Thanksgiving Holiday travel

According to the latest travel survey from AAA, Northern California’s travel forecast predicts that more than 5.7 million Californians plan to travel 50 miles or more during the 2015 Thanksgiving holiday season. If you are a budget conscious traveler who plans on being on the road or in the air during this time, you may want to take advantage of the lower gas prices and lower air fares to visit family and friends.
On November 19, Cynthia Harris, the AAA Northern CA spokesperson said, “While many remain cautious about the economy and their personal finances, lower gas prices and a higher level of consumer optimism have contributed to an increase in holiday excursions.”
The survey projected that car travel will lead the way with more than 4.9 million Californians projected to drive during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This represents a 0.7 percent increase when compared to last year’s figures. AAA projects that more than 616,000 holiday travelers will fly, which is a decrease of -0.4 percent when compared to 2014. Approximately 180,000 state residents are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, such as boats or trains, an increase of 0.6 percent when compared to last year’s figures.
This Thanksgiving weekend, airfares will decrease by 10 percent, landing at an average of $169 roundtrip across the top 40 domestic flight routes, according to the AAA Leisure Travel Index. Car rental rates will average $60 for the holiday weekend, up eight percent from last year. The expected primary activities this holiday weekend will be dining, shopping, and visiting family and friends.
Projections are based on research conducted by IHS Global Insight. The Boston-based economic research and consulting firm teamed with AAA earlier this year as part of an agreement to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays.