Travel Trends

While many consumers may be looking to get away in 2023, a new survey revealed that doing so may come with an additional purchase: travel insurance. 

According to a new study conducted by VisitorsCoverage, a travel insurance company, nearly 80% of travelers are more likely to protect their trip with travel insurance this year than in previous years. It may not be that surprising, considering how chaotic air travel has become.

“Travelers are now more aware of unforeseen circumstances that can affect their travel plans, and they are eager to take precautions to protect their environment,” said Rajeev Shrivastava, VisitorsCoverage CEO. 

Better safe than sorry

The survey included responses from over 1,000 adults across the country who reported traveling more than twice a year. They answered questions about their top travel concerns in 2023, their travel ideas and plans for the year, how they plan on traveling, and more. 

First and foremost, protecting a trip with travel insurance was a popular topic among survey respondents. Nearly 80% said that they’d be more likely to buy travel insurance this year than in previous years – a figure that is up 50% from years past. This highlights the fact that regular travelers are thinking differently about their travel plans in general. 

While the number one travel concern for the year was inflation and the rising costs associated with traveling, concerns about safety, weather, and delays were also prevalent. Fifteen percent of respondents are worried about both inclement weather and the risk of illness, while over 20% are concerned about flight delays, and 16% cited the fear of the unknown as one of their concerns. 

Consumers are ready to travel

Despite these concerns, consumers have plans to travel in 2023 – and no destination is off limits. Overall, nearly 90% of participants reported that their 2023 travel plans will be for leisure.  

Nearly 45% of participants said they’ll be taking more than five trips this year, and nearly 45% said they’ll be taking three or four trips this year. Seventy percent of respondents plan to travel both within the United States and abroad, with Europe being the most favored international locale. 

For those who may be looking for inspiration for their next getaway, the majority of the participants turn to their trusted friends and family or social media. So, if you’re thinking about your next vacation, consider asking those closest to you or those you interact with online. 

This holiday season, inflation has been top of mind for many consumers. The rising cost of day-to-day goods has made the financial burden of buying holiday gifts more stressful than usual. 

While recent studies have shown the lengths consumers will go to get every gift on their wish list, what about a vacation to Disney World? 

A new survey conducted by LendingTree asked over 1,550 consumers if they’d be willing to go into debt for their Disney vacation – and if they’d regret doing so. 

Perhaps the biggest findings from the survey was that 20% of respondents said they have gone into debt for a Disney vacation, while more than 70% of that group said they don’t regret their decision. 

“It’s no secret that a trip to a Disney park is expensive, but that is a price many Americans are willing to take on some debt to pay,” said Matt Schultz, LendingTree’s chief credit analyst. “That speaks to the power of Disney and is also further proof of just how many of us value experiences and memories that can come with them. 

“Taking on debt for such things can be okay, as long as it is done in moderation. However, doing it too often or to too big a degree can be a recipe for trouble.” 

What are the financial risks, and who’s willing to take them? 

The survey broke down the primary costs associated with a Disney vacation, as well as who is most susceptible to going into debt for their trip. 

According to Mouse Hacking, the price of flights, transportation to and from Disney World, a five-night stay at a Disney resort, five-day park tickets with a paid line-skipping service (Genie+), and a standard meal for a family of four (two adults, one child aged 3-9, and one child 10 or older) would cost $5,731 this year ($287 per person per night). 

However, by 2023, that price is anticipated to increase to $316 per person per night, making that same vacation over $6,300. 

The study identified which groups were most likely to go into debt for their Disney vacations: six-figure earners (26%), parents with children under 18 (30%), and millennials (27%).

However, members of these same groups were also the most likely to use discounts to fund their trips – 49% of six-figure earners, 51% of parents with young children, and 50% of millennials. 

According to participants who have gone into debt for a Disney trip, the top three things that cost more than anticipated were park concessions, admission tickets, and hotels. 

A budget can help

With over 71% of the participants in debt from their Disney trips having no regrets about how they spent their money, the survey revealed that quickly making payments could be the reason. Eighty percent of participants said they’d pay off their Disney debt in under six months. 

However, for those who aren’t looking to add to their debt, LendingTree did offer some budgeting tips. 

