FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vacation Trends for Virginia’s Top Leisure Destinations by Worldwide Vacation Lodging Directory Rentalo.com
Hotels versus Vacation Rentals Comparison Shopping Trends, Vacation Planning Trends, and Vacation Themes Trends for Virginia’s Top Vacation Destinations
Miami, FL. March 9, 2010 – The leading lodging web site Rentalo.com reveals the findings of a recent study conducted on 7,670 opted-in travelers who searched for vacation rentals in Virginia’s top leisure destinations from July 2008 to January 2010. This study validates recent forecasts by travel experts on consumers’ interests in comparison shopping. In addition, Rentalo.com shares some interesting findings on traveler’s vacation planning habits and destination’s vacation themes for Virginia’s top vacation destinations including Virginia Beach, Wintergreen (Blue Ridge Mountains), Williamsburg, and Luray.
Virginia’s Beach Leisure Destination: Virginia Beach
Comparison Shopping Trends for Virginia Beach: The study revealed that 58 percent of the vacation planners who inquired for a place to stay showed interest in comparison shopping among Virginia Beach vacation rentals, bed breakfasts, and hotels. 49 percent of leisure travelers showed interest in staying nearby Virginia Beach in cities like Sandbridge Beach, Salem, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth.
Planning Trends for Virginia Beach: 47 percent were early planners who started their vacation planning 1 to 2 months in advance, 34 percent were from last minute travelers inquiring within the last 30 days prior to the arriving to their Virginia lodging, and the remaining 19 percent were travelers planning 1 to 2 months prior to arriving to Virginia Beach.
Vacation Themes for Virginia Beach: Virginia Beach’s most popular vacation theme is family reunions with 50 percent of the inquiries requesting accommodations for groups of more than 4 adults or families kids, 15 percent for couples on romantic getaways, and 3 percent for people traveling alone.
Virginia’s Top Mountain Destination: Wintergreen (Blue Ridge Mountains)
Comparison Shopping Trends for Wintergreen: According to the study, 88 percent of the trip planners showed interest in comparison shopping among Wintergreen vacation rentals, cabins, bed and breakfasts, and hotels. 28 percent showed interest in staying in the vicinity of Wintergreen which includes Nellysford, Afton, Schuyler, Waynesboro, Fishersville, Steeles Tavern, and Raphine.
Vacation Planning Trends for Wintergreen: 60 percent were from last minute travelers inquiring within the last 30 days prior to the arrival date to their Blue Ridge Mountain lodging, 20 percent were early planners who started their vacation planning 2 or more months in advance from the travel date, and 20 percent of the inquiries were sent 1 to 2 months in advance.
Vacation Themes for Wintergreen: The most popular vacation theme for Wintergreen is family vacations and reunions with 65 percent of the traveler’s inquiries requesting accommodations for groups of more than 4 adults or families with kids, 25 percent for couples, and 10 percent for people traveling alone.
Virginia’s Top Leisure Destination: Williamsburg
Comparison Shopping Trends for Williamsburg: According to stats collected, 64 percent of the vacation planners showed interest in comparison shopping among Williamsburg vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, hotels, and resorts. 60 percent showed interest in comparing quotes for other lodgings in Williamsburg area including Yorktown, Gloucester, and Barhamsville.
Vacation planning Trends for Williamsburg: 46 percent were from early planners inquiring 2 or more months in advance, 32 percent of the inquiries came from last minute planners who started their vacation planning within the last 30 days prior to their travel date, and 22 percent of the inquiries were sent 1 to 2 months in advance.
Vacation Theme Trends for Williamsburg: The most popular vacation theme for Williamsburg is family vacations with 47 percent of the inquiries requesting accommodations for families with children, 38 percent for groups of more than 4 adults, 9 percent for couples, and 2 percent for people traveling alone.
Trends for Texas’s Top Leisure Destination: Luray
Comparison Shopping Trends for Luray: 89 percent of the travelers who searched for short term accommodations showed interest in comparison shopping among Luray vacation rentals, bed breakfasts, and hotels. 42 percent showed interest in staying in nearby cities such as Stanley, New Market, Sperryville, and Syria.
Vacation Planning Trends for Luray: According to this study, 44 percent of the travelers were early planners who started their vacation planning 2 or more months in advance from the travel date, 35 percent were from last minute travelers inquiring within the last 30 days prior to the arrival date, and 12 percent of the inquiries were from travelers who inquired 1 to 2 months in advance.
Vacation Theme Trends for Luray: Luray ‘s most popular vacation theme is family vacations and reunions with 50 percent of the traveler’s inquiries requesting accommodations for families with children, 62 percent for groups of more than 4 adults, 18 percent for couples, and 1 percent for people traveling alone.
“Most online directories are not designed to facilitate comparison shopping for travelers.” says Alfredo Purrinos, president and founder of Rentalo.com. “Rentalo.com makes it easy for travelers to compare offers from vacation rentals, hotels, and bed and breakfasts to meet their specific lodging needs.”
Travel editors, experts, and other media publications interested in similar data pertaining to other vacation destinations, or additional consumer data statistics and facts such as budget, amenities, length of stays, peak seasons, and inventory data should contact Rentalo directly.
About Rentalo.com
Rentalo.com is a leading online travel lodging and vacation rental website. Its broad inventory of vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, and hotels is available online and via RSS feeds, affiliate distribution partners, as well as thousands of journalists and editors through e-mail, press releases, and travel publications. Through selected partnerships, Rentalo's inventory is available to an online audience of more than 100 million travelers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit rentalo.com or call 1(305) 558-5577.
Media Contact:
Carolina Plata
c.plata@rentalo.com
1-305-558-5577 ext 607