Travel Likely to Be More Expensive in 2022
In the first quarter of 2022, Priceline’s travel forecast shows travel becoming more expensive after the New Year. the average daily cost of hotels is up 18% compared with the same time last year. Average flight tickets are up 32%.
“As both inflation and the returning demand for leisure travel drive up prices, travelers are looking for products that help them identify and book vacations at affordable rates,” said Brett Keller, Chief Executive Officer. “Priceline was created to do exactly that. We continue to negotiate great rates and roll out new deals and features, such as our VIP Loyalty Program, so our customers can book the trip they want at the price they can afford.”
Priceline has identified destinations across the country where travelers can explore, create new travel memories, and find great deals. For example, Southeast beach destinations offer some of the best airfares, with Myrtle Beach, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa in the top 10 most affordable, offering average round-trip fares less than $285.
Half of the top 10 most affordable destinations for hotels are in the West, which includes Laughlin, Nevada; Page, Arizona; Buena Park, California; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Reno, Nevada. Across all five cities, the average daily hotel rate is approximately under $110 per night.
Currently, the most popular hotel destinations for travelers in 2022 are Las Vegas, Orlando, New York, Chicago, New Orleans, and Nashville. Priceline’s forecast for travel in 2022 also reveals that Cape Canaveral, Florida; Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee; and Memphis are destinations to watch.
Cape Canaveral is home to the Kennedy Space Center and other space-themed attractions, Florida’s Space Coast is rising in popularity, and the city is a popular port for cruises heading to the Caribbean.
Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are gateways to the Great Smoky Mountains. Pigeon Forge hosts the “Smoky Mountain Winterfest” with five million holiday lights through February 14th, and travelers can experience the famous 200-foot tunnel of lights at “Lights Over Gatlinburg” at Gatlinburg Skylift Park through January 29th.
Memphis has become a cultural hotspot hosting special events like a crawfish festival and the Beale Street Music Festival at the city’s fairgrounds this spring.