For starters, utilizing credit card rewards – whether that’s for airfare, hotels, or other vacation-related purchases – can help reduce out-of-pocket costs. Experts also recommend opening a 0% balance transfer credit card if possible, which will cut interest out of all of your payments, and make it easier – and faster – to pay off debt. 

Lastly, they suggest over-budgeting. While it’s hard to know exactly how much you’ll speed on food and drinks every day, targeting your budget higher than you expect can help you enjoy your vacation without breaking the bank. 

There are also several Disney blogs that help travelers make the most of their stay on a budget. Sites like MagicGuides.com, MouseEarMemories.com, and DisneyTouristBlog.com, among countless others, provide resources for Disneygoers to travel affordably. 

Just weeks before the doors of the summer travel season blow wide open, a new survey shows that vaccinated international travelers consider pre-departure testing requirements as a barrier to them visiting the U.S.

The survey – conducted by Morning Consult for the U.S. Travel Association (USTA) – took the pulse of vaccinated international travelers in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, South Korea, Japan, and India, which are countries that contribute a lot of tourism to the United States. 

Major international U.S.-based carriers like United, American, and Delta may be concerned because of these findings:

• Nearly half of respondents (47%) who are unlikely to travel abroad in the next 12 months cited pre-departure testing requirements as a reason for not doing so. 

• Another half of respondents (54%) said pre-departure testing requirements would have a sizable impact on their likelihood to specifically visit the U.S.

• A large majority of adults surveyed (71%) said they prioritize traveling to destinations without cumbersome entry requirements, including 29% who strongly agree with that sentiment.

Saving the summer travel season

Despite the bleak projections, the USTA says the U.S. government still has time to save the summer travel season and quicken the travel industry’s recovery.

While half of the survey respondents said they wouldn't travel from abroad to visit the U.S, another 46% of respondents said they would be more likely to visit if pre-departure testing requirements for vaccinated adults were lifted.

The USTA said the removal of the pre-departure testing requirement would likely lead to 20% more travelers coming to the U.S. this summer than previously anticipated. Willis Orlando, a senior product operations specialist at Scott’s Cheap Flights, concurs.

“Since the travel industry started to recover, we’ve seen time and time again that the removal of barriers to entry to any single country-particularly testing requirements has been correlated with increased bookings,” Orlando told ConsumerAffairs. 

“Not only would a removal of the pre-departure testing requirement for entry to the U.S. help boost the number of international visitors coming to the U.S., giving a boost to everyone in the travel and hospitality business, but it would also help give more Americans the confidence to strike out and go abroad again,” he added.

Orlando says there are good fares to be had for Americans who are willing to adhere to testing requirements before they come back home, mainly because of the lagging demand for international business travel.

Despite the pent-up demand for travel that consumers are experiencing after a two-year pandemic, fewer Americans are planning to travel during the Memorial Day weekend. For many, the high cost of gasoline is the reason.

In a survey of 1,030 American adults over the age of 18, the Vacationer found that about 60% of respondents are planning a holiday trip this year. More than 50% said their primary mode of transportation will be by car. Nearly 7% said they will fly, while the remaining 2.52% will take public transportation.

Just over half – 54% – said high gas prices are affecting their Memorial Day travel plans. Those who are planning to travel by car aren’t planning to travel that far. One-third of respondents said they're planning a car trip over the holiday weekend, but they will only travel 100 or fewer miles.

“The youngest generation of American adults aged 18-29 is most likely to travel for Memorial Day,” the survey authors write. 

Just over 70% of that group plans to travel, with the rate falling for older demographic groups. Only 63.09% of those aged 30 to 44 say they will travel, and 59.29% of American adults aged 45 to 60 said the same. 

Firing up the grill

Of all the activities that people plan for the Memorial Day weekend, a barbecue cookout is by far the most popular. Fifty-eight percent of people in the survey said they’ll stay close to home and fire up the grill.

The next most popular activity is a trip to the beach, favored by 13.4% of respondents.

The survey concludes that inflation is definitely putting a damper on holiday activities. More than 40% of respondents said high gasoline prices are a consideration in their plans. Another 13% reconsidered air travel plans because of rising fares.

