Fewer Marylanders Traveling for July 4th

Darlene Bittinger knows all too well that the nation is still recovering from the recession.

The owner of Bayside Travel in Essex said travelers she has worked with are looking to stay closer to home while almost all of her clients are looking for ways to do more with less, even as many people are planning vacations for the Fourth of July.

“People just don’t have the money to take extravagant vacations,” Bittinger said. “Even if they have the desire to travel and the ability to make payments, many have problems coming up with the deposit. I’m seeing a lot more people seeking packages for places like Ocean City, Orlando and Myrtle Beach.”

Bittinger’s assessment appears to in many ways mirror the trend predicted by AAA Mid-Atlantic, which is projecting nearly 760,000 Marylanders will travel on vacation during Fourth of July holiday weekend, a 2.9 percent decline compared to 2010. The holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, June 30 to Monday, July 4.

“While fewer Marylanders will be traveling this Fourth of July holiday compared to last year, those Marylanders who will be traveling seem to have deeper pockets and are intending to spend more during their holiday getaway this year,” said Ragina C. Averella, manager of Public and Government Affairs at AAA Mid-Atlantic, in a statement.

According to AAA, approximately 652,000 Marylanders will drive to their holiday destination, a 4 percent decline compared to 2010. Overall, this represents 86 percent of projected travelers despite gas prices that are more than 90 cents a gallon higher on average than 2010.

“Marylanders are facing a 34 percent hike in fuel costs since last year’s holidays, which appears to outweigh the primary benefits of convenience and flexibility that auto travel provides,” Averella said in the statement. “While gas prices have eased since their peak in May, the impact of higher fuel prices this year is affecting consumers’ household as well as travel budgets, which is keeping a number of travelers off the road.”

While overall travel is projected to be down, roughly 60,000 Marylanders are estimated to take to the skies to reach their holiday destination, a nearly 20 percent increase compared to last year, according to AAA. Flying will account for 8 percent of overall travel compared to the 2010 holiday when air travel accounted for 6 percent.

“It seems air travel continues to provide value for summer holiday travelers, despite higher air fares,” Averella said. “For many Marylanders, especially singles and couples, it may make more financial sense to fly to their destination rather than drive, given that Maryland’s average price at the pump is $3.61 a gallon, 34 percent higher than last year at this time.”

Also offering a contrasting view of travel plans for the holiday, the median spending by Maryland travelers is projected to be $1.036, a 46 percent increase compared to 2010, according to AAA.

As Bittinger observed, Marylanders are projected to stay closer to home as the average round trip will average 613 miles, compared to 700 last year, according to AAA.

“I know a lot of people I’ve spoken with that often travel during this holiday are now opting to stay home and plan family gatherings,” Bittinger said. “A lot of people are still trying to get back on their feet following the recession.”

Bittinger said those wishing to travel can still find great deals, and that doesn’t necessarily mean booking through an online source.

“A website can’t do anything for you if you run into a problem while on vacation,” she said. “Going through an agent will allow you to tell them exactly what you want and not have to worry about any of the legwork. Customer service can still go a long way even in today’s digital world.”