Memorial Day 2013 is coming up and travelers can be happy to know that flights are a bit cheaper for the holiday weekend than they were last year.
According to Travelocity, domestic airfare is down two percent from last year with the average flight costing $341, six dollars less than it was in 2012. The average cost of international flights over the holiday weekend is $981, which is a one percent decrease from last year.
"While a two percent decrease in domestic airfare may not seem like much, in recent years we have seen average airfare prices steadily rise year-over-year during the holidays," explains Courtney Scott , senior editor at Travelocity. "A drop in price year-over-year is a welcome sign for travelers on the hunt for a deal this Memorial Day."
Destinations that have faced the largest decrease in cost are Washington D.C., with a six percent drop and Chicago with a three percent drop. New York remains the top Memorial Day destination, but it saw a 1.4 percent increase.
According to Travelocity, while flight prices are down, hotel prices are up. The average daily rate for a Memorial Hotel booking is $157 which is an increase of nearly seven percent.
"To ensure maximum savings, travelers should consider taking advantage of last-minute sales and bundle their flight and hotel together when they book to lock in savings of up to $525," said Scott.
Top Ten Most Popular Destinations for Memorial Day 2013
According to Travelocity's booking data, the most popular destinations for 2013 are:
Destination | Average Airfare | YOY Airfare Change | Average Hotel Daily Rate |
New York City | $307 | 1.4% | $278 |
Orlando | $315 | 4% | $158 |
Washington, D.C. | $286 | -6% | $157 |
South Florida | $329 | -1% | $210 |
Denver | $291 | .5% | $130 |
Los Angeles | $329 | 2% | $148 |
Las Vegas | $367 | 3% | $124 |
San Francisco | $348 | 2% | $180 |
Chicago | $300 | -3% | $186 |
Boston | $306 | 3% | $202 |
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
