has long been a tried-and-true mantra the travel industry: If you don’t want to pay through the nose for a trip, book early, book early, book early. Yet in these post-Covid times, many travelers are doing exactly the opposite.from the airfare tracker Hopper, Americans are spending 30% less time planning trips compared to pre-pandemic 2019. Travelers are beginning to search online for a trip five weeks before departure, down from nearly seven weeks before the pandemic.
Even more notable is the explosion of hardcore last-minute Charlies. Last year, more than half of hotel bookings made on the Hopper app were for same-day check-in. That’s an 8% increase compared to 2021 and an 11% jump compared to 2020. SPONTANEITY SOARS: The percentage of travelers booking same-day trips is up a whopping 19% since 2020.More than eight in 10 Hopper users expect to spend more on travel in 2023. That’s a safe bet. According to the latest
“Flexibility is key to getting the lowest prices on flights and hotels,” says Hayley Berg, Hopper’s lead economist. That means staying