A report by WFTS-TV in Tampa found that airfares have nearly doubled to some destinations in just the last two months. The report found that demand for air travel is rising faster than airlines are adding flights.

During the first year of the pandemic, recreational vehicle (RV) sales boomed and campgrounds were crowded with Americans seeking to safely get out of the house.

But with gasoline prices reaching over $4 a gallon in most parts of the country, those campgrounds may be a little less crowded this spring and summer. The Dyrt, an app that's popular with campers, surveyed its users and found that gas prices are causing 60% of RV owners to make other plans.

The survey included consumers who said their primary mode of camping is via RV, camper van, trailer, overlanding, truck camper, or rooftop tent campers. Nearly all said, quite understandably, that gas prices will make camping less affordable.

Many of the people in the survey recently purchased camping vehicles that may have to stay parked for a while. Fifty-seven percent of people who tried a new form of camping last year opted for RVs and camper vans, making these the fastest-growing types of camping.

"Camping with RVs and camper vans has increased dramatically in popularity in recent years, more so than any other type of camping," said Kevin Long, CEO of The Dyrt. "Depending on which part of the country you're filling up in, and obviously the size of the gas tank, the cost for a fill-up could be $500 or more.”

Putting off long road trips

Long says people who recently purchased an expensive RV probably aren’t going to try to sell it. Instead, they may take fewer and shorter trips this summer.

“Maybe they'll save that cross-country road trip of a lifetime for 2023," Long said.

"I had hoped to go on weekend trips around Oregon and Washington at least twice a month or more," said Kelly Ann of Portland, Ore., a Dyrt user who recently purchased a rooftop tent camping rig. "I need to cut that back to once a month. Everyone is rethinking plans."

Campgrounds in the Western U.S. are among the most popular, but unfortunately for campers, western states have the nation’s most expensive gasoline. The average price of regular gas in California is approaching $6 a gallon. Colorado is the region’s gasoline bargain, with an average price of $3.99 a gallon.

If travel insurance purchases are an indicator of how secure people are feeling about travel during the pandemic, then things are looking good for the travel industry.

According to a study conducted by travel insurance aggregator Squaremouth, travel insurance sales have surpassed pre-pandemic numbers for the first time since the onset of COVID-19. As travel rebounds, the researchers say four new trends have emerged that suggest things are still far from “normal.” 

Travel trends are changing

International travel is approaching pre-pandemic levels. The Squaremouth study found that border closures in 2020 forced travelers to stay closer to home, with over 40% of travelers staying stateside. However, things are starting to loosen up for international travel. Squaremouth’s study showed that by the end of summer 2021, international travel sales had rebounded to roughly 80% of pre-pandemic levels.

Last-minute trips are becoming more and more popular. With international borders reopening, Squaremouth says consumers are changing how they plan their travel arrangements. Instead of planning well ahead of time, the company says travelers are booking last-minute trips abroad. In summer 2021, Squaremouth reported that travelers going abroad purchased insurance just 25 days before their trip.

Baby boomers are still holding back on travel. Prior to the pandemic, travelers in the Baby Boomer and Silent Generation (the one preceding Baby Boomers) comprised nearly half of all Squaremouth customers. Now, the average age of travel insurance consumers is well below historical averages. In summer 2021, only 25% of travelers came from the Baby Boomer and Silent generations combined, while millennial and Gen X travelers grew into the largest travel demographic, each eclipsing 25% of travelers.

The Caribbean is a popular destination. Over the summer, Caribbean destinations proved that they’re still the #1 magnet for U.S. travelers. Prior to the pandemic, Canada, Italy, France, and the U.K. were the most popular destinations among U.S. tourists. Squaremouth says Mexico, Turks and Caicos, and Costa Rica are now the most popular destinations.

How important is travel insurance?

With travel opening back up, ConsumerAffairs reviewers seem happy with the upside of buying travel insurance. For example, Aprell from Georgia recently purchased extra protection for her trip to the Caribbean because she said it made her feel more secure.

“Well, we were traveling outside of the country, and the COVID climate and whatnot, in case anything happens to us, I thought that would be important,” she wrote in her review of Generali Global Assistance. “We were traveling to Panama and so just wanted to make sure if anybody got sick on the trip, needed to be flown back to the US, we had coverage for that."

