On September 2, which falls on Monday, is Labor Day in the United States, marking the end of this year’s record-breaking summer travel season. Data shows that Seattle is the top popular travel city for the Labor Day long weekend.
According to the booking data from the American Automobile Association (AAA), Americans have shown a high enthusiasm for travel this year, with domestic travel during the Labor Day weekend increasing by 9% compared to last year. With the hot summer, people tend to prefer destinations with fewer crowds and lower temperatures when choosing travel cities, making Seattle the most popular choice.
Along with the pleasant weather in Alaska, the state has also become a popular travel destination, with weekend tickets for Alaska cruises already sold out.
Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel, mentioned, “This is the best time of the year to take an Alaska cruise. Compared to early summer, there are fewer crowds at this time, and if you’re lucky, you may even get to see the fall scenery!”
Travel experts recommend that if people are interested in taking an Alaska cruise next summer, now is the perfect time to book and secure the best prices and the desired cabin type.
In addition to Seattle and Alaska, other popular travel destinations during this time include Orlando in Florida, New York, Boston, Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, and San Francisco.
Overall, both domestic and international airfares during the Labor Day weekend are cheaper than last year, while hotel prices are on the rise. As for car rental expenses, domestic car rental prices in the US are 16% cheaper than last year, but international rentals have increased by 21%.
Travel experts have observed an increasing trend of people purchasing travel insurance to protect themselves and their belongings. Issues such as flight delays, itinerary delays, additional accommodations, or unfortunate incidents like theft are all covered under travel insurance.
This year’s travel booking trends indicate a strong interest among Americans for traveling to Europe. According to AAA data, eight out of the top ten international destinations are European cities. European trips come in various forms, including cruises and small group tours.
For travelers planning to rent a car abroad, it is recommended to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) in advance. The IDP translates the traveler’s driver’s license into 10 languages, a requirement in many European countries like Italy and Spain. AAA is currently the only entity authorized by the US State Department to issue IDPs.
For many families, the Labor Day holiday is the last chance for a pre-school year celebration, with millions of families embarking on road trips during the long weekend.
The good news is that the cost of gasoline for road travel this year is relatively low, with gas prices in the US averaging $3.361 per gallon and $4.629 per gallon in California. However, certain periods may experience unusually heavy traffic congestion.
Traffic data analysis firm “INRIX” has identified the worst and best times for city departures and returns during the Labor Day weekend road trips.
– August 30: Worst travel time is between 2 pm and 6 pm, best travel times are before noon or after 7 pm.
– August 31: Worst travel time is from 8 am to 11 am, best travel times are after noon.
– September 1: Worst travel time is between 2 pm and 8 pm, best travel times are before noon.
– September 2: Worst travel time is from 11 am to 8 pm, best travel times are before 10 am.
– September 3: Worst travel time is from 8 am to noon, best travel times are after 1 pm.