Although the summer vacation season has come to a close, travel doesn’t appear to be fading with it. According to TripAdvisor’s latest “Seasonal Travel Index,” 74 percent of American travelers surveyed report they will travel this fall, well above the 61 percent planning to travel at the same time last year. Similarly, over half (52 percent) plan to travel more than they did last fall, while only 3 percent will travel less.
On trend with increased travel is a rise in international trips. While 65 percent of U.S. travelers will stay domestic this fall, the remaining travelers have set their sights on global destinations. More than a quarter (27 percent) will travel both internationally and domestically and nearly one in ten (8 percent) have prioritized international travel over domestic this season. Notably, the share of international travel has recently surpassed pre-pandemic levels, a trend that’s been gradually rising over the past two years.
Changing Travel Habits
While that all may seem positive, money could be the reason why travelers are changing their habits.
Americans are most likely to take trips two to four nights in length, well below totals of other countries (who average five-plus nights). Americans also over-index in reporting they will stay in vacation rentals and with friends and family (versus hotels) and are more likely to be flexible when choosing a destination (60 percent) than the global population of respondents (48 percent). The most important trip factor is cost/affordability (62 percent).
To maximize their time away, U.S. travelers are likely to book more on-trip activities (three to five) compared to people living in all other countries surveyed. They are interested in a wide array of components such as food, activities, relaxation, shopping, people and weather. In fact, most travelers will prioritize food while on their trip (67 percent), with younger groups more likely to prioritize food, nightlife and shopping. When it comes to dining, local options are the most popular: 54 percent will book a local fine dining restaurant, and 52 percent a local casual restaurant.
Another sign that Americans are looking to explore local culture: Over one-quarter (26 percent) of travelers surveyed will take a solo trip this autumn. This is well above the global total of 15 percent as well the 17 percent who reported traveling solo last fall. While the reasons behind this trend may vary, it is a sign that travelers are more comfortable to journey alone and want to fully immerse themselves in a destination.
While over half of travelers surveyed (54 percent) plan to spend more on travel this upcoming season compared to the same period last year, this could be explained by inflation. In fact, 37 percent said macroeconomic factors will change how they travel over the next three months (64 percent due to higher cost of living due to inflation; 50 percent change in financial circumstances due to the economy).
City Breaks on the Rise
As for those who are traveling this fall, city breaks are most popular, as familiar favorites in Europe and Mexico continue to shine. In fact, most travelers (75 percent) plan to return to a destination they’ve visited before. That said, people want to explore these destinations in more depth, evidenced by the fact that “culture and sightseeing” is the No. 1 trip type for Americans this fall, while interest in museums and cultural sites is also on the rise.
The most popular international destinations for Americans this fall include:
- Paris, France
- Cancun, Mexico
- Rome, Italy
- London, United Kingdom
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Playa del Carmen, Mexico
- Barcelona, Spain
- Palm/Eagle Beach, Aruba
- Florence, Italy
For those staying stateside, the ever-popular Las Vegas, New York City and Orlando make up the top three most popular destinations Americans will visit. That said, as U.S. travelers attempt to stretch out their summers, smaller Sun Belt destinations are seeing increased interest this fall. Below are the top trending domestic destinations for Americans:
- Little Torch Key, FL
- Indian Rocks Beach, FL
- Miami Springs, FL
- Hawley, PA
- Carefree, AZ
- Reno, NV
- Cape Canaveral, FL
- Holmes Beach, FL
- Rutherford, CA
- Indio, CA
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