Home may be where the heart is, but not the suitcase. That's because some travelers visiting family for the holidays are opting for their own hotel room rather than mom's place.
New York-based Eric Katzman used to stay with his friends and family when he and his wife had only one child, but now that his kids are about to turn 13 and 10, he realized his family needs more space and privacy.
For either Thanksgiving or Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, his family heads down to a small coastal town in Florida to visit his in-laws, but now they book a nearby hotel for more room and privacy.
"When they were little, it was a little easier," he told USA TODAY. "As the kids got older, they need more space."
According to HotelTonight's first-ever holiday trend report, 61% of Americans would rather shack up in a nearby hotel instead of at the homes of friends or family during their holiday trips.
