Is It Cheaper, or More Expensive, to Travel Now? Both, It Turns Out.
Airfares are down, so it's a good time to travel.
But the dollar is down, too, so it's not a good time to go abroad.
Can both be right?
Much depends on your budget for discretionary spending, but the volatile American economy is having a whiplash effect on travel planning.
In a recent survey, the financial website Bankrate found that fewer than half of respondents planned to travel this summer. Of those not traveling, 65 percent said they couldn't afford it.
According to an analysis of its credit card data, Bank of America found airline and lodging spending was weaker so far in 2025 compared with the past few years.
Politics, too, may influence travel patterns. Rob Stern, a travel adviser in Raleigh, N.C., who runs the company Rob Plans Your Trip, noted a rise in interest in Alaska and Hawaii, domestic destinations he considers 'emotional comfort' places.
'The fact that I don't have any Europe travelers this summer right now and no inquiries for Europe tells me it's going to be a different kind of year,' Mr. Stern said.
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