Editor's note: This article appeared in the June 25, 2008, edition of Quirk's e-newsletter.

Fewer Americans are planning summer vacations in 2008 than in 2007. One-third of those polled say they're planning a summer vacation, a 7 percent drop from the 40 percent who reported that they had a summer vacation in 2007, according to a study conducted in April 2008 by Washington, D.C., research company Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of Access America Travel Insurance and Assistance, Richmond, Va.
 
Key findings:

  • Among those who took a vacation last year, only 57 percent say they plan to travel again this summer.
  • Most of those who took a vacation last year, but do not plan to do so this year, cite economic reasons: high gas prices (20 percent), the fact that they just can't afford it (20 percent), the uncertain economy (13 percent) and a weak dollar (2 percent).
  • Among those planning to take a vacation, the primary destinations are the southern U.S. (21 percent) and the western U.S. (19 percent).
  • Some 19 percent are planning to travel outside of the country, with the top destinations being warm-weather locations such as Mexico (5 percent) and the Caribbean (5 percent).
  • Although one-third of Americans are planning to take a summer vacation in 2008, almost half of these people (48 percent) say their plans will be scaled back due to the uncertain economy. The two most likely ways in which their plans will be scaled back are eating out less (27 percent) and staying closer to home on their vacation (24 percent).

According to research from the American Society of Travel Agents, Alexandria, Va., for those who still plan on traveling, the top 10 domestic hot spots are Orlando, Fla.; Las Vegas; San Francisco; Los Angeles; Miami; Seattle; New York City; Honolulu; and San Diego.Â