From Deseret News archives:
AAA says summer travel costs up almost 3.7 percent on higher lodging expenses
The AAA auto and travel association found in its annual vacation costs survey, released Wednesday, that combined lodging and restaurant costs were 3.7 percent higher than last year.
The survey found that a family of two adults and two children could expect to pay an average of nearly $270 a day for food and lodging this summer. It said lodging rates averaged $152 a night, up nearly 8 percent from last year, while meals were projected at $118, down 1.3 percent.
Michael Petrone, director of tourism information development for AAA, said that lodging rates were up because of higher demand, and both lodgings and restaurants faced rising energy costs as well as higher salary and benefit costs.
Hawaii remained the state with the highest daily cost for food and lodging for a family of four — $650 a day.
Other U.S. designations in the top five were the District of Columbia, about $611 a day; Rhode Island, $345; New York, $326; and New Jersey, $324.
The most economical lodging and food prices were in North Dakota, about $187 per day; Nebraska, $199; Iowa and Kansas, $201; and South Dakota, $204.
The meal calculation did not include beverages, taxes or tips, the AAA said.
The survey captures prices at more than 60,000 AAA-approved or rated lodgings and restaurants.
AAA has been tracking vacations costs since 1950, when the average daily cost of meals and lodgings for a family of four was $13.
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