Survey Finds More Travelers Planning Fall Trips

(Dive Travel Business News - August 21, 2011) -- An overwhelming number of travelers are planning major trips this fall thanks to seasonal deals and fewer crowds at major destinations. According to the Travel Beat Survey by Ruf Strategic Solutions on behalf of  Travel Guard North America, a whopping 96 percent of consumers polled plan to travel on leisure trips this fall.

According to the survey, fall travel is gaining in popularity with married couples in the 55+ demographic, who note dwindling crowds as the main reason for booking a vacation during the autumn season. Nearly half (44 percent) of those polled noted attractive deals and promotions as the deciding factor in planning fall travel, while 32 percent cited fewer crowds. Because of this, many are traveling greater distances to where fall is the shoulder season such as Europe (55 percent) as well as the Caribbean and Mexico (26 percent).

“As America’s baby boomers continue to come of age, the fall travel season is becoming a more popular vacation period,” said Dan McGinnity, Travel Guard North America vice president. “It’s a great time to travel, especially for empty-nesters with more flexible schedules who can take advantage of less crowded destinations. These travelers tend to be a bit more experienced as well, and many choose to cover their trip investments with comprehensive travel insurance to guard against the ‘what if’s’ that can sometimes occur.”

While deals are still driving many purchase decisions, budgets for fall travel are still fairly substantial. Forty-seven percent of those polled anticipate spending $2,000-$4,999 on their trip, while 27 percent plan to spend up to $10,000. The poll also shows the majority of travelers that book fall getaways are gradually spending more with 20 percent of respondents reporting the magic number is approximately $5,000. In addition, 66 percent of those polled say their fall getaway did not replace a more traditional summer vacation. With international destinations and high price points in the plans, 97 percent of survey participants plan to purchase travel insurance.

 “Though the recent recession made travelers more value-minded, they are no longer holding off on leisure travel,” said Travel Guard Vice President Carol Mueller. “They are, however, being more cautious about their purchase decisions. One of the ways they are doing so is by purchasing travel insurance to cover their investment.”

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