Americans will be traveling less this spring than in the last two years, with 55% of people planning to take a vacation this season, as per a recent survey. This is the lowest recorded in the past two years, slipping from 65% in 2023 and 56% in 2022, according to new data from Vacasa, the vacation rental home management platform.
Out of the 55% of Americans traveling this spring, roughly one-third (35%) said they would be traveling during Spring Break, down from 41% in 2023. The top reason to not travel this year was to avoid crowds (44%).
Out of the 45% of Americans not traveling this spring, most cited budget-related concerns (57%), whether it was about saving money (26%), inflation forcing them to keep their travel plans on hold (20%), or not being financially ready to take a vacation (35%).
Among those not traveling this spring, 22% of the participants said they were traveling some other time later this year. This figure was higher than 2023 (15%).
Americans will be taking five trips during spring, with weekend getaways being the most popular (87%), the survey revealed. Last year, travelers planned to take seven trips throughout spring.
TOP DESTINATIONS
Stateside vacations emerged as the most popular this spring (85%), up from 76% in 2023. Among those planning to vacation stateside, 25% said they would staycation in their area.
Waterfront destinations are top spots this year, rising to 58% from 48% in spring 2023. Other destinations include urban/city destinations (31%), leisure destinations (29%) and attraction-based destinations (27%).
About one in 10 consumers said they were going to a “dupe destination” (12%), with many budget-conscious travelers likely to do so (15%). Movie or television-inspired travel will be popular with 19% of Gen Z and Millennial travelers.
Around 42% of the participants said they would be vacationing by themselves, especially those traveling in the weekends.
TRAVEL REASONS
The top reasons cited by travelers this year for spring travel were family-related events (36%), outdoor recreation (32%), friends-related events (26%), festivals/concerts (21%) and exploring national parks (21%).
One in 10 participants said they were traveling for the eclipse or an astrological event.
During the Spring Break, Memorial Day (29%), Mother’s Day (24%) and Easter (24%) were most popular this year.
Around one-third of travelers are opting for a vacation which helps them unwind and disconnect (31%) or feel reenergized (28%).
Three-quarters of travelers will be driving to their destination (71%), while 48% planning on flying.
BUDGET
A common trend observed in the survey was travelers’ intent to visit a destination which fits within their budget (45%), higher than winter 2023 travelers (43%). Roughly 59% of budget-conscious travelers say they were traveling more often this spring than they did last spring.
About 84% of spring travelers have changed their plans or planning behavior to be more budget conscious. Around 25% said they were looking for deals and special promotions. One-quarter of Gen Z and Millennial travelers are splitting their trip between a luxury, experiential accommodation and a more affordable option (23% compared to 11% Gen X and older generations).
Budget-conscious travelers are more likely to take a train or bus to reach their destinations (20% compared to 3% of non-budget-conscious).
ACCOMMODATION
Vacation rentals emerged as the favorite accommodation type this season (36%), up from 31% from spring 2023. Of this, 58% said they prefer a vacation rental as it gives the best value for their money, access to private amenities (50%) and offers more living space during their stay (45%).
About 46% of participants traveling with children plan on staying at a vacation rental.
TRAVEL INSPIRATION
Roughly half of Gen Z and Millennials said they were getting their spring travel inspiration from social media (49% compared to Gen X and older generations). Majority of the travelers (85%) said current events influence their travel making decisions (up from 74% of other generations).
Gen Z and Millennials seem to be preferring longer trips, with 44% taking multi-week trips or longer (compared to 23% for Gen X and older generations).