Overall, there was less travel last year, but short-term rental platforms saw their business hold relatively steady in 2020 as pandemic-conscious travelers often avoided hotels for a more private setting. People apparently liked the experience because bookings have increased in 2021.

A recent survey by Cinch Home Services showed most people -- 93% -- expressed interest in staying at a short-term rental such as Airbnb or Vrbo as an alternative to a hotel. Most said they were interested in a rental for leisure travel.

The survey also found that interest in short-term rentals has grown since the beginning of the pandemic, largely based on increased exposure. 

“For people desperate for a change of scene but aren't yet ready to be in a hotel full of strangers, short-term vacation rentals can provide a safer, more socially distant solution for getting away,” the authors write. “With online searches for short-term rentals surging in Delaware, Colorado, Hawaii, and Florida, Americans are ready to start traveling again sooner rather than later.”

Perhaps because of the increase in travel, the survey discovered an increase in interest in renting property and becoming a host. Jamie, of Napierville, Ill., is an Airbnb host and says the experience has been enjoyable as well as profitable.

“Airbnb has stepped in so many times to assist myself and my potential guests to coordinate the reservations should there be adjustments needed like pricing to fit budget requests,” Jamie wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. “Their 24-7 response has provided me with answers that I have been able to relay to guests when I can't quite figure it out myself.”

Insurance is a big factor

She also says Airbnb has a “huge” insurance policy that gives her peace of mind.

The Cinch survey found that 45% of people are more interested in privately owned rentals than they were before the pandemic began. The three most important factors in picking a rental were price, location, and cleanliness. Fifty-five percent of potential renters said they are more likely to stay in a rental with clear COVID-19 policies.

We recently consulted readers about whether they preferred Airbnb or Vrbo when booking a private rental. You can read the results here.

The previous 12 months haven’t exactly been good for travel, but now that half of U.S. adults are vaccinated against the coronavirus (COVID-19), millions of people are planning trips this summer.

A new survey from Deloitte shows that 40% of Americans plan to take at least one vacation this summer, a percentage similar to the pre-pandemic summer travel of 2019. A significant number plan to travel by air.

Airlines have reported that demand for flights is now on the rise, so they are adding flights and raising fares. The survey suggests that rising ticket prices will not be much of a deterrent after a year of sheltering in place and working from home.

Around 55% of the survey respondents said their longest trip this summer will include an airline flight. Amid Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) reports of increased passenger volume, consumers are also considering new factors for mitigating the health risks, including taking a non-stop flight.

"As many Americans return to the skies this summer, the impacts of the pandemic continue to influence the entire travel experience,” said Anthony Jackson, principal, Deloitte & Touche.

“With ongoing health concerns, airlines should remain flexible to accommodate shifting preferences for direct flights, as well as last-minute reservation and flight changes."

Private rental growth will continue

The survey shows that the majority of travelers will stay in a hotel, but the survey found that private rentals, which surged during the pandemic, should continue to grow this year. More than a quarter of consumers who said they plan to stay in a private rental used that form of accommodation for the first time last year.

Airbnb this week rolled out upgrades to its platform as the company predicts “the biggest travel rebound in a century.” 

“We are seeing three fundamental shifts in travel as people become less tethered and more flexible,” said Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb. “People can travel anytime, they are traveling to more places and they are staying longer.”

Chesky says the lines between travel, living, and working are blurring, and the company’s upgrades are designed to make it easier for people to integrate travel into their lives.

Travelers are trying to stay clear of COVID-19 this summer, and it seems they’re looking at wide-open spaces and outdoor venues to do it.

A new survey of 2,000 campgrounds and RV parks found that advanced bookings for this summer’s camping season are up 50 percent for nearly two-thirds of the respondents. Twenty-four percent reported even higher figures, with advanced bookings up over 80 percent. 

In fact, the whole campground and RV park industry is experiencing a boom. The sector has grown by more than six percent per year since 2015, and revenue is forecasted to top $16 billion. The RV Industry Association estimates that the number of new recreational vehicles in 2021 could possibly eclipse 502,000 -- a 20 percent increase over 2020.

