More South Carolinians are expected to travel during the upcoming holiday weekend than in 2009, but they'll face rising gas prices and the possibility of congested roads and inclement weather.
"It's a Scrooge Christmas gift," Crosby said. "It could make for a tough traveling experience this Christmas season."
Holiday travel is up 3 percent from last year, according to AAA of the Carolinas. And those on the road might become a little frustrated, said Tom Crosby, a spokesman for AAA of the Carolinas.
And while Crosby's group projects a record 1.2 million South Carolinians will drive at least 50 miles during the next 11 days, there will be more than plenty of room at almost every Myrtle Beach inn. Occupancy rates for the Grand Strand are expected to hover around 15 percent this weekend, according to Taylor Damonte, director of the Clay Brittain Jr. Center for Resort Tourism. That's down from 17 percent for the same weekend in 2009, according to Damonte, who uses current occupancy rates at vacation rentals to make such predictions.
"Just because people are traveling doesn't mean they're going to vacation destinations," Damonte said. "They're likely going home this weekend or to see family. There's something about being home for Christmas."
Those going home for Christmas better put a little extra cash in their wallets for gas, though. Prices are creeping toward $3 a gallon along the Grand Strand. The statewide average of $2.85 per gallon is 40 cents per gallon more than one year ago and 20 cents per gallon more than one month ago. Prices of gas in Myrtle Beach were averaging about $2.80 a gallon Thursday.
Prices aren't expected to drop anytime soon, Crosby said. They could jump more in the coming days, he said, as inclement weather in Europe and increased travel in the United States could significantly ramp up demand. And a record number of driving travelers, coupled with stormy weather, could create travel concerns, Crosby said.
A fierce snowstorm is expected to strike the Northeast and could even leave the ground white in South Carolina on Christmas and Dec. 26. Extra drivers could clog up interstates and other thoroughfares that already see heavy traffic, according to AAA of the Carolinas.
But for many travelers along the Grand Strand, gas prices and weather concerns didn't matter.
"I come every year to see my daughter and her family here," said Ohio resident Anne Cooper while shopping at Coastal Grand mall.
"Gas was a little bit more, but it's Christmas and I'll see my family one way or the other."
Cooper's sentiments were echoed by Helen Evans, a Virginian who dined at Zaxby's in Myrtle Beach with her parents Thursday.
Evans traveled to Horry County late Tuesday and will leave Sunday.
"If gas was $20 a gallon, I'd probably still come," she said. "It's just money, and Christmas is Christmas. I'd spend it some other way anyhow."
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured site: So, Why is Wikileaks a Good Thing Again?.
for cheap flights you can find a lot of deals from more than 700 airline .. for more information visit the website : cheap flights to London
ReplyDelete