Published: July 02, 2008 09:03 pm      

AAA expects travel to stall this holiday weekend

BLUEFIELD — Soaring gas prices are taking their toll on holiday travel. But many haven’t ruled out the idea of taking a cruise.

“We are seeing a lot of interest in cruises,” Laura Gooch, manager of the AAA Travel Agency in Bluefield, said. “As a matter of fact, during the summer months of July and August and before school starts, those have been booked for some time. The thing we are not experiencing are cancellations. People are looking at ways they can reduce their vacation costs. Cruises have all of your accommodations, and all of your meals and entertainment included at one price. So it is a very attractive designation.”

Gooch said travel this Fourth of July weekend is expected to be down for the first time in nearly a decade. The national average for regular unleaded was estimated at a new high of $4.09 a gallon Wednesday.

“Travel for the Fourth of July weekend is going to be down,” Gooch said. “People are going to be closer to home. Family get-togethers, cookouts and that sort of thing.”

Gooch said not only are gas prices are keeping travelers grounded, but also rising food and utility prices.

“Travel looks like it is down about 1.5 percent,” Gooch said. “But there have been reductions in hotels combined with airfare and hotel stays that give additional opportunities for savings.”

Faced with tough times, area residents are attempting to be more creative when it comes to travel.

“People are looking and they are becoming more resourceful in that they know what they are interested in and they are looking to find it,” she said. “People are looking at where are the areas where they can reduce their travel expenses.”

According to AAA, 40.5 million Americans will still travel this Fourth of July holiday. weekend. However, that number is 1.3 percent, or nearly 550,000 Americans less than those who traveled last year.

– Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com