"The outdoors and camping provide a safer alternative to other forms of travel and vacations," stated Mark Koep, founder and CEO of CampgroundViews.com, the survey’s sponsor. "We expect 2021 to be the year of camping with record numbers of Americans camping in tents, RVs and glamping accommodations.”

Prepping for the rush

Campground and RV park managers are working ahead of the rush as best they can, and they’re trying to make sure their facilities adapt to a pandemic-produced change in how they do business. ConsumerAffairs asked Koep what things consumers who choose to vacation at an RV park or campground can expect.

“Campground and RV Park owners are very aware of the increased demand from a changed traveling consumer. After a record year in 2020, many parks changed their procedures and policies to allow campers to social distance and travel ‘safer,’” he said.

The following are some things that parks have told Koep they’re doing in the face of the recent demand:

• Touchless check-in has been a big addition, with some sites allowing guests to enter and drive straight to their campsite without needing to come into the office.

• Campgrounds have vastly improved their booking process during the winter by adding better and more modern online reservation engines.

• Many locations anticipated the extra demand and worked to add additional campsites or improve outdated ones.

• Campgrounds also increased their "glamping" options by providing RVs and tents to non-owners so they could also experience the camping environment.

• Camping is naturally a socially distant form of travel -- some parks are emphasizing this space by purposely closing off in-between sites to further separate campers.

• As a result of all the new campers, parks are being proactive about providing education materials and additional support to help campers get up to speed on etiquette and how to hook up to utilities. 

• Changes have been made to public amenities like gathering areas and family events to promote safer interaction that is tailored to the guest's risk tolerance (i.e. they can be as close or as far as they feel comfortable.)

Site owners have also gotten more tech-savvy, according to Koep. "The timing is perfect as we release campground virtual tours and allow campers to see the roads and sites while being able to click and book specific campsites," he added.

When the world gets back to traveling for fun again, consumers will have plenty of things to watch and hope for.

In a recent report by Tripadvisor, experts analyzed first-party search data and coupled that with traveler sentiment across six major travel markets -- the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Japan, and Singapore. They found that consumer confidence toward international travel -- particularly in the second half of 2021 -- is a key trend and is already showing up in the majority of hotel clicks on its platform. 

The most eager of the bunch to venture abroad are German and U.K. travelers. In the first week of January, 85 percent of hotel clickers on Tripadvisor in those countries were planning an international break for later this year. 

The trends

Besides international travel, the other four trends Tripadvisor says to keep an eye on are:

COVID-19 vaccinations: Of all the game-changing situations COVID-19 vaccinations impact, one of the largest will be confidence. Not only will the widespread rollout of vaccines impact travelers' confidence to travel, but it will also have some serious sway on where leisure travelers are prepared to go. 

Globally, the report found that 69 percent of American travel hounds are likely to travel internationally if they receive the vaccine, and 80 percent prefer to travel domestically. In other countries, travelers are a bit itchier to go abroad, with 77 percent wanting to get outside their borders compared to 86 percent who want to stick to domestic travel. 

Making sure they’re extra safe, more than a quarter (26 percent) of respondents globally say that they would only travel to destinations that required visitors to be vaccinated before travel, with U.S. travelers being the most likely to expect destinations to attend to this safety precaution (30 percent). 

In an email to ConsumerAffairs, the U.S. Travel Association dropped an extra vaccine-related hint that now is a terrific time to plan and book a trip. 

“Favorable offers and flexible cancellation policies abound throughout the travel industry right now—and they won’t last as more and more Americans get vaccinated and travel begins to pick up,” a spokesperson said.

Domestic vacations remain high on travelers' wish list: Tripadvisor says not to misread the tea leaves that say international tourism will be the travel category champ in 2021. To that point, it says domestic travel will likely be popular regardless of vaccine status.

In the first week of January, nearly 70 percent of hotel clickers on Tripadvisor were booking future domestic trips. While further out, May through August is still proving to be the most popular months for domestic vacations.

On the global picture, nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of survey respondents say they plan to take at least one overnight domestic leisure trip sometime in 2021, and 34 percent say they’re planning to go somewhere in the U.S. three or more times this year. 

