AAA Chicago Says Drop in Gas Prices Will Fuel Labor Day Weekend Travel

AURORA, Ill., Aug. 29, 2006 -- With fuel prices slipping down to around $2.90 per gallon, AAA Chicago expects no let up in travel for the Labor Day holiday weekend. AAA estimates that 35.2 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, a 1.2 percent increase from the 34.8 million who traveled last year.

"Labor Day weekend signals the traditional end of a summer travel season," says Nicole Niemi, AAA Chicago's spokesperson. "Many people take advantage of a long weekend for one last getaway and lower fuel prices mean many people will be driving."

Approximately 29.6 million travelers (84 percent of all holiday travelers) expect to go by motor vehicle, just over the 29.1 million who drove a year ago.

Although prices may vary by the weekend, currently in Illinois, the price of regular unleaded is $2.99 per gallon, which is 18 cents lower than a month ago. In Indiana, a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline costs $2.73 per gallon compared to $3.01 per gallon during last month.

Eleven percent of holiday travelers, (3.9 million) plan to travel by airplane, down from the 4.0 million that flew last Labor Day holiday. A projected 1.6 million vacationers (4.5 percent) will go by train, bus, or other mode of transportation, down from about 1.7 million a year ago.

The Great Lakes region, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, will see approximately 4.6 million auto travelers and roughly 400,000 air travelers.

To help ease the pain of high travel costs this Labor Day weekend, travelers should take time to shop around to find the best hotel value. Even though gasoline will still make up a relatively small part of many families' travel expenses, it's worth taking steps to save on gasoline and improve fuel economy to help deal with high summer gas prices.

  AAA's gas saving tips for vacation travelers include:
   -- Take the most direct route, reduce your chances of getting lost and
      avoid known  holiday traffic bottlenecks by getting directions with
      AAA.com's TripTik(R) travel planner or from public Web sites like
      www.AAAmaps.com.
   -- Shop around for the least expensive gas by watching prices before you
      need to fill-up. AAA's Fuel Finder website helps drivers find the
      lowest cost fuel at local stations. Access the AAA Fuel Finder at
      local AAA club Web sites.
   -- Drive your most fuel efficient vehicle that works for your trip.
   -- Know before you go by using AAA's www.fuelcostcalculator.com Web site.
      Just plug in the make and model of your car and where you are
      traveling and you will get an estimate of how much you will be
      spending on gas for the trip.
   -- Keep your car well-maintained by keeping tires properly inflated and
      having a professional technician inspect your vehicle before you go.
   -- Drive gently.  Excessive braking and accelerating reduces fuel
      economy, as does driving faster than highway speed limits.

AAA's Leisure Travel Index shows other vacation costs up from Labor Day 2005. Hotel rates have increased, averaging 5 percent higher for a moderately-priced hotel room for the 20 top destinations used in the comparison. Car rental rates have skyrocketed, increasing by an average of 14 percent from last years prices, while airfares have decreased about 1 percent.

Research for holiday travel is based on a national telephone survey of 1,600 adults by the Travel Industry Association of America, which conducts special research for AAA.

This year AAA Chicago celebrates 100 years of service, as 2006 mark's the membership organization's centennial celebration. Formed in Chicago in 1906, the company represents roadway interests for motorists and pedestrians and serves as a leading advocate for various traffic safety and travel-related issues.

For more information on any aspect of AAA Chicago's breadth of service including AAA's home, auto and life insurance products; travel-related services, AAA's Show Your Card & Save program; and/or any AAA membership service including emergency roadside assistance, please visit our Web site at www.aaa.com or call us toll-free at 1-877-YOUR AAA (968-7222).

AAA Chicago offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services. It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the largest affiliation of AAA clubs in the Midwest, with 4.1 million members in eight states. ACG clubs belong to the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization, with more than 48 million members in the United States and Canada.