Vacation is back in vogue: Where are Americans going this summer?

"It shows you people are still watching their travel dollars," says Genevieve Shaw Brown, a travel expert at Travelocity.

Americans seem to have an affinity for warm weather: They also plan to visit Florida – Orlando and destinations in the southern part of the state.

For other big destinations, see the chart at top.

Are bargains still available?

Hotels might be the best deal for travelers who shop around. In addition to Vegas, cities that have average hotel rates below the national average include Portland, Ore.; Reno, Nev.; Dallas; St. Louis; Atlanta; and Tampa, Fla., according to Ms. Brown.

Even in more-expensive cities, some hotel chains are offering 30 percent off for weekend stays, says Glen MacDonell, director of AAA Travel Services in Heathrow, Fla. Some luxury hotels, such as Four Seasons, have "free night" promotions if you stay longer. However, Mr. MacDonell says, "We are not seeing the discount mania like we had last summer."

Will it be cheaper to drive or fly?

Driving to a destination will be slightly more expensive than last summer: Gasoline prices are now 36 cents a gallon higher than a year ago. According to an estimate by AAA Travel Services, the average family travels 600 miles on a vacation. If the family car gets 25 miles a gallon, that means it will cost about $10 more than last year to drive.

Airfares have also gone up, and their rise may be more significant. Domestic fares are 21 percent higher than in 2009, and international airfares are 19 percent higher, according to Brown.

"It may encourage people to consider a driving vacation," she says.

Will the strong US dollar help on a trip to Europe or Asia?

The stronger dollar may make Europe more affordable. A Paris hotel that charges 200 euros a night would cost $244 a night now, compared with $316 a night in 2008, when the dollar was weaker. Over seven days, that's about $500 in savings. Even little things can add up: A ticket to the Louvre Museum is now $11.80 compared with $13.54 last August.

Related:

Jobs numbers for May squelch some economic optimism

Case Shiller index shows house prices rising 0.3 percent

After a long slide, dollar on the rebound

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