Travel
Washington Holiday Travelers Flock To Warmer Climates, Big Cities
AAA identified some clear trends in this year's end-of-year travel bookings, with most Washingtonians heading for warmer pastures.
SEATTLE — Most Washingtonians that are traveling out of state for Christmas or New Year's are heading to warmer destinations or other big cities, according to new data from AAA. The travel agency outlined the holiday booking trends among members who booked domestic and international trips between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2.
Here are Washington's top 10 holiday travel destinations within the United States:
- Santa Ana, Calif.
- San Diego, Calif.
- Lihue, Hawaii
- Maui, Hawaii
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Kona, Hawaii
- Orlando, Fla.
- Los Angeles
- Las Vegas
- New York City
For Washingtonians traveling abroad for the holidays, five cities in Mexico claimed a spot in the international top 10, joining destinations in Chile, Italy, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Canada.
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According to AAA, travelers heading to Hawaii will pay the highest rates for rental cars, which currently average $182 a day, roughly 30 percent higher than the national average. Overall, AAA found its Washington clients spent 20 percent more on their holiday travel this year compared to last year, and 30 percent more than in 2019. Flight bookings are up 182 percent this year, but air travel remains close to two-thirds lower than before the pandemic.
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