4 travel tips for the busy 4th of July weekend

00:00 Speaker A

With Independence Day right around the corner, Americans are gearing up for another long summer weekend, and with that comes busy travel days. Haley Berg, Hopper lead economist, with me now. What are some expectations for this weekend, Haley? You think it’s going to be busier than last year?

00:22 Haley Berg

It will be busier than last year. Just on flights alone, we’re expecting to see 2.4% more seats departing on about 4% more flights over the long weekend. In total, right now about 21 million seats are expected to depart between Wednesday and Monday of next week, and that is more than what we’ve seen in the last five years of Independence Days.

00:46 Speaker A

And where are folks headed, Haley? What are the popular destinations this year?

00:50 Haley Berg

Big cities in the US and abroad are super popular for Independence Day weekend. Right now, we’re seeing New York City, Seattle, and Miami are very popular this year. But those who are starting an international trip are hitting some of those further flung destinations like London, Paris, and even Tokyo by starting a trip before the holiday and maybe making a week of it.

01:13 Speaker A

And what will it cost folks? Uh, what what are you seeing, Haley, in terms of airfare trends?

01:20 Haley Berg

Great news for domestic travelers, prices are right around $260 for 4th of July this year, down 3%. And for those going abroad, prices are down about 13% both to Europe and to Asia, which is hundreds in savings for those travelers who are being smart about when they book and how much they’re paying for their tickets.

01:46 Speaker A

What about if if I’m looking to go overseas, Haley, is that what do airfares look like there? Same good news?

01:54 Haley Berg

Same good news. Airfare to Europe for 4th of July and most of the summer around $840 per ticket. That’s down 13% year over year. Asia, similar story, airfare is around $1,300 per ticket, also down 13%. But Asia in particular, it’s down from summer highs that were closer to $2,000 per ticket that we’ve seen in the past three or four years.

02:16 Speaker A

So I I have my my destination picked, Haley. I booked the flight, I land, when I do land, now what am I looking at in terms of hotel rates? How much I going to pay for that rental car?

02:31 Haley Berg

Hotel rates in the US right around $213 per night. That is lower than the summer average. So 4th of July weekend, we are seeing a little bit of price relief, probably because it’s a big weekend. Uh vacation rentals a little bit more expensive, about $230 per bedroom per night. But for families who are traveling with a big group, maybe a pet, it can be a great option to get a little bit more space for that $230 a night. And then our rental car prices are pretty high for 4th of July. It’s a big driving holiday. Per day, the national average about $58, and that’s up $10 from what you would pay any other weekend of the summer.

03:13 Speaker A

All right. Finally, Haley, uh, travel tips and tricks. What can you give us?

03:20 Haley Berg

Be flexible when you’re booking. If possible, try to travel midweek, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, both domestically and internationally. That’s when you’re going to see some of the really lowest prices. If you can, book a last-minute trip in a big city. We often see lower prices in a New York, a Dallas, a Los Angeles over a long weekend like this. And if you haven’t booked yet, consider adding a rebooking service like disruption assistance from Hopper when you do book. If you’re canceled, delayed significantly, miss a connection, especially on a short weekend like this, you will be able to rebook on the next available flight, regardless of the airline, or get a refund for your ticket. So it’s a good way to protect your interest, especially over a busy holiday weekend where domino effect delays can really impact your travel plans.

04:10 Speaker A

All right, Haley. Thank you so much for your time today. Appreciate, especially those tips and tricks.

04:16 Haley Berg

Great being with you.