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California, Florida, and Hawaii, three sun-and-sand destinations, account for a quarter or more of all flights and vehicle rentals this weekend. Getty Images | Erik Isakson | Tetra Images According to a recent report by TripIt from Concur, travel bookings are finally approaching pre-pandemic levels as people prepare for the long July 4 weekend, and warm-weather coastal areas are luring holiday travelers. “Airports, highways, and accommodation are all starting to resemble the pre-pandemic ‘normal,'” said Jen Moyse, TripIt’s senior director of product. “For the Fourth of July, TripIt reservations show an 85 percent recovery for vehicle rentals and a 64 percent recovery for hotels.” Personal Finance has more: As far as travel goes, here are some reasons why you might choose to see a travel expert. As Americans book vacation once more, price outweighs pandemic fears. Beaches in the Sun Belt and city stays at the top of vacationers’ summer wish lists. (Domestic flights, on the other hand, have only reached 51% of 2019 booking levels, despite being up 146% year over year.) International flights have only reached 29% of 2019 levels, which is unsurprising.) What’s the deal with the sudden increase? “Vaccines have given travelers more confidence,” Moyse said, noting that more than half of U.S. travelers polled by TripIt in April indicated having a vaccination was their top criteria for flying again. Three sun-and-sand destinations — California, Florida, and Hawaii — account for a quarter or more of all flights and car rentals this weekend, according to the travel firm. “TripIt reservations show that these famous beach destinations have been popular since Labor Day Weekend 2020 as travelers have flocked to warmer weather,” Moyse said. “Trips to the shore have been a mainstay of pandemic travel, whether it’s for the extra vitamin D or outdoor activities where social distance is easier.” TripIt discovered that when Americans opt to travel, they are staying away from home for a little longer. Stays in motels, hotels, and resorts are now averaging 4.11 days, up from 3.23 days in 2019, while vacation rentals are even longer, averaging 5.83 days, up from 4.12 days two years ago. “Travelers are staying roughly a day longer at hotels and almost two extra days in vacation homes in comparison to 2019,” Moyse added. Pandemic travel has always included trips to the coast. Jen Moysesenior product director at TripIt “Due of the solitude and safety from crowds,” she noted, “vacation rentals have proven appealing to some during the pandemic.” “They’re also convenient housing options in isolated areas where there aren’t many motels.” And, although almost all passengers (97%) stayed for seven days or less in 2019, more than 15% will stay for more than a week in 2021, representing a six-fold increase. According to TripIt, those who book lodging and vacation rentals choose slightly different destinations. (See the graph.) Travelers are staying longer at hotels and rental houses, despite the fact that their locations vary. “While large cities like Las Vegas and New York are popular hotel destinations, vacation rentals provide spots that are a little more off the beaten path, such as Anchorage, Alaska, and Kihei, Hawaii,” Moyse added. TripIt’s website has more information on its findings, as well as a list of its Top 25 July 4 destinations./nRead More

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