Spring breakers are more budget-conscious this year due to concerns about high prices caused by inflation.

Price is the most important factor in consumers’ spring break travel decisions this year, as consumers continue to look for ways to cut back on spending amid continuing concerns about high prices caused by inflation.

When asked what was the biggest influence on their spring break travel decisions, 43 percent of respondents answered “budget and cost-saving opportunities,” making it by far the most popular selection in a new consumer survey conducted by the purchase platform Attain.

Spring breakers’ budget-conscious decision-making was reflected in the average transaction amounts for hotels and airlines in 2024, which were essentially flat from the year before.

Spending on rental cars increased during spring break season (the first four months of the year) in 2024, however, suggesting that consumers tried to save on travel expenses by driving to destinations instead of flying. The great American road trip lives on.

These responses and spending trends are in line with previous Attain analyses that have consistently found consumers are price-sensitive due to the high prices caused by the historic inflation during the pandemic. The pullback on consumer spending started last fall, as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and continued through the rest of the holiday shopping season.

Now it seems price concerns are continuing into the new year as inflation continues to pose a drag on the economy. It’s a stark change from the “vibecession” of the previous four years, in which consumer spending remained despite some of the highest inflation rates in American history and lackluster consumer sentiment. 

Spending now seems more in line with the economic realities of higher prices and consumer perception of the economy. The inflation rate rose in December for the third consecutive month, and consumer sentiment was down in January, meaning the reduction in spending might continue. 

All this consumer angst about their pocketbooks might be why consumers are prioritizing rest and relaxation this spring break. When asked what their top priority was this spring break, 35 percent of survey respondents said it was “relaxing and unwinding,” narrowly edging out “staying within budget” (31 percent) as the most popular response.

In a separate question, more than a third (35 percent) of consumers said relaxation was their primary motivation when choosing what activities to partake in while on spring break. The second most popular response was spending quality time with family and friends.

The new analysis underscores a recurring theme in Attain’s coverage: consumers are wary of high prices, but they are willing to spend on affordable goods (like McDonald’s) and services (spring break travel) that provide relief from their financial stress.