(May 22, 2012) NEWTON, Mass. — Eighty-six percent of travelers are planning leisure trips this summer, up from 81 percent that traveled last summer, according to TripAdvisor, which announced the results of its annual summer travel survey of more than 1,800 U.S. respondents.

A separate survey of more than 1,200 U.S. respondents showed that recently declining gas prices will not have an effect on leisure travel plans this summer, according to 86 percent of U.S. respondents.  However, 10 percent now expect to take more trips by car this summer as a direct result of lower prices at the pumps.

The survey findings:

    • More than a quarter of travelers surveyed (27 percent) said they will spend more on leisure summer travel than they did in 2011, while 47 percent plan to spend the same amount as last year, and 26 percent expect to spend less.

    • 70 percent will stay at a hotel this summer, up three percent from 2011, 31 percent will stay at the home of family or friends, and 20 percent will spend their time in a vacation rental home.

    • Of those going on summer trips this year, 70 percent will be traveling by car and 64 percent will be taking to the skies.

    • If it meant saving a bundle on airfare, 21 percent would be willing to drive more than 10 hours to their summer destination.

    • 79 percent would take a spontaneous trip this summer if they found a great deal.

More than one-third of U.S. respondents (34 percent) plan to travel for Memorial Day weekend, up eight percent from 2011.
   
Of those traveling this Memorial Day, 70 percent will get there by car. Twenty-seven percent of those traveling by car will travel between 100 and 200 miles to their getaway spot, 19 percent will go 50-100 miles and 17 percent will drive more than 500 miles.