Summer Travel Will Come At a Cost This Year

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Planning a trip this summer? You aren’t alone. As many as 219 million Americans are expected to travel this summer, according to The Vacationer. 

But this travel will come at a cost. A recent Slickdeals survey found that 84% of families plan to spend the same amount or more on summer travel this year as last. Forty-two percent will spend between $1,501 and $3,000 and 15% reported plans to spend upwards of $5,000.

Respondents did report concerns around inflation (56%), increasing cost of flights (51%), and cost of gas (49%).  And these variables aren’t entirely being shrugged off. While consumers are continuing to open their wallets, 81% reported that the total cost of the trip is the most important consideration when booking travel this summer. This is followed closely by a desire for kid-friendly experiences at the destination, and discounts/deals on transportation and stay. 

“Whether looking for luggage and travel gadgets or the best deals on flights and hotels, tapping into a community like the one at Slickdeals is a great way to find the best value,” said Vitaly Pecharsky, head of deals for Slickdeals. “With twelve million real shoppers helping other shoppers by vetting and voting up the very best deals from all your favorite retailers, you can find everything from cameras to rewards credit cards and know you’re getting the best product at the best price.”

Families are focused primarily on domestic travel this summer, with the most popular modes of transportation being by car (73%), followed by flights (57%).

But before you leave on that vacation, make your list and check it twice. Forty-two percent of respondents stated that they have turned around after leaving for their trip because they forgot something important at home.

Apparently this may include essentials such as snacks, listed by 82% of parents as the most important thing to carry when traveling with kids. Other important travel essentials include personal care items (71%), electronics (67%), medicines (62%) and toys/games (60%).

The survey was conducted via Suzy, a connected research cloud, on March 10, 2023. The survey queried 1,000 US parents who had traveled during the summer of the prior year.