89% of Americans Keep Summer Trips Domestic as Fuel Costs Push Shorter Getaways

5 articles · Updated · The Daily Beast · May 29

73% of Americans now have summer travel plans, up from 66% a year ago, but 89% of them are staying within the U.S. as higher costs force vacations to shrink.
Surging fuel prices tied to the Strait of Hormuz blockade are lifting airfares and baggage fees, making travelers hesitant to book far ahead and steering them toward shorter, cheaper trips.
Asheville bookings have jumped 174% and South Carolina travel 157%, while advisers say demand is shifting to the Carolinas, New England and California.
Europe trips are also being pared back: travelers who still go abroad are swapping pricier spots such as the Amalfi Coast, Paris and London for cheaper options including Montenegro, Malta, Brussels and Dublin.
The shift extends a broader split in U.S. summer travel, with international bookings already weakening as budget-conscious households absorb the latest rise in travel costs.

As war costs create a travel class divide, is the era of affordable family vacations permanently over?

While inflation grounds many travelers, could the FIFA World Cup offer a surprisingly affordable summer vacation alternative?