OKLAHOMA AMONG LEAST EXPENSIVE STATES FOR A VACATION, AAA SAYS

Annual AAA survey shows Tulsa is the least expensive city and Oklahoma City is the fourth least expensive of the 49 large U.S. cities surveyed.

According to the 2008 edition of AAA’s annual Vacation Costs Survey, the recommended travel budget for two adults traveling together in the U.S. is an average of $244 per day for lodging and meals.

Oklahoma is the sixth least expensive state with an average cost for lodging and meals of $179.80 per day for two adults.

Tulsa is the least expensive of the 49 large U.S. cities surveyed with an average cost of $178.78, followed by Albuquerque, $178.91; Wichita, $193.97; Oklahoma City, $194.69; and Fresno, Calif., $206.84.

“While you can expect higher lodging rates in metropolitan areas and during peak travel seasons,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma, “travelers can save by

making advance reservations, shopping around and taking advantage of discounts.”

According to the AAA survey, the average U.S. cost for lodging is $164 per night, double occupancy, based on the most recent published rates for AAA Approved® accommodations listed in the AAA TourBook® guides. For two adults traveling and dining together, AAA recommends budgeting $80 a day for meals, not including tips and beverages. These costs are based on dining at full-service restaurants.

If traveling by car, AAA suggests visiting AAAFuelCostCalculator.com to estimate fuel costs, based on your specific trip and your make and model vehicle. Use the AAA TripTik® Travel Planner at www.AAA.com to find the best route.

The most expensive city for vacationers is Honolulu, where the average published prices for meals and lodging for two adults total $673.13 per day, followed by New York City at $606.38; Miami-Miami Beach, $370.29; San Diego, $361.35; and Las Vegas, $357.92.

The most economical state choices include North Dakota, with an estimated daily food and lodging cost of $158.75, followed by Nebraska, $159.65; Kansas, $164.62; Iowa, $169.81; South Dakota, $174.83; and Oklahoma.

Actual lodging rates will vary according to factors including region, season and discounts available. Visit www.AAA.com or talk to a travel agent to book lodging and determine exact costs. If traveling with additional people, AAA advises contacting the property in advance for an extra-person charge. However, if traveling with children within an age limit set by management – usually up to 14 – they may stay free.

Meal costs can be reduced by eating the main meal at midday to take advantage of lower lunch prices at restaurants. Many restaurants also offer children’s menus and

“early bird” dinner specials at reduced prices.

AAA helps consumers maximize their vacation dollars by planning ahead. AAA members who visit www.AAA.com to book a hotel room are more likely to find a better rate there than on other leading Web sites, according to a recent survey. In a review of several online travel booking sites, www.AAA.com offered AAA members the best publicly-available rate at partner hotels 69 percent of the time.

AAA has been tracking vacation costs since 1950, when the average daily cost for meals and lodging was $13. The 2008 Vacation Costs Survey cannot be directly compared to 2007 estimates because of changes in available data and the way it is calculated.

AAA’s meal and lodging costs are based on published prices from more than 60,000 AAA Approved and Diamond Rated® lodgings and restaurants listed in AAA TourBook travel guides.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members (326,000 in Oklahoma) with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA Oklahoma can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com