LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ / Press Release) – As travel optimism continues to grow amid updated CDC guidelines, vaccine availability, and government reopenings, AAA travel advisors see significant interest in car rental bookings during the summer travel season.
However, travelers who enjoy being out and about can face high costs and limited availability due to disruptions caused by the pandemic.
A slowdown in auto sales during the pandemic, and now a shortage of semiconductor chips, has created a domino effect with delays in automobile manufacturing and inventory shortages at rental car companies as demand for domestic road transport grows.
AAA travel advisors have also noticed another trend where the demand for local car rental companies is increasing as people feel that their vehicles are not suitable for road trips. As a result, rentals in Central Kentucky can also be affected.
Average daily rental car prices have doubled, with prices hovering at $ 134 per day, according to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index.
But even if the national average has doubled, some destinations with daily rates between $ 250 and $ 600 or more will be hit much harder at some airport rental companies across the country.
“Road trips will be the biggest drivers of summer travel recreation,” said Lori Weaver Hawkins, public and government affairs manager at AAA Blue Grass. “As interest in a great American road trip experience grows, AAA encourages travelers to plan ahead to ensure lower costs and availability for their trip.”
AAA expects a significant recovery in travel this summer, according to the results of an exclusive AAA survey of Kentuckians that found that 62% of respondents are considering or planning to travel this summer.
Additionally, the survey found that 33% of Kentuckians plan a short vacation while 24% plan a longer, more extravagant trip.
AAA offers the following tips on how travelers can plan their trip in advance:
- Book early. Complete all rental car reservations when booking flights, hotels, and other travel arrangements.
- Work with a travel advisor. They can help you find discounts and look for bundled travel options that may make your rental in conjunction with other travel expenses cheaper.
- Plan ahead. Use AAAs for free COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Card and TripTik for the latest information to help plan your trip.
- If possible, stay flexible with your travel dates. Weekly rentals can be cheaper than weekend rates on a daily basis. Some car rental companies may offer you a refund for unused days if you return the vehicle early.
- Consider locations outside the airport, which are often cheaper than renting at the airport. Be sure to inquire about the location’s opening times in relation to your flight and consider the cost of transportation between the rental location and the airport.
- Do you need road trip ideas? Based on more than 100 years of field-proven experience and expertise, AAA has brought together our most popular resources for planning Great American Road Trips on one website. AAA.com/RoadTrip. This free resource helps travelers get inspiration, explore travel destinations, plan the perfect route, and prepare for their auto road trip.
- Prepare your vehicle. If you can’t rent a car and need to use your vehicle for travel, take it to a trusted one AAA approved car repair Device for a vehicle maintenance test.
