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Memorial Day Weekend has long been considered the official kickoff to the American summer, with folks planning getaways to the shore, the campground, the mountains and family and friends in other states to celebrate the end of school and the return of sun. But this year, may be different according to a Swapalease.com online survey. They found that due to high gas prices, more than 60 percent of respondents will stay within 150 miles of home – or avoid traveling at all.
That compares to only 37 percent of responders staying home for the holiday in 2011.
"Even though gas prices have leveled off somewhat, they still hover around $3.60 a gallon, and they’ll certainly rise for the holiday weekend," said Scot Hall, EVP of Operations, of Swapalease.com. "Over half of our survey’s respondents indicated gas prices as the reason they will not drive far, clearly showing that expensive gas continues to factor strongly in people’s travel choices."
Of those who do plan to travel, 33 percent listed their plans as "vacation," with the rest visiting friends or family – indicating another effort to recoup money spent on travel.
Swapalease.com is a car lease transfer company, matching individuals who want to get out of their lease with people who are looking for short-term lease agreements. Prospective buyers can search the listings for the exact vehicle they want, and then register for a nominal fee, allowing them to use Swapalease.com’s safe online system to contact the prospective seller and close the deal. The Lifetime Buyer’s Club gives members the permanent opportunity to search Swapalease.com’s inventory of cars and contact lease owners directly.
Nearly every respondent indicated they had considered renting or leasing a more fuel-efficient vehicle to offset travel costs – with 26 percent hoping to save on skyrocketing airfares by renting a larger car that would comfortably seat the entire family.
"Lease takeover continues to be an easy, excellent way to save money via a fuel-efficient car at a budget-friendly price," said Hall. "Swapalease.com’s user-friendly format is great for those looking to get out of a lease, and those looking to pick one up."
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
