AAA Western and Central New York chose Travel Tuesday, which happened to be National Virtual Vacation Day, to announce the top destinations for Easter travelers. “A year ago, all we could do was vacation virtually, but this year, people are traveling,” explained Elizabeth Carey, director of public relations at AAA Western and Central New York. “The Easter travel season is here, and with restrictions and quarantine requirements loosening up, along with a pent-up demand for travel, we are seeing a surge in travel bookings at AAA.”

Here’s a look at top destinations booked for Easter week through AAA Western and Central New York:
 
1.    Orlando
2.    Fort Lauderdale
3.    Punta Cana (Dominican Republic)
4.    Montego Bay (Jamaica)
5.    Nashville
6.    Miami
7.    Virginia
8.    Cancun
9.    Turks & Caicos
10.    Tampa/Las Vegas/Hawaii/Bahamas
 
“As COVID-19 vaccines start to become more widely available, many Americans are eagerly awaiting their next vacation,” explained Brian Murray, director of travel at AAA Western and Central New York. “For some that will mean a trip for Easter Break, which is a tradition for many area families.”

Murray noted that AAA Western and Central New York has seen an uptick in the number of visitors to area offices with the milestone of 5,000 visitors reached between March 1 and 24. 

Aside from the top Easter destinations, AAA Western and Central New York is seeing an increase in bookings for international trips beginning later this year with many travelers booking now for 2022 and even 2023. 

While in-person, phone and email appointments are available to book travel, AAA Travel Manager Christine Randise announced a new option that’s called AAA Travel Plus – a team of ten senior travel sales advisors who work remotely across Western and Central New York offering travelers convenient flexibility. Video conferencing is available for vacation planning or the advisors can meet with travelers at their favorite coffee shop even on nights or weekends.

Why should travelers book a virtual video visit? It’s socially safe, convenient, and easy.  Multiple parties can even join in from as many separate locations as needed. Speaking of safety, AAA representatives advise travelers to follow CDC guidelines and to pack masks and hand sanitizer when traveling. More safety tips can be found at www.AAA.com/Travel.

While air travel is increasing, road trips are expected to be popular this spring and summer. The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is now $2.86, down two cents from last week. Motorists can benefit from comparing pump prices before filling up with the AAA Mobile App - a convenient option to find the lowest gas prices in a given area. Plus, the app is the quickest way to request roadside assistance. Learn more at www.AAA.com/Mobile.