This year has already seen multiple records broken in terms of traveler volumes, with Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekend numbers smashing even pre-pandemic precedents.
But there’s still one summer holiday that’s quietly sneaking up on us, and metasearch site Kayak has come up with a few things travelers who have yet to make their Labor Day Weekend (LDW) plans will want to think about.
Trip Prices Are Cooling Off
Between airline crew and equipment shortages and ongoing economic inflation, travel pricing has been sky-high this summer. But, thankfully, trip prices in the U.S. are starting to come down, especially for flights and car rentals. Kayak’s latest data analysis shows that domestic airfare is running 15 percent cheaper than during LDW last year, while daily rental car rates are down 13 percent.
If you don’t mind moving your trip timeline up a little bit to dates before Labor Day, you could save even more money. Kayak reports that August 18 – 20 will be this summer’s cheapest weekend to fly in the U.S., as flight costs are running 11 percent lower than during the rest of the season. International flights also are easing up on prices, with airfare for the weekends of August 18 and 25 tracking at 18 percent cheaper.
Aiming for Destinations Abroad
While many Americans have already headed overseas this summer (with a large portion of them flocking to Europe), there are plenty more who are interesting in going abroad before the season is over. Kayak’s data demonstrates that searches for international flights during the Labor Day holiday period (September 1–5) have spiked across the board. Online queries for international flights are up eight percent compared to last year, hotels are up 25 percent and rental cars are up four percent.
Again, if you can stand to hold off for a few weeks after the holiday travel window, you’re also likely to save yourself some money and avoid the large crowds. And, if you’re looking to spend Labor Day abroad, make certain you’re giving yourself extra time to allow for heavy traffic at the airport.
Domestic Travel Deals Down South
With the extreme heat waves that have been plaguing the U.S. this summer, vacationing in the southern states may not sound like the coolest of ideas. But, if you can stand the heat, some are offering the best flight prices for Labor Day Weekend getaways. In fact, Florida alone boasts four out of the 10 cheapest domestic destinations, according to Kayak’s research.
Kayak’s Top 10 Deals for LDW Travel to U.S. Destinations:
- Orlando, Florida - flights for LDW 2023 are $210 on average.
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida - flights for LDW 2023 are $212 on average.
- Tampa, Florida - flights for LDW 2023 are $228 on average.
- Denver, Colorado - flights for LDW 2023 are $241 on average.
- Atlanta, Georgia - flights for LDW 2023 are $248 on average.
- Nashville, Tennessee - flights for LDW 2023 are $248 on average.
- Dallas, Texas - flights for LDW 2023 are $255 on average.
- Las Vegas, Nevada - flights for LDW 2023 are $260 on average.
- Miami, Florida - flights for LDW 2023 are $264 on average.
- New Orleans, Louisiana - flights for LDW 2023 are $267 on average.
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