As AAA Travel & Insurance Centers reopen, some clear travel trends are emerging. Three AAA locations (DeWitt, Greece and Amherst) opened in early June and two more offices (Orchard Park and Penfield) are slated to open next week. 

As predicted, road trips are taking center stage as we approach the official start to summer. Many travelers are coming in looking for unique destinations, choosing hotels – often based on cleanliness standards and ordering maps and tour books for their journeys. Here are some of the current trends:

• Short road trips are picking up – for instance, in New York, we are seeing a lot of day or long weekend trips to the Finger Lakes, Thousand Islands, Adirondacks and Lake George.
• State Parks remain popular as tourists enjoy hiking and nature. 
• Short weekend trips will be followed by longer road trips – East Coast beaches, National Parks, southern destinations, historical sites, theme parks – all popular with families.
• Motorists are coming to AAA to purchase E-ZPass tags as they prepare for road trips and cashless tolling on the New York State Thruway by the end of 2020. E-ZPass tags are sold at AAA for $25 and come with a $25 prepaid toll balance. 
• AAA has a theme called Rediscover America where we expect travelers to explore the U.S. this year. Find AAA’s new online road trip page at AAA.com.
• AAA expects domestic air travel to rebound, followed eventually by international travel.
• AAA has seen a slight surge in bookings recently for 2021 and beyond – some travelers are booking river cruises and ocean cruises. The Alaska cruise season was put on hold this summer, so travelers are already booking for 2021 to secure reservations before inventory is scarce.

64 percent of recent AAA Western and Central New York travel arrangements have been made over the phone. In just a few days of opening, hundreds of people did visit the three AAA offices that are open, but those numbers are down considerably compared to last year. AAA will accommodate the needs of individuals however they feel most comfortable – in person, via email, over the phone, or at AAA.com.

AAA reminds travelers to keep social distancing, and always make personal hygiene a priority (face masks, hand sanitizer, gloves when needed) to avoid the spread of any germs.

If you are considering a summer road trip, now is a good time to pack a safety kit for your vehicle including jumper cables, a phone charger, water and snacks in case your vehicle becomes disabled on the roadway.