Written by Mia Taylor
Last updated: Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 8:45 PM ET
Bargain hunting doesn't seem to be the top priority when it comes to vacations this summer, even as inflation continues to squeeze travelers' budgets.
New data from airfare search aggregator Skyscanner shows that 52% of U.S. travelers surveyed said they were aware when booking their vacation that there would be cheaper travel weeks this summer. Did. However, only 4% of respondents said they actually chose to take cheaper travel options.
According to Skyscanner, this means 96% of US travelers surveyed are “missing out on great travel deals this summer.”
All this raises questions. If getting airfare discounts is important, when should people travel this summer?
Again, the experts at Skyscanner have the answer.
The first week of July is the most popular and most expensive time to travel for a summer vacation. In contrast, August 19th is the most budget-friendly time to travel (at least when it comes to booking flights).
Skyscanner data shows that on average, US travelers can save 29% by traveling during the week of August 19th instead of the week of July 1st. According to Skyscanner, the average savings on airfare for a family of four over this period is $1,064 for a family of four. Skyscanner.
A family at the airport. (Photo credit: Vasyl/Adobe Stock)
For many travelers, this information may actually still be useful. Skyscanner reports that nearly a third (34%) of US travelers have not yet booked their summer vacation and are looking for deals.
Many people who want to travel seem to have the problem of not being able to decide on a date (43%) or destination (41%) when making summer plans.
If you need a little help identifying budget-friendly destinations, Skyscanner has looked at the data to find out which locals have seen the biggest reductions in summer airfares.
Here's what they found:
Split, Croatia: 24% down (Skyscanner live price: $386) Zurich, Switzerland: 24% down (Skyscanner live price: $348) Bahamas, Nassau: 23% down (Skyscanner live price: $222, Croatia; Dubrovnik: 22% down) (Skyscanner live price: $523)Bucharest, Romania: 22% down (Skyscanner live price: $442)
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