High gasoline prices are not the only obstacle travelers face as vacation season approaches.
A new AAA survey shows that overall U.S. vacation costs, including lodging and meals, have increased by 5.4 percent since last year.
Maryland was ranked the 13th most expensive state out of 50; D.C. came in second.
“Obviously, rate increases for lodgings are mostly a result of supply and demand, especially in major markets,” said Ragina Averella, a spokeswoman for Towson-based AAA Mid-Atlantic. “In addition to rising energy costs, hotels and restaurants are paying higher wages.”
The survey shows that a family with two adults and two children can expect to pay an average of $261 per day for food and lodging. Lodging rates will average $141 a night, up about 9 percent from last year. Meals will cost $120, an increase of about 2 percent.
Maryland?s lodging and meal rates are substantially higher than the average: $283.89 for food and lodging, up 6.6 percent. D.C. rates are almost twice as much, at $515.92.
The most expensive state for vacationers is Hawaii, where the daily cost of food and lodging for a family of four will average $559 per day. Other destinations with a high average daily cost include Nevada ($348), Rhode Island ($329) and New York at $329.
Travelers looking for bargains should look at these less expensive states: North Dakota and Nebraska, with an average daily cost of $191; Kansas, $193; Iowa, $196, and Oklahoma, $200.
“It?s no accident that Hawaii and D.C., with the highest lodging and meal costs, also have the highest gas prices,” said Averella.
Neighboring states
Lodging & meal costs:
» Delaware: $293.76
» Pennsylvania: $255.91
» Virginia: $247.64
Source: AAA
