The busy summer travel season is over, but Americans are not putting their luggage away just yet. Three -quarters (75%) of Georgians are planning an overnight vacation this Fall, according to a recent AAA Consumer Pulse survey.

“Autumn is a popular time to take a well deserved vacation,” said Garrett Townsend, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “It can also be a more affordable time to travel as prices tend to be lower, because students are back in school.”

Peak Season Travel (Mar–Aug/Nov–Dec) vs. Off-Season Travel (Sept–Oct/Jan–Feb)

Prefer off-season travel – 36%
Prefer peak season travel – 16%
No preference – 48%

Slightly more than one-third of consumers polled (36%) say they prefer off-season travel. Nearly Forty-percent are very likely to take an off-season vacation in the next 6 months. Half of travelers surveyed (49%) plan to take a vacation October-December.

Most travel plans (85%) keep Georgians within the United States, with the common budget (29%) being $501-$1,000. Thirty-one percent of travelers will fly, while most (64%) will take advantage of low gas prices and drive. Those traveling in the next three months will likely find the cheapest gas prices for this time of year since 2004.

“Driving may be the most cost-effective option for travelers,” Townsend said. “Low oil prices have pushed pump prices down, and gasoline could get another 10-20 cents cheaper as supplies rise and demand dips.”

When considering a flight, three out of five Georgian travelers say they are more likely to drive now that gasoline is cheaper than last year. However, the cost of gas is not the most important factor in travelers’ decision to take a flight.

Top 7 things Georgia travelers consider when deciding whether to fly:

Cost of airfare - (67%)
Trip distance / length - (69%)
Amount of luggage - (33%)
Gas prices - (31%)
Number of travelers - (31%)
Traveling with pets - (14%)
Afraid of flying - (8%)

When given the choice of two continents Georgians want to travel the most, the selections were made in the following order:

Europe - (65%)
North America - (52%)
Australia - (23%)
Asia - (14%)
South America - (17%)
Africa - (10%)
Antarctica - (3%)

"Europe remains a top destination, because travelers can experience something new every time they visit," Townsend said. "Popular cities like Rome and Paris are absolutely beautiful in the autumn months as they are less crowded and temperatures turn cooler. Return travelers and first timers can get expert advice from travel agents like the ones at  AAA, who provide first-hand knowledge that will help Georgians travel like a tourist or a local."