Amid this reality, personal travels have largely been put on the back burner. This is especially true amid the Trump administration’s war in Iran, which has caused a global shortage of jet fuel, thus driving up airline ticket prices and putting travel further out of reach.
But a new report from Hotels.com says that many Americans are working hard to avoid canceling trips because of higher prices. Instead, Americans are changing how they shop for travel and pay for travel.
It seems American consumers are becoming “deal strategists,” according to the Hotels.com report. Meaning, they’re using points, perks, timing tricks, and bundled packages to stretch their travel budgets further than ever.
“Travelers may be feeling the squeeze, but they’re also getting smarter,” says Melanie Fish, vice president of global PR for Hotels.com. “We’re seeing travelers save as much as 23 percent by booking closer in, starting stays on Sundays, or looking beyond the U.S., where 5-star hotels can offer strong value. This is a summer where how you book matters just as much as where you go.”
Ways Americans Are Hacking Summer Travel Costs
Filter-first travel planning: Consumers who are using travel booking platforms are increasingly relying upon “budget filters” to sort their accommodation options. Hotels.com found budget filtered searches are up more than 1,800 percent.- Points are becoming currency: With money being so tight this summer, Americans are looking for other ways to cover travel costs. And that has meant rewards usage has surged 820 percent as travelers actively offset trip costs
- Visible value beats cheap rates: Free breakfast used to be a ‘nice to have’ extra when looking for a hotel. Not this summer. These days travelers are prioritizing cost-cutting offers like free breakfast, meal plans and all-inclusive perks over the lowest advertised room rate
- Bundling is back: There’s nothing worse than spiraling, unexpected costs during the course of a vacation. To avoid that scenario, more travelers are choosing packages that lock in costs upfront this summer.
Additional Cost Saving Tips
Want to save even more money on your next trip? The Hotels.com experts have provided a variety of expert tips to help make your budgeting efforts even easier.- Last-minute hotel bookers saved an average of 23 percent compared to travelers who booked four-plus months ahead
- Sunday hotel check-ins are 15 percent cheaper than Friday stays in the United States
- January remains the cheapest month to travel, while mid-October has become one of the most expensive periods of the year
There are savings to be had internationally as well. Hotel prices in Liguria, Italy, have declined 31 percent, while in Leipzig, Germany, they’re down 25 percent and in Hanoi, Vietnam, nightly rates have dropped 22 percent.
