The key to maximizing your travel dollars - plan ahead
May 5th, 2008, 10:38 am · Post a Comment · posted by Tony Natale
Two adults can expect to pay $164 for lodging and $80 for food for a total $244 on average each day while on vacation this summer, according to the AAA Arizona 2008 Vacation Cost Survey.
The survey of 49 cities shows the most and least expensive destinations as well as offering some cost-saving suggestions.
The five most expensive and their daily averages are Honolulu, $673, New York City, $606, Miami and Miami Beach, $370, San Diego, $361 and Las Vegas, $358.
The five most economical are Tulsa, Okla, $179, Albuquerque, N.M., $179, Wichita, Kan., $194, Oklahoma City, Okla., $194 and Fresno, Calif., $207.
Average costs for Arizona cities include Mesa, $208, Tucson, $272 and Phoenix, $281.
AAA Arizona has been tracking the average costs for vacationers since 1950, when the daily expenses for lodging and meals reached a remarkable $13, said Don Nunnari, vice president of membership products and services.
“One of our main goals in releasing this annual survey is to help travelers plan ahead,” said Nunnari. “In the current economy, the alst thing you want to do is return from vacation and realize you have exceeded y our travel budget.”
Some of the cost-saving suggestions include, if driving, figure your fuel costs in advance, book rooms early, travel off-season, bring your own food, avoid ATM machines and take advantage of discounts.