AAA estimates that 65.2 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday season, only a 0.7 percent increase from last year’s 64.7 million travelers. However, for those planning to travel during the last holiday season of the year, expect gasoline prices and airfares well above last year’s levels.
“Whether driving or flying, Americans face steep increases in their travel budgets during this Christmas-New Year’s holiday,” said AAA New Mexico’s regional manager, Ana Gonzalez. “Gasoline, airfares and hotel prices are up for the last holiday travel season of 2007.”
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Holiday auto travelers will find gas prices nationwide currently averaging $2.992 for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline — 69.5 cents higher than one year ago. New Mexico’s current average is $2.898. Current prices for a gallon of gasoline in surrounding states are Texas - $2.849, Colorado - $2.867, Arizona- $2.970, Nevada - $3.104 and Oklahoma - $2.812.
Another 8.9 million (13.7 percent of holiday travelers) plan to travel by airplane, a slight decrease of 0.3 percent from a year ago. A projected 3.3 million travelers will go by train, bus, or other mode of transportation.
Gasoline prices are not the only portion of Americans’ travel budgets more expensive this holiday season. Compared to 2006, the average price for an airline ticket is up 16 percent for travel during the week of Christmas and 9 percent during the week of New Year’s.
Hotel rates for AAA-Rated Three Diamond hotels climbed 4 percent and 9 percent respectively, when compared to Christmas and New Year’s a year ago. Travelers will find relief in lower car rental rates where travelers will find will find prices 4 percent less than last year during Christmas and 13 percent less during the week of New Year’s.
According to the annual AAA New Mexico travel survey, the most popular destinations for New Mexicans this holiday season are Las Vegas, Disneyworld/Disneyland, Grand Canyon, San Antonio and Phoenix.
The holiday season also means there will be more chances for injury and death in auto-related crashes. In 2006 during the Christmas holiday period, two people died and 115 were injured on New Mexico’s highways, according to the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Traffic Safety Bureau.
Additionally in 2006, five people lost their lives in crashes during the New Year’s holiday period. Parents should also talk with their teenagers about not drinking and driving. In New Mexico during 2006, about 47 percent of teenage crash deaths involved alcohol.
AAA New Mexico encourages partygoers to act responsibly during the holidays by buckling up and designating a sober driver. Hosts of parties can help to keep their guests safe by helping to find a designated driver or allowing guests to stay for the night. If a designated driver isn’t available, the Tipsy Tow program is available from 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 24 until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008.
Anyone requesting Tipsy Tow may call 1-800-AAA-HELP (1-800-222-4357). The service is provided free of charge within a 10-mile radius from the pick up point, and is restricted to a one-way ride home. The vehicle is towed and up to two people can ride with the tow truck driver. The person needing a free tow does not need to be an AAA member. If the motorist is not a AAA member, please stay on the line because the calls are answered in the order they are received.
During the Christmas and New Year holidays, AAA New Mexico’s Tipsy Tow program will be available in Albuquerque, Alamogordo, Anthony, Belen, Bernalillo, Carlsbad, Continental Divide, Cuba, Edgewood, Espanola, Farmington, Ft. Sumner, Gallup, Grants, Las Cruces, Las Vegas, Los Lunas, Luna, Pie Town, Quemado, Rio Rancho, Roswell, Santa Fe, Santa Rosa, Silver City, Taos, Truth or Consequences and Tucumcari.
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