Not Home Alone: More Consumers Plan to Travel This Year for Winter Holidays
The holidays are a time for gathering, and more Americans plan to do that this year despite continuing concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent Cars.com survey finds. The rise of remote and hybrid work also has survey respondents planning on staying longer at their holiday destination.
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More than half of survey respondents (56%) plan to travel 50 miles or more this holiday season, a 30% increase from last year. For those staying home, 60% said the pandemic had at least some impact on their decision, which is the highest it’s been in 2021. (Survey results were finalized before the latest coronavirus variant, omicron, became international news.)
Even so, 41% of respondents not traveling said they don’t normally travel for the winter holidays. A lack of money and pandemic-related safety concerns were the second and third most popular reasons for not traveling, at 32% and 26%, respectively.
Similar to other major holidays, the vast majority of traveling survey respondents (82%) plan on driving to their winter holiday destination. Flying is the second most popular mode of travel, at 20%, which is the highest percentage it’s been in 2021. Visiting family at a relative’s home is the most popular destination among those traveling 50 miles or more, with 66% of respondents planning this type of trip.
Among those who are traveling, 53% said they’re concerned about the delta coronavirus variant, and 24% changed their travel destination because of rising cases. A majority of survey respondents (56%) are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while 21% are not vaccinated and have no plans to become vaccinated before traveling.
Those with the ability to work remotely indicated it has influenced their holiday travel plans, with 37% of this group saying they plan on driving rather than flying and 32% saying they plan on either shortening or extending their stay.
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About This Survey
Cars.com’s winter holiday travel survey was initiated on Nov. 17 and received 1,005 responses. Winter holidays were defined as Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s Eve and Day. Survey respondents identified as 40% male and 60% female, and ranged in age from 18-34 (38%), 35-54 (43%) and 55 or over (19%).
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