3 On Your Side: Summer Travel Season Quickly Approaching
By Jim Donovan
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- As we turn the calendar to May, that means it's just weeks before the summer travel season kicks off. 3 On Your Side consumer reporter Jim Donovan looks at where summer trends are pointing and how to score the best fares.
Americans are searching for more adventurous summer trips, but also want a deal. That's according to an analysis of more than one billion searches by travel website Kayak.
Thanks to the stronger U.S. dollar, many summer travelers are thinking about Europe.
"A weak euro means more spending power for the traveler, and we've actually seen a seven percent increase in travel to Europe this summer, compared to last summer. If you look at the top destinations to Europe, they include Paris, Rome, Dublin and Barcelona," said David Solomito with Kayak.
Here in the United States, Solomito says one city stands out.
"Looking at the data in domestic destinations, the one that popped for this coming summer is Boston. In fact, four of the top five trending hotels all were in the Boston area. Boston is also a great road trip city because you can get to lots of unique places within a short drive," said Solomito.
Lower gas prices mean more travelers are considering road trips. But the question most consumers have is when to book a flight.
"The Kayak Travel Hacker Guide recommends four to six weeks as the ideal booking window for travel within North America. If you're looking to travel within the Caribbean, you can get away with a bit of a shorter window. And if you're looking to take advantage of all the buzz and excitement around Europe, the sooner the better," said Solomito.
But if you spot a flight deal, it's best to just take it before another summer traveler fills that seat.