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News / Tripadvisor predicts busy summer travel season for Americans
Most popular summer destinations globally and in the US
Americans and travelers around the world continue to place a high priority on summer vacations, according to the annual Summer Travel Index released by Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform. In fact, 95 percent of respondents are planning to travel as much (51%) or more (44%) than last summer, despite some concern about economic headwinds. Whatsmore, over a quarter (26%) of Americans are planning to spend $5,000 or more on their getaways.
Tripadvisor's Summer Travel Index also highlights the top summer destinations for 2024, with Las Vegas claiming the top spot for US domestic travelers and Cancun leading the way for US consumers traveling internationally.
US spending
Americans surveyed said they are prepared to open their wallets, prioritizing adventure over other expenditures. Nearly all (92%) US respondents plan to spend at least the same amount on travel as last summer, while more than half expect to spend even more than in 2023. Of those, many actually plan to level up their travel by taking more trips (44%), travel for longer (55%), and venture farther from home, with 44% of respondents planning to travel more than 7 hours to their destination.
Happy news
As expected, cost and unpredictable weather top the list of reasons Americans are hesitant to travel, yet despite that, this year's Summer Travel Index revealed that consumers have overwhelmingly positive feelings about their upcoming travel plans, outnumbering those reporting negative ones by a significant margin (86%). About 4 in 5 Americans said they are comfortable traveling this summer, reporting feelings of "excitement" (67%), "happiness" (65%), and "optimism" (37%) about their summer escapes, which they are planning in order to "make memories" (50%), "let loose" (41%) and "have an adventure" (36%).
Summer Travel Index: 2024 top summer travel destinations
From Cancun to Las Vegas, American travelers are seeking entertainment, sporting events, and adventure in Summer 2024.
Top global summer travel destinations for US citizens include:
- Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula
- London, England
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Top domestic summer travel destinations for US citizens include:
- Las Vegas, NV
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- Orlando, FL
In looking at key markets around the globe, the top three summer 2024 destinations of choice for British travelers are Antalya, Turkey, Barcelona, Spain, and Benidorm, Spain. For Japanese travelers, the top three summer travel destinations are Seoul, South Korea, Honolulu, Hawaii, and Bangkok, Thailand.
For all destinations that top the Summer Travel Index for American travelers, see below.
Popular international destinations for US Travelers | Popular domestic destinations for US Travelers |
| 1. Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula | 1. Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 2. London, England | 2. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina |
| 3. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | 3. Orlando, Florida |
| 4. Paris, France | 4. Honolulu, Hawaii |
| 5. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico | 5. New York City, New York |
| 6. Rome, Italy | 6. Chicago, Illinois |
| 7. Bavaro, Dominican Republic | 7. Key West, Florida |
| 8. Palm - Eagle, Aruba | 8. Ocean City, Maryland |
| 9. Barcelona, Spain | 9. San Diego, California |
| 10. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos | 10. Boston, Massachusetts |
Fastest growing international destinations for US Travelers (Based on YoY growth) | Fastest growing domestic destinations for US Travelers (Based on YoY growth) |
| 1. Maunabo, Puerto Rico | 1. Yosemite National Park, California |
| 2. Puerto Rico, Spain | 2. College Station, Texas |
| 3. Playa Avellana, Costa Rica | 3. Santa Rosa Beach, Florida |
| 4. Cusco, Peru | 4. Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania |
| 5. Iru-fushi, Maldives | 5. Waimea, Hawaii |
| 6. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands | 6. Fort Myers Beach, Florida |
| 7. Aguas Calientes, Peru | 7. Tavernier, Florida |
| 8. Male, Maldives | 8. Sandusky, Ohio |
| 9. Fasmendhoo, Maldives | 9. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming |
| 10. Andros, Bahamas | 10. Mackinac Island, Michigan |
Things to do: Top vacation experiences for summer 2024
Just as travel frequency is up in comparison to last summer, spending during vacation is also trending upwards. Eighty-five percent (85%) of US travelers agree that tours and experiences are an important part of their travel budget, with museums and art galleries (33%), food and wine tours (33%), and amusements and water parks (32%) topping their lists. And, while some of their activities are pre-planned, most travelers value spontaneity, with over half of US travelers (56%) determining at least part of their itineraries "in the moment" based on real-time feelings.
