AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 11, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - While Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas typically represent family get-togethers, B&B travelers are still planning romantic weekend getaways over the holidays, and high on their list for Santa is the gift of travel, according to BedandBreakfast.com™'s annual Winter Travel Trends survey*.
One out of four (25%) B&B travelers are planning a getaway for the holidays, and of those, more than a third plan to stay in a B&B. Most of them (42%) will choose a B&B because they are looking for a romantic escape for the holidays, while one-third (33%) want to get away from the holiday hustle and bustle.
When it comes to favorite holiday gifts, nearly three out of four preferred getting a weekend getaway as a holiday present compared to dinner at a restaurant (18%), clothes (5%) or jewelry (4%).
Among travelers considering a New Year's Eve getaway at a B&B, almost two-thirds (60%) prefer a quiet, romantic New Year's Eve with their partner, while 20 percent want to stay at a B&B offering special New Year's Eve activities.
"It's always fun to see a weekend getaway high on travelers' wish list for a holiday gift," says Matt Laessig, general manager of BedandBreakfast.com. "A B&B weekend provides a great opportunity for couples to recharge and keep the romance alive."
Winter Travel Trends
This winter (November through March), two thirds (66.5%) of B&B travelers plan to take two or more weekend getaways, with nearly three out of four (71%) returning to a destination they have previously visited. Nearly a third (31.77%) of B&B travelers plan to take more weekend getaways this winter compared to last – with one out of four saying they feel better about the economy and can afford to take more trips and they have vacation time they need to use.
While the majority (66%) of travelers planning weekend getaways are just looking to get away for the weekend, nearly 20 percent will celebrate a special occasion, such as birthdays (44%) and anniversaries (43%).
The top 10 winter destinations for B&B travelers, according to survey responses and destination search data on BedandBreakfast.com are:**
1. New York, NY
2. London, England
3. Fredericksburg, TX
4. Charleston, SC
5. Boston, MA
6. Asheville, NC
7. Savannah, GA
8. New Orleans, LA
9. Key West, FL
10. San Francisco
Here are other findings from BedandBreakfast.com's winter travel trends survey:
- More than two-thirds of B&B travelers have stayed in the same number or more B&Bs than the previous year.
- Three out of four (78%) are looking for value travel and will stay in affordable accommodations, and agree that B&Bs provide more value than hotels (75%).
- While the majority of B&B travelers (71%) return to the same destinations for their winter weekend getaways, nearly three out of four choose a different B&B in the destination for new and different experiences.
- The top reasons B&B travelers choose B&Bs are the character of the B&B (27%), unique experiences (20%), intimate quality (12%) and free breakfast (10%).
- Three out of four B&B travelers (77%) are ages 35-65.
BedandBreakfast.com is the most comprehensive global site for inspiring, planning and booking bed and breakfast properties. The BedandBreakfast.com Getaway Gift Card is a great holiday gift; it never expires or declines in value, and has no blackout dates.
*BedandBreakfast.com online survey of more than 800 B&B travelers in mid-October.
**Based on most popular BedandBReakfast.com page searches from September 1, 2014-November 2, 2014 and 2014 traveler survey
About BedandBreakfast.com
BedandBreakfast.com, based in Austin, Texas, is the most comprehensive global site for finding bed and breakfast properties, with more than 11,000 properties worldwide, representing nearly 75,000 rooms. BedandBreakfast.com helps travelers find and book the ideal B&B or small inn through informative descriptions, photos, and more than 300,000 consumer reviews. BedandBreakfast.com offers convenient gift cards welcomed at more than 4,000 B&Bs in the United States and Canada, with no restrictions or blackout dates. It is owned by HomeAway, Inc., the worldwide leader in online vacation rentals.
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