How Much Will Your Summer Vacation Cost? More Than Last Year
LOS ANGELES--May 17, 2001--Gas, food and lodging prices are up, but Californians won't be staying home this summer, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.The current Southern California average gas price is $2 a gallon for regular unleaded. Even if prices remain close to that level this summer -- about 60 to 70 cents more per gallon than last summer -- the Auto Club said that California travelers will pay only about $15 more for gas per 500 miles traveled if their vehicle economy is 20 miles per gallon.
"Despite the marked increase in gas prices, our members are still planning vacations this summer at about the same rate as last year," said Tim Irwin, the Auto Club's vice president for travel services. "Some are economizing by cutting a day or two off their trips, staying at a less expensive hotel or picking a closer destination, but they are still traveling."
AAA's annual vacation cost survey shows that a family of two adults and two children can expect to pay an average of $238 per day for food and lodging while traveling in California. Last year's average cost for California travelers was $230 per day. Statewide family lodging costs are averaging $136 a night, not including local taxes and "energy surcharges" of $3 to $10 per day now being assessed by many hotels.
California's average costs for meals and lodging are the sixth highest in the United States, according to the AAA national survey. Hawaii is the state with the highest family vacation costs -- an average of $417 per day, and North Dakota is the state with the best family vacation value, at an average cost of $167 per day. The national average travel cost this year is $223 per day.
In the last 10 years, the average cost of meals and lodging has increased by 24 percent nationwide. That figure is modest compared with previous decades: from 1981-1991, those costs rose 105 percent; from 1971-1981, the increase was 167 percent.
AAA has been tracking vacation costs since 1950, when the average daily cost of meals and lodging was $13.
The Auto Club offers these tips for saving money on a vacation:
| -- | Before traveling, have your car checked out by a qualified mechanic to help avoid inefficient fuel use and possible breakdowns. |
| -- | Book accommodations in advance to ensure availability, selection and to guarantee the best rate. |
| -- | Use discounts, such as those offered to AAA members, to help save on lodging, restaurant and entertainment costs. |
| -- | Cut food costs by packing your own snacks and meals whenever possible. Also, eat the largest meal at lunch to take advantage of lower menu prices. |
| -- | Find lodging in outlying areas, away from tourist and business destinations. |
AAA's meal and lodging costs are based on prices listed in AAA's TourBook(R) guides.
Vacation Cost Survey
State (rank) Meals Lodging Total
ALABAMA (38) 104 92 196
ALASKA (9) 126 129 255
ARIZONA (15) 117 119 236
ARKANSAS (48) 89 81 170
CALIFORNIA (6) 132 136 268
COLORADO (17) 111 124 235
CONNECTICUT (10) 114 138 252
DELAWARE (14) 121 121 242
DIST. OF COLUMBIA (2) 136 226 362
FLORIDA (10) 112 140 252
GEORGIA (24) 111 101 212
HAWAII (1) 144 273 417
IDAHO (43) 97 92 189
ILLINOIS (15) 119 117 236
INDIANA (31) 103 100 203
IOWA (45) 88 88 176
KANSAS (49) 89 80 169
KENTUCKY (43) 102 87 189
LOUISIANA (8) 124 136 260
MAINE (20) 105 117 222
MARYLAND (10) 123 129 252
MASSACHUSETTS (5) 120 156 276
MICHIGAN (28) 107 101 208
MINNESOTA (30) 103 101 204
MISSISSIPPI (40) 104 90 194
MISSOURI (41) 104 88 192
MONTANA (41) 99 93 192
NEBRASKA (46) 96 79 175
NEVADA (13) 151 100 251
NEW HAMPSHIRE (18) 106 126 232
NEW JERSEY (7) 125 137 262
NEW MEXICO (34) 100 101 201
NEW YORK (4) 135 144 279
NORTH CAROLINA (26) 108 103 211
NORTH DAKOTA (51) 89 78 167
OHIO (35) 102 97 199
OKLAHOMA (47) 95 77 172
OREGON (26) 109 102 211
PENNSYLVANIA (22) 112 109 221
RHODE ISLAND (3) 116 164 280
SOUTH CAROLINA (20) 108 114 222
SOUTH DAKOTA (49) 87 82 169
TENNESSEE (36) 110 88 198
TEXAS (28) 109 99 208
UTAH (31) 101 102 203
VERMONT (18) 111 121 232
VIRGINIA (25) 106 106 212
WASHINGTON (23) 108 110 218
WEST VIRGINIA (36) 105 93 198
WISCONSIN (33) 101 101 202
WYOMING (38) 97 99 196
NATIONAL AVERAGE 110 113 223