Travelers share some travel patterns, regardless of their lifestage. Highlighted below are the more universal travel characteristics.

• Travelers generally restrict their travel to one state or country per trip.

• Pleasure trips to visit family and friends rank as the number one reason for traveling.

• Most travelers drive their own vehicles to their destinations. Flying is the second most popular transportation mode.

• The great majority of trips include an overnight stay.

• Hotels, motels, bed and breakfast establishments and private homes represent the preferred places to spend the night while traveling.

• Overall, travelers average about one activity while on their trip; the average is 1.7 among those who participated in at least one of the listed activities.

• Shopping's universal appeal places it first on the list of activities among travelers.

Two factors appear to drive travel behaviors more than anything else: a traveler's age and the presence of children in the household. Thus, lifestage categories, defined in part by the number of people in the household and marital status impact travel patterns far less. For example, Older Singles share some travel characteristics with other Singles, but more often resemble Retired Older Couples. Similarly, Young Singles and Young Couples travel much the same way. However, the Parents lifestage, unlike the others, is unique in that the Young, Middle and Older lifestages are more similar, although they certainly share some traits with other travelers their age. The six groups as they naturally tend to cluster include:

• Young Singles and Young Couples

• Middle Singles and Working Older Couples

• Older Singles and Retired Older Couples

• Young and Middle Parents

• Older Parents

• Roommates

These clusters and their common travel profiles are highlighted as follows.

Young Singles and Young Couples

These two lifestages have the most in common of all the lifestage groups. Compared to other travelers, Young Singles and Young Couples are more likely to: travel for business purposes, fly, spend two to three nights away, participate in the nightlife or dancing, carry VISA, American Express or other unspecified credit cards, and belong to a health or fitness club.

The primary difference rests in their demographic profile. Though more Young Singles possess college degrees and work in professional and managerial occupations, Young Couples make more money, because of their dual income households. Consequently, Young Couples more often own their homes and products like VCRs, cellular phones, PCs, motor homes and RVs, and cable television.

Middle Singles and Working Older Couples

The travel characteristics of Middle Singles and Working Older Couples mirror those of Young Singles and Young Couples in two important ways. Although somewhat less pronounced, these two groups are also more likely to: travel for business purposes, and fly.

Middle Singles and Working Older Couples also share the following traits: carry American Express or AT&T Universal credit cards, and belong to AARP and AAA.

Middle Singles and Working Older Couples, like Young Singles and Young Couples, tend to be well-educated, most holding a college degree. But Working Older Couples, by definition, are more likely to be employed and because of their dual income household status, earn more household income. As a result, Working Older Couples are more likely to own their homes, carry more of the listed credit cards and are greater consumers of products like VCRs, cellular phones, PCs, motor homes and RVs, and cable television. In addition, they more often belong to AARP, AAA and warehouse/price clubs.

Older Singles and Retired Older Couples

Generally, these two lifestages reflect retirees who have more time to travel, but limited incomes. Compared to other travelers, Older Singles and Retired Older couples are more likely to: travel to more than one place take extremely short (day) trips, or extremely long (10+ night) trips travel for pleasure, specifically to visit friends and family, gamble, and belong to AARP, and to a lesser degree AAA.

Both groups are typically less educated than other travelers, but Retired Older Couples are more likely than Older Singles to have college degrees and higher household incomes.

Young and Middle Parents

The primary difference between these two lifestages is the age of their children. But they share much in common and their travel behaviors reflect their need to accommodate their children. Young and Middle Parents are more likely than other travelers to: travel during the summer when the kids are out of school (July and August), drive their own vehicle to their destination, participate in outdoor activities and visit theme or amusement parks, own a VCR, PC or cell phone, and belong to a warehouse or price club.

Young Parents are somewhat more likely than Middle Parents to have a college degree or a managerial/professional occupation. But the two groups have similar household incomes.

Older Parents

Older Parents represent a composite of several lifestages. For example, Older Parents mirror other Parents in that they take more trips during July and August. They also more often own a VCR, PC or cell phone and belong to warehouse or price clubs.

However, like Older Singles and Retired Older Couples, they are more likely to belong to AARP and AAA.

Finally, they resemble Working Older Couples in that they more often stay in a hotel, motel or bed and breakfast, and spend $500 or more while on their trip.

Roommates

Roommates mirror the Young Singles and Young Couples, Middle Singles and Working Older Couples in several key respects. They fly more often to their destinations. In addition, they are more likely to carry the American Express card, enjoy the nightlife and dancing, and belong to a health and fitness club.

What distinguishes them is their propensity for staying busy. They participate in the highest number of activities, on average. They also more often carry other unspecified credit cards, own a VCR or PC, subscribe to cable TV or belong to AAA.

Order a copy of the Travel Profile: Singles, Couples, Parents and Roommates.