- Searches for March and April flights are up 40% compared to the
same time-frame last year, indicating that U.S. travelers are
getting a head start on planning spring break getaways.
- Average ticket prices for March and April flights are currently
higher compared to this time in 2022, while average daily hotel
rates are roughly flat versus Spring Break 2022.
- Airfare prices peak in late March through early April, making
early March and the latter half of April the cheapest times to fly
this spring season.
- Without the COVID-19 testing requirements of Spring Break 2022,
travelers are returning to their favorite Mexico and Caribbean beaches like Puerto Vallarta and Punta Cana. March and April demand for
international destinations is up double-digits compared to last
year.
- Travelers can find plenty of affordable getaways to top
destinations including Fort
Lauderdale, New York City
and Toronto, all of which
currently offer both round-trip airfare and hotel stays under
$350.
SEATTLE, Feb. 1, 2023
/PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest data from leading travel
app Expedia®, travelers are already planning their
spring getaways, eyeing everything from Caribbean beach escapes to Alaskan cruises.
Flight searches for March and April travel are up
40%1 compared to the same time frame last year,
with interest in international destinations like Punta Cana, Paris and Tokyo up double-digits compared to Spring
Break 2022. While average ticket prices are higher than last year,
price-conscious travelers will still find savings by avoiding the
busiest travel dates, choosing less crowded destinations and taking
advantage of package discounts.
Spring Break Airfare
Tips2
Despite the rising cost of airfare, it is still possible to plan
a spring getaway that doesn't break the bank. Heading to a city
destination will be cheaper – and likely less crowded – than a trip
to an international beach resort. Regardless of the destination,
travelers can stretch their dollars by following these tips:
- Avoid peak dates in order to save: According to booking
data, traveling during the first week of March (before March 9) or after April
16 will allow travelers to take advantage of the lowest
airfares of the season. The busiest travel days during the period
are March 10–11, and the priciest are Saturdays, March 25 and April
1.
- Depart on a weekday: During the spring travel period,
travelers can save an average of more than 20% on round-trip
airfare when departing on a Tuesday instead of a Saturday, plus
enjoy shorter lines at the airport.
- Take advantage of pre-summer shoulder season: After
mid-April, average ticket prices are expected to stabilize before
the summer travel season ramps up. For those with flexible
schedules, late April to mid-May is a great time to head to
Europe or enjoy a domestic city
escape at a lower price.
- Find the sweet spot: In most cases, booking about a
month before domestic flights helps travelers save money on
airfare, but when in doubt it's wise to set up price alerts as soon
as there's a destination in mind. The Price Tracking and Prediction
feature on the Expedia app uses machine learning to predict the
best time to book and notifies travelers when flight prices
drop.*
How to Save on Lodging and Car Rental
Lodging and car rental rates remain relatively flat2
compared to Spring Break 2022. Savvy travelers can use these tips
to score more value:
- Book accommodations 30–45 days out: While around
64% of spring breakers tend to lock in hotels 90+ days in advance,
the ones who wait tend to get better deals. Expedia lodging data
shows that, historically, booking hotels closer to a month out
yields savings of around $30 per
night.2
- Snag package savings: Bundling flights, hotel and car
rental together on the Expedia app saves travelers an average of
around 10%, or $300, and makes
trip-planning easier.**
- Compare pick-up spots: Expedia data shows rates near
cities tend to be cheaper than the average while rates near
national parks and ski destinations are among the
priciest.2 Off-airport lots can also be cheaper than
picking up at the airport due to lower operating costs, so it pays
to shop around.
Spring Break Destination Guide
Travelers seek to broaden their horizons this year, causing
international beach destinations like Puerto
Vallarta (+25%) and Punta Cana (+30%), along with culture
capitals like Rome (+20%), Paris (+50%) and Tokyo (+55%) to see major spikes in flight
searches.1
Spring breakers looking to stay closer to home but avoid busy
beach destinations are flying to their favorite big North American
cities including New York City (+5%) and Montreal (+40%)
or unplugging in nature in places like Banff National
Park (+40%) and Jackson
Hole (+60%).1 Cruises are also picking up
steam for spring break. Demand for spring cruises to Alaska, for example, is up nearly 25% compared
to the same time frame last year while demand for European cruises
gains momentum going into the summer.3
Still need help figuring out where to go this spring? Expedia's
experts rounded up ten places to visit, including exciting domestic
hotspots with airfare (ATP) under $350 and international bucket-list destinations
under $700. Hotel prices (ADR) at
these destinations remain under $350
per night.2
- Fort Lauderdale
- Toronto
- Los Angeles
- New York City
- Portland
- San Juan
- Phuket
- Copenhagen
- Lisbon
- Reykjavik
About Expedia
Expedia® is one of the world's leading
full-service travel brands, with a mission of helping travelers get
the most out of every trip they take by providing everything they
need all in one place and, above all else, feel supported every
step of the way.
Our commitment to insights matched with our unprecedented scale
allows us to understand our travelers better than anyone else,
delivering exactly what they need, when they need it. Our
personalized experiences backed by incredible technology enable us
to deliver the widest selection of product offerings across
accommodations, transportation, activities and experiences, helping
you get the most out of your journey.
Use our mobile app or visit expedia.com to plan your journey
with us.
© 2023 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All rights
reserved. Trademarks and logos are the property of their respective
owners. CST: 2029030-50
Follow Expedia on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Twitter and
YouTube.
1Based on flight searches on
Expedia.com. Compares searches made between November and December
2022 for travel March to April 2023 with searches made November and
December 2021 for travel March to April 2022.
|
2Based on flight, conventional
lodging or car rental demand on Expedia.com as of mid-January.
Compares travel dates March to April 2022 with March to April 2023.
Affordable destinations list is arranged by ATPs, lowest to
highest, ranging from $315–$690; Prices noted are ATPs or
average ticket prices for flights and ADRs or average daily rates
for conventional lodging.
|
3Based on cruise demand on
Expedia.com as of mid-January.
|
*Price predictions are not a
guarantee. Available in the app to members on select
routes.
|
**Savings based on package
bookings of flight plus hotel on Expedia from October 2021 through
November 2022, as compared to the price of the same components
booked separately. Savings will vary based on origin/destination,
length of trip, stay dates and selected travel suppliers. Savings
not available on all packages.
|
.
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