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The 2001 leisure travel season is underway and will steadily build throughout the summer, according to the American Express Leisure Travel Index, which surveyed leisure travel spending budgets, and where and when people vacation. It was conducted by telephone between April 18-22, 2001 among 1,002 adults aged 18 or older.

You will want to see how your own holiday ideas compare with those of the survey group:

When will you go? After a slow start in May, leisure travel will pick up in June, with 29 percent of the respondents traveling, and will peak in July, when 44 percent plan to travel. In addition, 35 percent will travel in August and 20 percent in September.

How will you budget? According to the American Express survey, 44 percent of leisure travelers said they expected to spend more this year compared to last year; 39 percent anticipated spending the same amount; and 15 percent said they planned to spend less this year.

How much time will you take? For most travelers, leisure travel is comprised of both extended vacations and long weekends. In fact, the majority of travelers (60 percent) will take at least one extended vacation and one long weekend.

The average vacation length is 8 days, and the average American household plans to spend $2,173 for each of the extended vacations they plan to take this year, including airfare, accommodations, sightseeing, meals, souvenirs, and other expenses. Leisure travelers also report that they plan to take, on average, three long weekend trips this year, an increase over 2000.

What’s your travel objective? Almost half of all Americans traveling this year (49 percent) will be visiting family and friends, according to the Leisure Travel Index. Twenty-seven percent of travelers plan to spend their vacation at a beach resort, while 25 percent are planning an outdoor, sports-related or adventure trip. Other favorite destinations include cultural or historical sites (18 percent), theme parks (16 percent) or casinos (11 percent).

Where will you stay? While on the road, American leisure travelers will choose a variety of accommodations – 42 percent plan to stay at a moderately priced hotel; with family or friends (37 percent); at a campsite (16 percent); budget hotel (14 percent); upscale hotel (14 percent); all-inclusive resort (11 percent), or bed and breakfast (8 percent).

How will you get there? Two thirds of American Express Leisure Travel Index respondents (65 percent) plan to travel by car this year, while nearly half (46 percent) plan to fly. Among those flying, nearly two-thirds (62 percent) will travel domestically; 14 percent will travel internationally and 24 percent will travel both domestically and internationally. For those traveling abroad, the top destinations include Europe (47 percent), the Caribbean (24 percent), Mexico (17 percent), Latin America (10 percent) and Asia (9 percent).

June 14, 2001

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