Don’t Make Me Have to Stop This Car! Traditional Family Road Trip is This Year’s Top Way to Save Money
CHICAGO, IL — May 19, 2003 — As Americans make vacation plans this year they’re most likely to revert back to the vacation they took as kids – the traditional family road trip.
According to a survey by CoolSavings, Inc. and Rand McNally, the road trip is the top choice for vacationers this year (70%). This is no surprise since 60% believe their budget is the most important factor when planning a vacation and 89% reported their vacation budgets would either stay the same or decrease compared to last year’s budgets. To save time and money when planning for their vacations, more than half of respondents (57%), said they visit travel sites to search for travel deals, tips and ideas.
"These results show that the all-American road trip is as popular as ever," said Michael K. Hehir, president and CEO of Rand McNally. "Now consumers are using the Web to plan their whole road trip by using online maps and driving directions, and researching interesting things to see and do on the way."
"Many Americans are reliving great memories of their childhood family road trips - this time as the parent," said Matthew Moog, president and CEO of CoolSavings. "And while some things have stayed the same, others, such as using the Internet as a powerful resource for saving time and money on vacation planning, have changed and improved dramatically."
Diversions - Electronics Topped the Shopping List
Many parents reported gearing up for the trip by recently purchasing or intending to purchase electronics -- music CDs (45%), electronic games (41%) and a TV with VCR or DVD (31%) topped the shopping list. A laptop computer (15%) and mini-fridge (14%) also made the list.
Vacation Prep - Mom vs. Dad
With busier households, parents are sharing much of the vacation preparation duties, though Mom still has her hand in the majority of the pre-travel prep work, especially packing. But, also true to tradition, Dad still does most of the driving.
"The finding that women more often are the primary catalysts for vacation plans reaffirms what we have experienced over the last six years on our consumer savings site, coolsavings.com," commented Moog. "With a database of more than 73% women, we know first hand the great extent of their activity in the travel category."
The Classic Threats!
But some things never change. For generations, parents have begged, bribed and threatened their restless passengers in order to keep peace in the car. When adult respondents were asked to select their own parents` memorable quotes, 61% chose: "Don`t make me have to stop this car!" Another 12% remembered: "We`ll turn this car around if you ask again," while the remaining respondents were kept in line with other idle threats.
The survey is part of an ongoing series that CoolSavings conducts through their Web site www.coolsavings.com on consumer attitudes toward spending and saving, and how costs affect purchase behaviors. Consumers visit coolsavings.com to take advantage of valuable savings and information on brand-name stores, products and services.
CoolSavings conducted the online survey between May 8 and May 13, 2003. The survey sample comprises 2,451 unique responders.
NOTE TO EDITORS: The full data report and detailed geographic information are also available.
About Rand McNally
Rand McNally & Company, founded in 1856, is America`s indispensable travel guide, providing mapping, routing and trip-planning tools for the consumer, business, education and commercial transportation markets. The company produces print and electronic products featuring national and local maps for the United States and Canada, including the Rand McNally Road Atlas and the Thomas Guide®. Rand McNally offers trip planning on randmcnally.com and operates retail stores across the United States. For more information, call 800/333-0136 or visit www.randmcnally.com.
About CoolSavings
CoolSavings is an online direct marketing and media company that provides smarter solutions to help marketers reach their target consumers. Combining a broad distribution network, sophisticated analytics and proprietary technology with superior customer service, we enable a wide variety of advertisers to identify and engage their best customers among our more than 24 million registered households.
* CoolSavings 2002 survey data
CoolSavings is a registered trademark of CoolSavings, Inc. Rand McNally is a registered trademark of Rand McNally & Company. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release regarding CoolSavings` business that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the statements under "Business Outlook" and other statements regarding the Company`s expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies. Where possible, such forward-looking statements have been identified by use of words such as "target," "forecast," "budget," "believe," "expects" and similar expressions. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, both general and specific to the matters discussed in this press release, may cause CoolSavings` actual results and performance to differ materially from the future results and performance expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Among these risks are the Company`s ability to obtain additional debt and/or equity financing, the uncertainties related to CoolSavings` unproven business model in a rapidly evolving marketplace, and CoolSavings` ability to protect its patents, trademarks and propriety rights. These and other important factors, including those mentioned in various Securities and Exchange Commission filings made periodically by CoolSavings, For further discussion of some of the risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in CoolSavings` Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC. CoolSavings undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or developments or changed circumstances.
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