Spring & Summer Travel By the Numbers 2024: Travelers Ready to Relax After Post-Pandemic Travel Surge

If 2023 was about the post-pandemic travel resurgence and adventure, this year’s spring and summer travel themes are relaxing and reconnecting.

In our 2023 travel survey, 40% said their main reason for traveling was to unwind. This year, that number has gone up with, 80% saying their 2024 travel plans are to relax (84% of spring travelers and 83% of summer travelers). That’s according to our recent travel survey of 1,000 U.S. adults. See methodology.

Also topping travelers’ priority lists is spending time with friends and family, with 80% (79% of spring travelers and 81% of summer travelers) saying that reconnecting with loved ones is on their itinerary.

Consumers are also still impacted by inflation and are looking for cost efficiency when traveling: 78% mentioned traveling affordably as a top priority, and 71% expect to find discounts on travel. More than half (54%) also said they are adjusting plans around inflation.

Speaking of saving … RetailMeNot is returning with its Spring Savecation event to help shoppers save money and get cash back on their upcoming vacations and packing lists. From March 4 to 10, travel planners will find deals on hotels, flights, car rentals and more. Top retailers such as Expedia, IHG, Viator, Booking.com, Macy’s, and adidas are already confirmed to participate with special offers during the event.

Most Americans Are Going Somewhere This Spring and Summer

This year’s spring and summer travel season is shaping up to be a busy one. And our survey results certainly reflect that:

64% of Americans will travel in March and April (a time span that encompasses spring break), spending an average of $1,769.
70% of Americans will travel between May and August this year, spending an average of $1,884.

While the trips themselves may be booked with the intent to relax, there is some stress in the planning and budgeting part. The biggest plain points for budgeting this year are:

Hotel/lodging costs: 29% say this is their biggest stressor.
Airplane tickets: 17% say this is their biggest stressor.
Food/beverage costs: 15% say this is their biggest stressor.

Spring is for Visiting Family, Summer Is For the Beach

We asked our survey respondents about their goals for spring and summer travel. In spring, there is a notable emphasis on reconnecting with friends and family — in fact it’s the top type of travel among spring travelers (52%). Conversely, summer is key for beach-related travel (48% of summer travelers say the beach is on the agenda). Moreover, summer witnesses a pronounced uptick in outdoor pursuits, including visits to nature parks and camping expeditions, reflecting a preference for immersive outdoor experiences during the warmer months.

Spring is also a planning period: 43% of travelers say they use March and April to plan out the rest of the year’s travel.

Staycations, Earlier Trips Offer Budget-Friendly Alternatives to Peak-Season Travel

While travelers plan to spend an average of $1,769 (March-April) and $1,884 (summer), there are two groups planning to spend less:

The staycationers: Staycationers plan to spend an average of $905.62 (spring) and $952.11 (summer) in their own cities. What do they plan on doing? The following activities show an uptick when it comes to staycationers’ plans vs. travelers’ plans in the spring and summer: camping, park visits, theme park visits, outdoor sports.

Early travelers: Those still planning to squeeze in a trip in Q1 (February to March) say they’ll spend an average of $1,069. That lower price tag (compared to the March-April travelers and the summer travelers) is likely due to their travel habits:

65% of these early birds say they embrace travel on a tight budget.
54% of them turn to deals sites for travel bargains, and 60% say they turn to deals sites for inspiration on which vendors to book with. In other words, they have a savings-first mentality.
33% of them say they book so early because they’re driven by the belief that that’s when the best deals are.