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Labor Day Costs For Local Travelers Are Mixed

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Hawaii residents who are traveling over the Labor Day holiday may pay more than last year for hotels and car rentals at some of their most popular destinations, but airfare between the islands will be similar in price to 2013, according to AAA Hawaii.

 

AAA Travel projects 34.7 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Labor Day holiday weekend, the highest volume for the holiday since 2008 and a 1.3 percent increase over 2013. The Labor Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, August 28 to Monday, September 1.

 

“With school in session now, it’s sometimes challenging for local families to make Labor Day getaways, so many choose to travel within the islands,” said Liane Sumida, AAA Hawaii regional manager. “But many without children are using this holiday to travel to traditionally popular destinations such as Las Vegas, San Francisco, Seattle or Los Angeles.”

 

According to AAA projections, holiday airfares between Honolulu and Lihue are averaging $141 during this holiday period, while Honolulu-Maui airfares are averaging $132- very similar to 2013 prices.

 

Travelers to Las Vegas will pay slightly increased hotel prices for AAA Three Diamond properties - $120 a night on average compared to last year’s average prices of $115. However, car rental prices are lower - $25 per day on average compared to $32 on average for last year’s Labor Day holiday.

 

Average prices for other popular destinations for local travelers:

City

2014 Avg. Hotel Rate, 3 Diamond

2013 Avg. Hotel Rate, 3 Diamond

2014 Avg. Car Rental, Per Day

2013 Avg. Car Rental, Per Day

San Francisco

$221

$218

$54

$71

Seattle

$269

$225

$111

$77

Los Angeles

$223

$179

$24

$37

 

Travelers within the islands will pay gas prices that are very similar to this time last year - $4.20 to $4.40 a gallon on average depending on the island. The national gas price average of $3.43 a gallon is about 10 cents lower than this time last year.

 

Highlights from 2014 Labor Day Travel Forecast include:

  • Historically, when Labor Day weekend begins in August, Americans have shown a higher tendency to travel.
  • Consumer spending has surpassed income growth, indicating that Americans are willing to take on debt to finance a vacation.
  • Automobile travel will increase by 1.4 percent this year, with 29.7 million travelers hitting the road.
  • Nearly eight percent of travelers (2.65 million) will travel by air, a one percent increase from last year.
  • Travelers will encounter airfares just two percent higher than last year and daily car rental costs that remain consistent at $51.
  • Hotel rates at AAA Two Diamond hotels are nine percent higher than last year and Three Diamond hotels are six percent more.

 

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AAA Hawai'i is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in the state of Hawai'i.