Good News for Vacation Rentals--Driving is Still Cheaper than Flying
Yes gas prices have gone up, but here is the reality, according to a report by USA TODAY “Even with gas prices around $3 a gallon, vacationing by car is still far, far less expensive than by air for the typical family — even for long, cross-country trips in low-mileage vehicles that will burn dozens of gallons.
In an article by Gene Sloan, USA TODAY compared the cost for a family of four to drive or fly between major cities and dozens of top U.S. destinations this summer and found that in just about every case, it's still far cheaper to drive.
The article concludes that, “Despite all the hubbub about rising gas prices, fuel remains one of the smaller line items in the typical vacation budget, behind lodging and meals.� The Travel Industry Association projected last month that rising gas prices would add $30 to $50 in cost to the typical trip this summer. That's about 3% to 5% of the average trip budget of $1,033.
This is good news for vacation rentals, because most travelers who use them travel by car. In fact most vacationers of all kinds travel by car, according to The Travel Industry Association who forecasts that Americans will log a record 325.6 million trips this summer, up nearly 1% from 2005. And a heavy-as-ever 88% will be by car
