Survey: Despite Price Hikes, Travelers Say They’re Still Booking Trips

Gen Xers Most Likely to Find Travel Less Affordable in 2026 (but They're Booking the Most Trips Anyway)

Consumers ages 45 to 64—mostly Generation Xers—were most likely to find the cost of travel less affordable than in 2025, yet were the least restrained from making travel plans, according to Experian's survey.

Most travelers ages 55 to 64 (72%) said they find travel costs somewhat or much less affordable when compared to 2025, 5 percentage points more than the overall average of 67% finding travel costs less affordable this year. The 55-to-64 age group isn't letting affordability cloud their skies that much, however. Nearly half (47%) indicate they've already booked a trip in the next 12 months, besting the overall average by 13 percentage points.

Question: Compared with a year ago, how affordable does leisure travel feel to you today?

Among consumers 65 and older, the vast majority (78%) indicated they feel travel has gotten less affordable, and only about 1 in 3 have travel booked in the next year.

The youngest consumers in this survey (ages 18 to 34) weren't as likely as the overall average to say they found travel less affordable this year, but also weren't nearly as likely to have travel booked in the next 12 months.

Question: Which best describes your leisure travel plans for the next 12 months?

Interestingly, a consumer's income didn't seem to be a factor in how affordable one perceives leisure travel to be in 2026: A solid two-thirds majority said they find it somewhat or definitely less affordable, whether their annual income is $25,000 or more than 10 times that.

Ticket Price the Most Important Consideration Among International Event Vacationers in 2026

This spring, sudden increases in gas prices were expected to impact consumers to varying degrees. But for some vacationers this summer, it's the price of admission that's the primary concern.

Consumers heading to a major sporting event like this summer's World Cup say the cost of admission to the event itself is what concerns them the most. Some 39% of consumers cited event ticketing as the cost they found most concerning, with major travel expenses like airfare receiving far less consideration.

Question: When planning travel for a major sporting event, which costs concern you the most?

It's small wonder that the cost of major events is increasingly a sore point for would-be travelers. A canvas of ticket prices in recent headlines includes $10,000 tickets for this year's NBA Finals; nearly-as-expensive tickets for this year's World Cup finals in North American cities, costing thousands of dollars for certain matches; and summer concert tickets costing several hundred dollars. Meanwhile, dynamic pricing and other ticket distribution schemes make price discovery and budgeting for an event more difficult.

Tickets are becoming expensive enough that many travelers are willing to take on debt to finance entry to a major event. If it's a big event like the NBA Finals, the World Cup or the show of the summer, the vast majority (79%) are ready to consider financing the experience, according to our survey.

Question: How willing would you be to take on additional expenses or debt to attend a once-in-a-lifetime event like the Olympics?

Vacation Preferences Vary by Region

Overall, the classic American Road Trip remains the most popular way to travel among Americans in 2026: 42% plan to be behind a wheel.

Question: Which best describes the next leisure trip you are most likely to take?

But other modes of vacationing are more popular in some regions of the U.S. than others. When Experian asked consumers what type of travels they're planning to undertake in the next 12 months, each region had its favorite.

Midwesterners most prefer road trips; travelers in Western states said they prefer air travel; those in the Northeast most prefer international travel; and Southerners prefer cruises, resorts or theme parks more than those in other regions. One reason for travel is relatively uniform across the U.S.: People travel for family at similar rates across the country.

Among consumers with no plan to travel for pleasure in the next 12 months, 33% said travel costs were too high, while another 26% cited saving money and reducing debt as more of a priority than travel. Another 14% can't find the time to travel due to work or family obligations. Only 18% were simply uninterested in travel, independent of the costs.

Getting and Spending Rewards Points: Not a Must for Most, But…

Whether they earn points or miles, most vacationers appear to consider incentive program rewards as a nice-to-have, rather than something that drives where they're going this summer. Only a third of the roughly 1,000 travelers surveyed considered points or miles transactions an important factor for holiday travel this summer.

However, that minority is much more willing to alter the details of their vacation if it means more miles to spend, either now or in the future. For one, they're more willing to take on debt or additional expenses to attend an event like the next Olympic games than other consumers.

Consumers who value miles and points were much more interested in traveling to see these top-tier events than others—28% of rewards-motivated travelers versus only 9% who aren't. They were also much more likely to expect to use some or all of their rewards to defray travel costs (47% of those who value points more versus only 12% of the indifferent).

Another difference is their willingness to go into debt to see top-tier events such as the upcoming Olympics as well as the pricey events mentioned earlier. Consumers who place greater importance on reward and miles spending were much more willing to go into debt (47%) to attend one (or more) of these events than those who don't (25%).

The Bottom Line

Although miles- and rewards-based credit cards have a dedicated following, even the most generous loyalty programs won't result in a net financial benefit if balances on those cards aren't quickly paid down. Credit card interest rates are still near record highs, and typically rewards-based credit cards have even higher APRs than those that don't offer rewards. While once-in-a-lifetime events may be worth financing for some fans this year, quickly paying down vacation balances will be the best way many travelers can save money this season.

For those who already have credit card balances from previous travel, refinancing may be a good option. Consolidating debt into a 0% intro APR balance transfer credit card is one approach. And personal loans, which let consumers repay a loan over a period of just a few months up to five years, can be used to manage the cost of once-in-a-lifetime events you've already attended or for an upcoming event. Experian's Marketplace allows consumers to compare credit cards and use the Experian personal loan comparison platform to find the one best suited to their needs.

Experian can help you discover rewards opportunities, compare personalized card recommendations and get more value from the cards you already have. Based on your unique credit profile, Experian delivers personalized guidance that goes beyond traditional rewards marketplaces—helping you make the best decisions with the cards and rewards you already have. You can find this feature when logged in to your Experian membership, or in the Experian app.