DENVER, Nov. 20-AAA Colorado is projecting that more people than ever will hit the road this upcoming holiday, with air travel also up compared to last year’s Thanksgiving holiday period. Travel sales with AAA Colorado are up 33 percent between Wednesday Nov. 22 and Sunday Nov. 26, compared to the same period last year. “Our travel agents are seeing an increase in sales numbers this Thanksgiving,” said Sandra Barnes, AAA Colorado travel services director. “Historically, this is one of the busiest times of the year for people traveling to visit family and friends. This year is no different.” AAA Colorado estimates that 38.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more this holiday, a 2.7 percent increase from last year’s 37.3 million travelers. Compared to 2005, Colorado auto travelers will save money at the pump. The average price of regular unleaded gasoline in Colorado is down nearly nine cents per gallon compared to prices last Thanksgiving. The savings in gas prices could help lessen the sting of other travel costs: hotel rates are up as much as 16 percent, rental cars rates up 21 percent, and airfares up 4 percent compared to this time last year. Many travelers are offsetting higher hotel costs by staying with friends and family. AAA Colorado projects that 69.5 percent of travelers will stay with a friend or relative. Historically, Thanksgiving travelers do not take destination trips, they head instead to wherever their families are located. There appears to be no change in that trend this year. Nationally, small towns and rural areas are the expected destinations for 45 percent of Thanksgiving travelers, followed by cities with 35 percent, mountain destinations with 8 percent, and oceans and beaches with 5 percent. In Colorado, the top five in-state destinations booked through AAA Colorado travel between Nov. 22 and Nov. 26, are: Denver, Eagle, Colorado Springs, Glenwood Springs and Montrose. AAA Colorado projects 12.5 percent of travelers nationally to journey by plane, up more than 3 percent from last year. This increase in air travelers, coupled with new anti-terrorism security measures could lead to long lines and delays at the airport. AAA Colorado encourages air travelers to allow extra time for check in and security. “This will be the first time many travelers will get on an airplane since the increased security measures regarding taking liquids on a plane were enacted by the Transportation Security Administration [TSA],” said Barnes. “We are advising people to arrive at the airport earlier than usual and to educate themselves on the new security measures to avoid throwing away personal products. We also suggest that parents bring snacks or games to keep their children occupied in case of long airport delays.” For more extensive AAA Colorado information on travel destinations and pricing, go to www.aaa.com/travel. AAA Colorado reaches one in four households in the state and is an advocate for safety and security for all travelers. As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides its nearly 49 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services, as well as member-exclusive savings. ###
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