The joy of vacation planning will be stronger than ever as travelers: It’s not as simple as get-out-of-Dodge in 2021. Because travel plans were pretty much wiped out in early 2020, many people have been putting extra effort into contemplating their next big vacation. 

Three-quarters of travelers surveyed globally (74 percent) and two-thirds of travelers in the U.S.  (65 percent) say they will spend more time researching and choosing a destination this year. Upwards of 64 percent will spend more time poring over reviews, selecting their accommodation, and investing more time to find things to do. 

Consumers can't wait to eat out again, but their taste for takeout is not going away: The pandemic may have forced people out of sit-down restaurants, but carry-out and delivery will continue to modify the dining behavior of consumers worldwide.

The numbers in that category break out like this: Nearly half (47 percent) of respondents globally say they plan to dine in-person at restaurants more often this year than in 2020, but a considerable 27 percent say they plan to order more takeout meals. At home in the U.S., 54 percent of respondents plan to dine in-person at restaurants more often in 2021, and 38 percent plan to order more takeout.

"Despite the fact that many countries around the world are still grappling with high infection rates of COVID-19, many travelers are feeling optimistic that they will be able to vacation abroad this year, particularly coinciding with the roll-out of a vaccine. Consumer appetite for travel is as strong as it has been since the start of the pandemic and, as our data shows, many people are already actively planning their next big trip - even for trips more than four months out," said Shibani Walia, senior research analyst, Tripadvisor

"For destinations, brands, and tourism operators, it is so important that they act now to attract this early booking demand, or else they risk missing out to the competition."

With COVID-19 still hanging in the air and over our heads, a majority of Americans say they’re not going home to see family -- and a third say they’re not planning to celebrate the holidays at all.

But they’re not staying home, either. A just-released Travelocity 2020 Holiday Outlook survey found that a quarter of consumers are opting for a personal vacation before the end of the year instead. For travelers with children under 18, that number shoots up to 45 percent, 

"It's going to be a nontraditional holiday season this year, so families are gearing up to make the most of it by planning a holiday away from home and using their vacation days to travel," says Katie Junod, General Manager at Travelocity. 

"Our survey found that 80 percent of travelers who have taken a trip since the start of COVID-19 rated their experience as excellent or good, and that's given them the confidence to plan that next vacation at a time when they need a break from at-home school and work."

The forecast

Survey respondents who will travel during the holidays are trying to plan ahead because of the uncertainty related to the pandemic. Nearly 66 percent of holiday-goers say they've already booked lodging and transportation for Thanksgiving or the December holidays. Another 20 percent plan to book their holiday travel before October ends.

Based on survey results and demand data, Travelocity is predicting the following holiday travel trends:

• Holiday hoteling: More travelers say they plan to stay at a hotel or a vacation rental over the holidays, with hotels being a slight favorite.

• Road ready: Nearly 80 percent of Americans plan to jump in the car and drive wherever they’re going versus 20 percent who plan on flying.

• The long weekend option: One in four holiday travelers say they'll stay through the long weekends of Thanksgiving and Christmas (on Friday this year) rather than planning shorter day trips. 

• Celebrate close to home: Two-thirds of holiday-makers plan to travel 250 miles or less to mix and mingle.

Doing holiday away from home the right way

In all likelihood, Santa is not bringing anyone a coronavirus-free Christmas, but Travelocity says there are some sensible tips travelers can use to venture out with confidence.

• Keep travel plans flexible: Because COVID-19 hot spots change like the wind, Travelocity says travelers should make sure that they look for flights and rooms that come with a free cancellation policy. 

• Look for hotels that do enhanced cleaning: One-third of travelers say that safe accommodations play a big part in whether or not they will travel this holiday season. Some travel search engines have a search filter that allows consumers to look for hotels that have proactive sanitization plans. Airbnb also mandates that its properties adhere to certain cleaning procedures.

• Search for flights with safety in mind: Fifty-three percent of travelers who have already booked flights this holiday season admit they are worried about flying right now. Some travel search engines have a filter that tells consumers what airlines expect from them in the way of mask requirements and temperature checks. However, travelers should also look into at-airport tests, on-board sanitizing procedures, and other health and safety measures to make sure they’re comfortable with everything the airlines are doing or not doing.

