Expedia.com National Survey Reveals that Going Home For the Holidays is No Vacation
BELLEVUE, Wash. – October 29, 2002 – If the non-stop excitement of being with your loved ones for the holiday season leaves you feeling just as exhausted as you are joyful, you're not alone. According to a national survey commissioned by Expedia.com®, nearly 60 percent of Americans feel like they need a “vacation” after a holiday family visit. To help Americans overcome holiday stress, the Expedia® Holiday Travel Center offers tips for both travelers and their hosts on how to add a little “vacation” into holiday family visits.
In addition to finding that most Americans would like a vacation after their holiday trips, the survey also revealed the following holiday travel trends:
More than 64 percent of Americans say they feel the need to enjoy some “alone time” during family holidays.
While many Americans stay with their families during the holidays, accommodations can vary widely – from guest rooms to sofa beds to “wherever they can find a place to lie down.”
10 percent of Americans would rather eat an entire fruitcake in one sitting than spend a week with their in-laws.
Expedia® Holiday Travel Center Has the Solution
In addition to offering excellent travel deals, the Expedia® Holiday Travel Center (www.expedia.com/holiday) also provides travelers with helpful advice and vacation solutions to spice up the holidays. Sample travel tips found at the Holiday Travel Center:
Consider staying at a nearby hotel. Your host may appreciate the time to be alone, and you'll wake up rested and ready for festivities in the morning. Expedia.com makes it easy with Expedia® Special Rate hotels and the low price guarantee*.
Do something different this holiday season. Take your family out for fun activities like dinner cruises, museum tours, helicopter rides or a special Sunday brunch, which can all be booked with your flight or hotel reservations on Expedia.com.
“Americans can sometimes feel conflicted when it comes to the winter holiday season. While it's an exciting, festive time of year to be with family and friends, it can also be a stressful time,” said Erik Blachford, president of Expedia North America. “Expedia.com wants to do everything possible to help Americans enjoy this holiday season by offering vacation solutions that provide convenience, flexibility and savings all in one place.”
Sample Holiday Deals Available on Expedia.com (rates are based on stays from Wed, Nov. 27-Sun, Dec 1, 2002)**
Dallas to Chicago: Four nights at the Palmer House Hilton, round-trip air, and Chicago City Pass – from $430 per person.
New York to Las Angeles: Four nights at the Radisson Valley Center Hotel Los Angeles, round-trip air, one day ticket to Universal Studios Hollywood with second day free – from $527 per person.
Chicago to Orlando: Four nights at the Wyndham Orlando Resort, round-trip air, ticket for the Kennedy Space Center Tour – from $582 per person.
About Expedia, Inc.
Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) is the world's leading online travel service and the eighth largest travel agency in the U.S. Expedia's award-winning Expert Searching and Pricing (ESP) technology delivers the most comprehensive flight options available online. ESP also allows customers to dynamically build complete trips that combine flights, Expedia® Special Rate hotels and other lodging, ground transportation, and destination services and activities. Expedia's quality and leadership have been recognized in awards such as PC Magazine's “Editors' Choice” and Forbes “Favorite General Travel Site.” Expedia, Inc. is a majority-owned subsidiary of USA Interactive (NASDAQ: USAI).
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*For more information on this guarantee, see http://www.expedia.com/daily/highlights/hotel/faqs.asp
** All packages above include roundtrip air plus 4 nights' accommodation. Sample vacation packages above are per person based on double occupancy. Prices vary based on dates, availability, and departure city. More information on these offers is available at www.expedia.com. Other restrictions may apply.
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