Summer is going to be a busy time for travelers, especially those who hail from Florida.
The majority of Florida residents — 81 percent — plan to take a leisure trip of 50 miles or more over the next three months, according to a new study by AAA. That is a jump of four percentage points from 2013.
“This marks the third consecutive year that AAA data shows a steady summer travel season in Florida — a positive sign for the travel industry,” said Jessica Brady, AAA Travel’s spokeswoman, in a release. “Although theme parks, beach getaways and city destinations top 2014’s summer travel list, the majority of people haven’t finalized their vacation plans.”
However, travelers who do wait until the last minute to book their hotel, rental car or airline ticket can expect to pay more than those who book weeks in advance, Brady said.
The majority of travelers, some 59 percent, say they plan to spend $1,500 or less on travel in the next three months. More than half, or 62 percent, say they will pay for a hotel during a summer vacation. Another 36 percent say they will cut costs by staying with family and friends.
Although only 35 percent plan to rent a car this summer, nearly 3-in-5 travelers, or 57 percent, plan to drive at least five hours to get to their destination, or for sightseeing.
“Floridians are fortunate because most destinations like beaches and theme parks are within a one-day drive,” said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins, in a release. “Gasoline prices are beginning to let up just in time for the busy summer driving season. Pump prices are not expected to have a negative impact on travel plans.”
The AAA Consumer Pulse Survey was conducted online among residents living in the Southern Region of the Auto Club Group — Florida, Georgia and Tennessee — from April 14-21.
Some 400 Florida residents were sampled in the survey, which has a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points. The results also were weighted by gender and age.
