Recession not deterring family travel

Family vacationers are proceeding full speed ahead despite the economic downturn, according to the latest American Express Spending & Saving Tracker survey.

More than half of those surveyed are planning a vacation this summer. More than two-thirds among the affluent audience also plan a trip, as well as 83 percent of young professionals.

According to the survey, summer travel is a priority for the majority of Americans. Parents, however, are planning more than summer vacations, as 58 percent are ready to arrange summer activities for their children and plan to spend an average of $600 per child.

“The summer vacation, and particularly, the family vacation is alive and well this year,” said Audrey Hendley, vice president of American Express Travel. “People are passionate about travel, and frequently we find that they would rather find creative ways to reduce the cost of their trip rather than do without it altogether.”

After family outings, the most popular trips are:

• Couples trips (26 percent)

• Trips with friends (10 percent)

• “Staycations” (11 percent)

• Experiential or adventure vacations (7 percent)

• Educational vacations (4 percent)

Reasons survey respondents cited for staying home included:

• Had not saved the money (50 percent)

• Planned to spend their money somewhere else (25 percent)

• Didn’t have the time to either plan or take a vacation this year (8 percent)

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