We see that the summer travel season is now over. But we understand many Floridians are not ready to put their luggage away. In fact, we read a new AAA Consumer Pulse Survey that reveals nearly three-quarters of Florida residents will take at least one vacation sometime from September through November.
A Fall Vacation is a Good Idea
“There are many advantages to a fall vacation,” said Matt Nasworthy, Florida Public Affairs Director, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The weather cools off and students are back in school, leaving smaller crowds at popular attractions. As a result, travelers find more availability and competitive pricing on airfares, hotels and rental cars. This is why Americans love to travel this time of year.”
Gas Prices Forecast to Fall 14 cents
We see that the 51 percent of autumn travelers planning to take a road trip should find lower gas prices. AAA forecasts gas prices nationwide will drop to $2.70 per gallon. That is 14 cents less than today’s average price at the pump.
“Gas prices usually follow a downward trend in the fall, due to lower demand and the switch to a cheaper-to-produce winter-blend gasoline,” Nasworthy told us. However, U.S.-led sanctions against Iranian crude are expected to kick-in this quarter. If oil prices spike on supply concerns, gas prices may jump too.”
Travel Insurance for Hurricanes
We have found that the early weeks of September are often the most active time of hurricane season. And our experience shows major storms can cause a ripple effect of travel delays and cancellations affecting travelers nationwide. More than a third of Florida travelers now say they are likely to purchase travel insurance during their fall trip, due to the threat of hurricanes this year.
Take our advice – don’t wait until a major storm develops to start researching travel insurance. Once a storm is named, it’s too late to purchase a new policy. Our recommendation is to talk with a travel agent, research weather patterns in your travel destination during the time of your visit, and consider purchasing a policy when booking your trip.”
Hurricanes aside, we think you still should consider travel insurance for your next vacation. A delayed or cancelled flight can cause missed reservations or excursions – many of which are often non-refundable. Those and other out-of-pocket expenses can be offset by travel insurance.
In addition, we have found there are policies that allow you to cancel your trip before your departure date, for a variety of reasons such as falling ill. If you get sick or injured during your trip, there are policies that would cover medical expenses.
About the AAA Consumer Pulse™ Survey
So we found the AAA Consumer Pulse™ Survey. Our understanding it was conducted online among residents living in Florida from August 3 – 14, 2018. A total of 400 residents completed the survey, with 297 planning to take at least one fall vacation.
Survey results have a maximum margin of error of ± 5.7 percentage points. Responses are weighted by gender and age to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the adult population (18+) in Florida.
Those who follow us know we like to vacation all year ’round in Florida. So the bottom line is, plan to take a fall vacation. But take our advice, make certain to get some travel insurance and have a great time in the Sunshine State.
