AAA Calls Orlando, Caribbean, China Tops for Summer Travel

AAA Travel, in its travel agent and travel sales survey for summer, reports that Americans are still traveling despite rising fuel costs. The survey lists top summer vacation destinations for land, cruise and exotic vacations -- and the winners for the 2012 season are Orlando, the Caribbean and China, respectively.

AAA's top summer land vacation destinations, according to the survey, are (in order), Orlando, Fla.; Honolulu, Hawaii; Rome, Italy; London, England (apparently despite the London Olympics); and Anaheim, Calif. Orlando has consistently been the top destination for summer. AAA's top summer cruise vacation destinations are (in order), the Caribbean, Alaska, Bahamas, Europe and Bermuda. AAA's top summer exotic vacation destinations are (in order) China, Peru, The Galapagos, the Amazon and India.

 “Many Americans consider travel a mainstay to our way of life and are loyal vacationers," said Bill Sutherland, vice president of AAA Travel Services. "While some Americans may modify their travel due to rising fuel costs, those who can are still choosing to travel and they are traversing the world.”

Last year, AAA Travel said, several airlines made cost-saving adjustments by reducing seating capacity, consolidating routes, and replacing large aircraft with smaller, more-fuel-efficient airplanes. Following those capacity reductions and this year's rising fuel costs, some travel suppliers, including tour companies and cruise lines, have begun offering price incentives to attract travelers.