," Expedia said.
In additional good news for travelers, the price of gas nationwide appears to be dropping. AAA reported this week that gas is down 3 cents per gallon compared to last week.
AAA said that trade tensions between the US and China has caused for a drop in crude oil prices. It says trade tensions plus an attack on two Saudi oil tankers could cause fluctuations in prices in the coming weeks.
