Community Corner

Rise in Locals Leaving Town Expected

More Southern Californians will travel this Labor Day weekend than did so in 2009, and 91 percent of them will venture by car, experts predict.

Embarking on a good, old-fashioned road trip is the preferred method of travel for some South Bay residents, and for the majority of Southern California travelers who are planning Labor Day weekend getaways, experts say.

Ninety-one percent of the 2.5 million Southern Californians planning to travel this weekend are expected to do so by car, according to the Auto Club of Southern California.

And the total number of locals expected to leave town is 11 percent greater than last year, which was 2.26 million.

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"Throughout this year, we have seen a steady increase in people making travel plans again," said Filomena Andre, the Auto Club's vice president of travel products and services, in a statement.

South Bay resident George Lotzer, 69, said that he's excited to drive to the Colorado River for the holiday weekend.

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Local Alicia Polino, 41, said that she and three friends are planning to pile into a car for a getaway to Baja, CA. 

Neither Polino nor her friends are working full time because of the weak economy, so a road trip is the most financially feasible type of vacation for them.

Many travelers are watching their wallets, Andre said. "The continued theme for this Labor Day weekend is that travelers want to make sure they are getting the best possible value for their money."

Venturing by car remains one of the cheapest forms of long-distance transportation, according to travel agents. Gas prices have started to drop below $3.10 in most of Southern California, the Auto Club reports.

Nationwide, the number of people expected to take a Labor Day weekend road trip rose 10 percent, reaching 34.4 million, according to the Auto Club. A road trip is defined as traveling at least 50 miles away from home by car with an overnight stay.

According to a poll of Auto Club travel agents, the top destinations this weekend for Southern California travelers are:

1. Las Vegas

2. San Diego

3. Santa Barbara

4. San Francisco

5. Monterey

Readers: What are some other out-of-town destinations you plan to travel to during Labor Day weekend?


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