TripAdvisor: Holiday travel up 5 percent in 2019

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel days of the year, with an estimated 36 percent of Americans expected to travel this year, according to TripAdvisor’s Annual Thanksgiving Travel Survey.

That’s up 5 percent from 2018.

The survey had more than 2,400 respondents.

More than one-third of travelers, 58 percent, will drive to their destination, while 35 percent plan on flying.

Based on the results, many travelers start their getaways early, as 38 percent plan on leaving on Wednesday, November 20th or earlier.

13 percent will be traveling on Thanksgiving Day and 11 percent, will be leaving on Wednesday, November 27th.

The most popular destinations in the U.S. include:

1. New York City

2. Boston

3. Los Angeles

4. Miami

5. Washington D.C.

The survey also found 26 percent plan to visit family and friends and 23 percent celebrating the holiday with a Thanksgiving dinner, the top activities are:

1. Visiting a city

2. Shopping on Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Giving Tuesday

3. Watching a movie at a theater

TripAdvisor says the least expensive day to book a flight is Wednesday, November 20th with the average round trip economy airfare being $304.

The most expensive day to travel is Wednesday, November 27th, with an average round trip airfare of $441.