Online bookings reveal that Washingtonians who travel during the final long weekend of the summer will visit the state’s two largest cities and surrounding areas.
Labor Day Travel
- As road trips remain the top method of travel, Washingtonians who leave the state will not venture far. Online bookings show them headed to towns and sights around Oregon, Idaho and Montana from September 2 – 6.
- Of these Labor Day travelers, 20% booked hotel rooms and rental cars two weeks to one month in advance of the holiday weekend, double the 10% who made plans that far ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
Beyond Labor Day
- Following Labor Day and through the end of 2021, Washington state destinations continue to be the most-booked by AAA’s online customers. Besides Seattle and Spokane, these travelers planned short road trips to Walla Walla, Leavenworth and Ocean Shores.
- Online car rental bookings through the rest of the year reveal a trend of Washington travelers returning to familiar places — the Hawaiian Islands, Phoenix, and Las Vegas to visit vacation homes, go back to snowbird properties and gamble or take in a show.
- Travel experts see no relief on rental car prices between now and year’s end. Renting a midsize vehicle for eight days in Hawaii costs an average of $1,500, compared to $600 during the same period of 2019. The price for an eight-day midsize car in Phoenix averages $400, up $50 from 2019. Five days in Las Vegas will set you back about $400, double the price in 2019.
