AAA Ohio reveals travel booking trends

COLUMBUS
– Many Ohioans typically close out the summer with a Labor Day weekend
getaway. While AAA forecasted earlier this year that Americans would
take 700 million summer trips, these getaways have looked much different
than years past. As summer comes to a close, AAA Ohio outlines the top
travel trends for 2020 and beyond.

Outdoor Adventures:

“Travelers
want outdoor space where they don’t feel like it’s crowded,” said
Jeremy Marshall, vice president, Travel for AAA Ohio Auto Club. “We
expect to see the demand for camping and RV rentals continue into the
fall, as people get out and explore outdoor places in Ohio and
surrounding states.”

Two popular RV rental options include Cruise
America, which maintains its own RV rental inventory at locations across
the U.S., and Outdoorsy, where travelers can rent from local RV owners.
Since the popularity of RV rentals has skyrocketed this year, AAA
travel experts recommend those considering renting one this fall book
soon. Agents have been trained to help travelers navigate the options
for this increasingly popular travel option.

Camping and outdoor
getaways in Ohio are also popular. Ohio is home to 75 state parks, 17
state forests, one National Park (Cuyahoga Valley National Park), one
National Forest (Wayne National Forest), and more. These outdoor
attractions have been popular this summer, and will maintain popularity
throughout the fall.

Future Travel Plans – Focus on Domestic Travel:

“While
travel planning for trips in 2020 has slowed, people are looking ahead
to the future, leading to an increase in bookings for 2021 and beyond,”
said Marshall.

Even though the U.S. Department of State lifted the
level 4 travel advisory on Aug. 6, which had warned U.S. citizens to
avoid all international travel due to COVID-19, it still urges U.S.
citizens to read country-specific travel advisories when considering
international travel. Several countries also continue to ban U.S.
travelers or maintain quarantine requirements for visitors.

This
continues to put the focus on domestic travel, even into 2021. Travel
vendors have responded with new domestic itineraries. Some examples
include:

Club Adventures: New domestic options for smaller group
tours starting in 2021. These “American Experiences” include road trips
to Charleston and Savannah, Memphis and Nashville, the Finger Lakes,
Williamsburg, Bar Harbor and Portland, Me. and more.

Trafalgar
Tours: New domestic itineraries are mainly focused on the western U.S.,
but travelers can also select some East Coast destinations, including
Boston, Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, which are in driving distance
from Ohio.

Insight Vacations: New domestic escapes include trips to Arizona, Louisiana and Hawaii.

Additional
domestic options are available at AAA.com/Travel. This site also
includes a link to the COVID-19 Restrictions map, outlining up-to-date
travel regulations for domestic travel.

Travel Prices Remain Low, But Will Likely Rise:

Current
travel prices remain low, due to low demand, and travelers can find
discounts for near term and future travel. However, travel experts
expect this will likely start to change.

Cruises:
Cruise lines have suspended U.S. cruise itineraries until at least Nov.
1, 2020. However, they are looking into the future and currently
booking cruises as far out as 2023. Avid cruisers are booking that far
out to lock in a low price, with the expectation that prices will begin
to rise closer to their cruise date.

Tours:
Travel experts speculate that prices may increase as early as 2021 to
offset some costs for additional cleaning and wellness standards, but
nothing is confirmed.

Flights: Airfares depend on
availability on a per-flight basis. While flight demand has grown
recently, it remains much lower than this time last year. Travelers
continue to see some great deals on flights and flash sales to popular
destinations.

“Supply and demand will continue to impact pricing,”
said Marshall. “Right now supply is high with lower demand, which
dictates good pricing. As demand rises and people begin to book more
travel, prices will likely start to rise. If getting a good deal is
important to you, schedule a virtual appointment with an agent or go in
and see one soon.”

Virtual Planning and Escapes:

AAA’s
new virtual travel appointments enable travelers to connect with a
travel agent for free, and learn more about various destinations from
the comfort of their home. They can also invite other friends or family
members to join. Appointments can be made by visiting AAA.com/Travel and
clicking the “Book Appointment” button.

To help travelers explore
remotely, AAA also offers Virtual Escapes. These seminars focus on
regional drive trips, cruises, exotic getaways and more. Travelers can
also explore some luxury vacations during the upcoming “Luxury Travel
Week,” starting Sept. 28. Upcoming events are listed at AAA.com/Events.

“An
important part of the travel cycle is the dreaming phase,” said
Marshall. “While many are not comfortable traveling yet, they can still
dream about future getaways and explore the world without leaving their
homes.”

AAA provides more than 60 million members with travel-,
insurance-, financial- and automotive-related services. Since its
founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a
leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA
clubs can be visited online at AAA.com.