Prices are skyrocketing and the dollar is down: What that means for holiday travel plans and tourism
High prices are having a huge effect on the travel plans of many people.
Travelling has never been more expensive, and with Trump’s backward economy, things are getting more difficult by the minute. Over the past several years the cost of moving around has ballooned, with the price of travelling roughly 20% more expensive compared with August 2019.
It’s not even that we can go into specifics, as prices have risen across the board. Fuel and lodging costs are both up, with restaurant prices up 30%.
Add that to the cost of living when it comes to bills and groceries, despite what Trump says about his favourite word, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster when it comes to finding time to relax.
Experts in the travel industry reflect the state of Trump’s economy, saying that travel for working class Americans is harder than ever, while luxury trips are booming for those who can afford it. Normal people have less room in the budget and are making different choices when it comes to getting time away.
As a result, people are sticking closer to home. Domestic travel, road trips, shorter stays are gaining ground simply because they cost less; flying overseas or long international stays are becoming impossible for people on a normal wage.
Lorraine Sileo, a senior analyst at Phocuswright, a market research company, spoke about the situation to NPR: “Things are a little tighter this year. So when you’re looking at your spending, relatively speaking, where does travel fit in when you have other expenses. We know Americans love to travel. We’ve prioritised experiences, prioritized spending time with family and friends. But you’ll think a little differently about it.”
Here are the words Trump doesn't want you to see:
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) October 24, 2025
“When someone says, ‘Let’s impose tariffs on foreign imports,’ it looks like they’re doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products... Markets shrink and collapse, industries shut down and millions of people lose their… pic.twitter.com/qGVXUEvg0K
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Trump’s tariffs are also culpable for the skyrocketing costs. Speaking to Web in Travel, Mike McGearty, CEO & co-founder of Dublin-based Meili, said that “overall the impact of the proposed US tariffs will be negative for the entire industry. As the tariffs stand today, they will increase costs for all operators within the industry and therefore lead to increased prices. Increased pricing will dampen demand and the economic uncertainty created could reduce consumer confidence even further.”
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