Even though Travelocity's survey found that this holiday season will be different than in years past, Junod says travelers’ holiday spirits are still high. 

"Two-thirds of respondents said they've been able to travel to see friends and family since COVID-19 started, and almost half say they're feeling happy and calm about the upcoming holiday season," she said.

Despite some businesses reopening offices for employees and a steady rise in gasoline demand, rush hour traffic still isn’t what it used to be. A new survey by ValuePenguin found around 30 percent of consumers with a car aren’t using it to commute to work.

But as of August, 26 percent of employed Americans are back to their daily commute, including essential workers and those whose employers reopened their offices. That said, some are using their cars more than others.

People with children are more likely to be on the road at least once a day. And oddly, people who live in New England are driving more daily than people in other regions of the country.

The older you are, the less driving you’re likely to do. Only 22 percent of baby boomers and nearly the same percentage of the silent generation said they were using their cars daily in August.

The decrease in traffic that began in late March has affected consumer behavior and had an impact -- mostly favorable -- on consumers’ pocketbooks. Twenty-six percent of drivers said they no longer fill up with gas on a weekly basis, compared to before the pandemic.

Buying less gasoline

In January and February, 43 percent of drivers said they filled up at least once a week, but just 32 percent said they did in August. At the same time, the number of drivers who gas up less often than once per month doubled from 4 percent to 8 percent.

That probably means very stable gasoline prices heading into 2021. The Wall Street Journal reports that after rising in the early summer, gasoline demand has begun to drift lower again.

Because people were expected to drive less during the economic shutdown, just about every car insurance company temporarily cut insurance rates for drivers, expecting to pay fewer claims because of fewer accidents.

Those discounts are beginning to expire, but the survey found that many consumers have taken the opportunity to shop around for even less expensive insurance coverage. More than a quarter of drivers made changes to their auto insurance during the pandemic to save money. 

Changes to insurance policies

Of those, about half switched to another provider to get a better rate. The other half reduced the amount of coverage since they are driving less.

"Some savvy consumers are using their decreased driving to their advantage and are paying less for gas and auto insurance," said Matt Timmons, a research analyst at ValuePenguin.com. "While they may need to roll back those changes as driving returns to normal, most consumers don't expect normalcy to return anytime soon -- meaning it may be worth drivers' while to assess their auto insurance and other car use related expenses and consider making changes."

The pandemic has also reduced the use of ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft. About one in six consumers who had been using ridesharing before said they’ve stopped completely because of the pandemic. Another 13 percent said they’re still using those services but a lot less frequently.

Ever been hurt while you’re on vacation? Most people have, but it’s usually no more than a twisted ankle or a trip to an immediate care center to fix you up after you impaled your hand while you were loading marshmallows on a stick.

But there’s some folks -- we’ll call them “adventure seekers” -- who tend to take things further than a casual walk in the woods. A new survey finds that nearly half of those adventure seekers have been injured while on a trip (or know someone who has.) Another 20 percent of them have felt like they were actually going to die at one point during one of their adventure-prone getaways.

Going somewhere over the holidays?

If you’re someone headed for the slopes of Colorado or the hills of Costa Rica over the holidays, it might be smart to check out some new findings gathered by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian Life). The survey results could save you from paying some unexpected expenses.

The findings show that 60 percent of American travelers qualify themselves as adventure seekers. Unfortunately, that title could come with some consequences. Seventy-five percent of the injuries that happened while respondents were on vacation required medical attention; however, only 20 percent of participants felt they were financially ready to cover any out-of-pocket expenses related to those injuries -- whether it was a trip to the emergency room or an immediate care center.

"As more Americans pursue adventure travel, accidents are likely to happen, so they should be prepared for unplanned expenses from injuries requiring medical attention," said Marc Costantini, Executive Vice President, Commercial and Government Markets, Guardian Life.

"The high cost of medical care, particularly for those with high deductible health plans, can be offset with accident insurance and help people reduce financial stress."

Forewarned is forearmed

You might be thinking, “Oh, nothing like that would ever happen to me,” but if those findings raised an eyebrow, it would be smart to take some time to ask yourself these expense-related questions before you take your next vacation:

• Do you have an accident policy that would cover -- at least partially -- extra, out-of-pocket expenses if you get injured while on vacation?

