How things change in one year! At this time in 2020, New Yorkers were still limited to travel within the state. This summer travel out west to National Parks was extremely popular, along with Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean. Cruises continue to return on a limited basis. The traditional summer road trips were also a favorite for families looking to visit beaches, parks and campgrounds. With summer winding down, travelers are anxious to get one last road trip in for Labor Day weekend. Here are some of the current trends at AAA:

Top destinations within New York: 1000 Islands, Adirondacks, Finger Lakes, Catskills, Niagara Falls region.

Top destinations outside New York: Many families are still flocking to beaches for the holiday weekend. Myrtle Beach and East Coast beaches are expected to be very busy.

Air travel: Orlando is the top destination for travelers taking to the skies this year. Orlando theme parks have been very busy.

Gas prices: The national average is $3.18 – 95 cents higher than one year ago. The New York State average is $3.26 - 96 cents higher than last year.

Fall travel: AAA is already seeing high demand for fall travel. Long weekend getaways were very popular this summer and AAA expects that trend to continue into the fall season with travelers enjoying wine trails and fall foliage tours. In fact, AAA’s Route Production department is fielding numerous fall requests for Maine and Acadia National Park.

Holiday travel: Travelers interested in holiday vacations should book those now as availability will be limited. With international travel advisories changing daily due to the pandemic, travel opportunities within the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean are expected to be very popular. Travelers should plan ahead with a travel consultant to fully understand cancellation policies and travel insurance options.

Future travel: Both interest and bookings for 2022 and 2023 are strong. Villa vacations are a hot trend offering individuals, families, and groups privacy with luxurious accommodations. Inventory in many popular destinations may be limited so travelers should plan ahead and arrange future travel now.

Safe travel: Understand the impact COVID-19 has on cities and states you are traveling through and if there are any restrictions in place. To be informed, check out AAA’s COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Map and TripTik.AAA.com. Download the AAA app at www.AAA.com/Mobile to find the lowest gas prices, make travel arrangements and to request AAA roadside assistance.

AAA Travel advisors are available to help members with the information they need to plan a trip, when they’re ready to do so. For more information, visit: 

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