What: U.S. Travelers Are Flocking to Beaches and Mountain Towns for the Holidays
Clients are looking to hit the slopes or escape the winter blues for some fun in the sun, according to a new report from Expedia. Top destinations for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays this year include coastal hot spots in Mexico, the southern U.S. and the Caribbean; in addition to mountain towns in Utah and Colorado.
Why It Matters: This Year’s Top Destinations Favor Longtime Favorites, While New Destinations Emerge
Despite the circumstances surrounding travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, clients are gearing up to pack their bags and hit the road. Sunny hot spots such as Orlando, Fla., and Cancun, Mexico, remain fan favorites, with Cancun ranking highly for both Thanksgiving and Christmas (No. 1 for Thanksgiving and No. 2 for Christmas). Meanwhile, Mexico’s Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen and Tulum collectively hold the No. 3 spot on both lists. Some surprising emerging destinations are also trending — and saw the biggest jumps in terms of search interest for the holidays — including Estes Park, Colo. (the No. 4 emerging destination for Thanksgiving); Chatanooga, Tenn. (No. 6 for Thanksgiving and No. 5 for Christmas); and Cherokee, N.C. (No. 7 for Christmas).
Fast Facts
- Travelers looking for travel guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic can visit Expedia’s COVID-19 travel resource page.
- The most expensive holiday travel dates include the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (Nov. 24); Thursday, Dec. 23; and Tuesday, Dec. 28.
- In terms of hotel accommodations, prices will trend lower during Thanksgiving when compared to the week of Christmas.
- Other destinations ranked as top contenders for Thanksgiving this year include Nashville, Tenn; Oahu, Hawaii; Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic; Charleston and Myrtle Beach in South Carolina; Salt Lake City; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; and Indianapolis, Ind. For Christmas, additional destinations include Oahu; Punta Cana; Kansas City, Mo.; Salt Lake City; Palm Beach, Fla.; Rapid City, S.D.; and Sarasota, Fla.
- Top emerging destinations for Thanksgiving also include St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands; Salt Lake City; Acapulco, Mexico; Monteverde, Costa Rica; Boulder, Colo., Fresno, Calif.; and the Yucatan region of Mexico. For Christmas, that list includes Gainsville, Fla.; Allentown, Penn.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Salt Lake City; the Oregon Coast; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; and Ocean City, Md.
The Details
Expedia