• If you do have an accident policy, are you aware of everything that the policy covers? This could include unexpected injuries, deductibles, rental or personal vehicle problems, accidental death, emergency evacuation, or pre-existing conditions. It’s also important to know if your policy covers only you or everyone in your family. 

One of the more important “what if’s” concerns driving. With some 22 percent of all Americans’ vacations being road trips, and taking into account the sheer volume of traffic on U.S. highways, there’s a heightened possibility that something might go wrong while on the open road.

With holiday travel season quickly approaching, ConsumerAffairs recently researched which states are the best and worst to drive through (sorry, South Carolina).

While it’s not necessarily cause for alarm, it would be smart to double-check your insurance policy to see if the things that make a road “bad” -- debris, potholes, illegible street signs, etc. -- are actually covered if one of those winds up as the cause of an accident.

August is only just coming to a close, but already consumers have their sights set on the impending holiday season.

A survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PRSAI) shows that 8 million U.S. adults have already made hotel reservations for the holidays, while another 6 million have purchased airline tickets for the same period, according to Bankrate.com.

Still, findings show that millions more will need to make plans soon if they want to ensure their accommodations. The researchers say that 35 million consumers anticipate that they’ll be staying in a hotel over the holidays and 31 million are planning to fly.

How to save

In the past, experts have hammered home that booking your flights early will save you money, but airfare tracker Hopper says that isn’t necessarily true. It says that the best time to buy plane tickets for Christmas is in October, while the best Thanksgiving prices will last until around Halloween.

For consumers looking to save even more, Bankrate.com suggests using a credit card that rewards holders with points/miles. Experts point out that many consumers who travel infrequently might not realize how many points/miles they have accrued just by using their credit card to pay for everyday expenses. Consumers can often redeem these rewards for hotel and airline accommodations, or for cash back, so don’t forget about them.

And, if those savings aren’t enough for you, Bankrate.com analyst Robin Saks Frankel says that consumers can also take advantage of lucrative credit card sign-up bonuses.

“This is basically free money,” the analyst says. “The best current offers are worth up to $1,000 in free travel – just for signing up for the card. You can also get other perks like free checked bags, airport lounge access, Global Entry and TSA pre-check.”

Consumers can browse some of 2017’s best credit card options by visiting Bankrate.com’s site here.

This summer, consumers are more likely to take a long weekend trip, perhaps a sign of growing consumer confidence and an improving economy.

A survey by travel publisher Travelzoo shows nearly three quarters of consumers are planning an extended getaway -- longer than a two-day weekend but shorter than a vacation. Many of those said plans are likely to be made, and a destination chosen, at the last minute.

About half the consumers in the survey said they were likely to make more long weekend "mini vacations" than they did last year.

And while a trip to the beach is one of the most popular long weekend destinations there's increased interest in a long weekend to Europe. Only 9% are planning a vacation to Europe this summer but half the consumers in the survey said they are considering taking advantage of low air fares for a long weekend getaway to someplace like Paris.

Getting the price under $500

The threshold appears to be around $500. Consumers say if they get get round trip airfare under that amount, their bags would be packed. WOW Air and Norwegian Air have low cost flights well within that ball park. As we reported back in February, Norwegian Air plans to start service this summer between the East Coast and Ireland and Scotland for $65 one-way.

"Long weekend trips are in, and the good news is that there are more options now with lower fares to Europe and the increasing availability of last-minute deals," said Mike Stitt, Travelzoo's president of North America. "Even with the ongoing headlines about safety and security, Americans are still eager to get out of town this summer."

The beach is still a favorite

But not everyone is headed for Europe, or someplace exotic. The Travelzoo survey find more than half of consumers surveyed expressed a preference for the beach, preferably one not too far away. Still, a majority said they would be willing to drive three hours.

Why more long weekends instead of vacations? The research doesn't answer that question. However, if could be that consumers don't feel they can take the time away from jobs and other responsibilities.

Stitt says other research shows Americans increasingly don't use all their vacation time. Research by Alamo Rental Car shows 59% of Millennials felt "shamed" for taking extended vacations from their jobs.