HOUSTON — It may not feel like it outside, but the unofficial end of summer is almost here and a lot of travelers are planning to celebrate this Labor Day by heading somewhere else.
AAA reports bookings for Labor Day weekend are up 9% this year compared to last year. In 2023, more Americans were heading to destinations outside the U.S. with international travel up 44%. This year, more people are staying closer to home.
If you still want to get away, but have procrastinated planning, there is some good news. Traveling should be more affordable this year.
Conde Nast Traveler reports prices are going down for late summer airfare. Hopper reports the average domestic airfare for Labor Day weekend this year is $211, 5% lower than last year.
One thing to keep in mind is that some of the lowest airfares will be from airports that are expected to be really busy this Labor Day. That includes Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Newark and New York.
If you want to avoid that hassle, hitting the road should be cheaper as well. Gas prices in Texas are close to 50 cents cheaper than last year.