A Record 65 Million, Including A Man In Red, Will Travel This Christmas—

All We Want For Christmas Is To Get Away

Ho, Ho, Ho and away we go — again.

Less than a month after a very busy Thanksgiving travel period, Americans are again on the move despite elevated hotel rates, rising airfares, and escalating gas prices.

This holiday season, a record-setting 64.9 million Americans — a 2.2 percent increase over last year — plan to travel 50 miles or more, says AAA Connecticut Motor Club.

Of this number, 81 percent or 52.6 million travelers will travel by car; while another 14 percent (or 9 million) will fly. The remaining five percent (or 3.3 million) will get away by train, bus or other mode of transportation, including one traveler who says he’ll make a round-the-world journey by sleigh on the evening of December 24. This year, motor vehicle travel is expected to rise 2.1 percent, while air travel will see a 2.7 percent increase, compared to last year.

During this holiday season, auto travelers will find that gas prices on both the national and local levels are on the rise after several months of a downhill slide.

Nationally, gas prices were averaging $2.29 a gallon on December 15, which is six cents higher than last month and ten cents higher than last year.

In Connecticut, gas prices were averaging $2.42 a gallon on December 15, 12 cents higher than last month and 17 cents higher than last year.

What’s prompting this year’s record-setting travel? Gas prices — though rising — are significantly lower than this past summer’s record-setting $3 a gallon levels.

Overall, travel in 2006 has been relatively flat and again, though hotel rates and air fares are rising, they’re still considered affordable during a time when people generally feel the need to be with family and friends.

Who Are We Visiting?

Pull out the Castro convertible. This year, 66 percent of the travelers bunk with friends or relatives.

Hotels and motels are a distant second at 20 percent, followed by cabins/condos with 2.4 percent; and campers or trailers, two percent.

The remaining eight percent didn’t plan an overnight stay, or didn’t know what their plans were at the time the survey was taken.

Where Are We Going?

In the movie It’s A Wonderful Life, George Bailey initially may have wanted to “shake the dust of this crummy little town off [his] feet,” but 38 percent of this year’s travelers are heading for small towns and rural areas: 35 percent will travel to big cities; ten percent will make a stop with an ocean view; seven percent will head for the mountains, four percent, a theme park; two percent, lakes or national parks; and the remainder didn’t quite know where they were going when the survey was taken.

Leave That

Snow Globe Home

This will be the first Christmas since new airport carry-on rules take effect. And because many folks are now traveling by air — who may not have traveled since the ban on liquids took effect — there is a greater than ever chance for check-in delays.

So here are some travel tips to prepare for take-off:

Remember the 311 Rule for carry-ons: Three ounce or smaller containers of liquids or gels in a one-quart size zip-top bag, and only one bag per traveler. Check www.TSA.gov for details.

Arrive at least two hours before your flight. Be flexible and patient.

Designate a specific spot to meet your party because only ticketed passengers may go to the gate area, unless you’re meeting a child or a disabled or elderly passenger.

For those who are driving: Plan your route in advance and try to travel in the off-peak hours.

Buckle up, especially if traveling with kids.

Slow down; give yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going.

Research for AAA’s holiday travel is based on a national telephone survey of nearly 2,000 adults by the Travel Industry Association of America, which conducts special research for AAA.