Tripadvisor ®, the world’s largest travel guidance platform, launched a few days ago the next in its Seasonal Travel Index series, which reveals data and trends about what to expect when traveling this fall.
Although the popular summer vacation season is coming to an end, travel doesn’t seem to fade with it: 74% of American travelers surveyed report they will travel this fall, well above the 61% who planned to travel around the same time on Tuesday. last year. Similarly, more than half (52%) plan to travel more than last fall and only 3% will travel less.
One trend with the increase in travel is the increase in international travel. While 65% of American travelers will remain in the country this fall, the remaining travelers set their sights on global destinations: more than a quarter (27%) will travel both domestically and internationally, and nearly one in ten (8%) have given full priority to international flights. domestic trips this season. In particular, the share of international travel has recently surpassed pre-pandemic levels, a trend that has been gradually increasing over the past two years. Even for those staying in the US, the vast majority (80%) plan to travel more than four hours from home.
Same cities, new ways to explore
City breaks are the most popular among travelers this fall, as family favorites in Europe and Mexico continue to shine. In fact, most travelers (75%) plan to return to a destination they have visited before, as repeat destinations can give travelers a greater sense of security. That said, people want to explore these destinations in more depth, as evidenced by the fact that “culture and tourism” is the number one type of trip for Americans this fall, and interest in museums and cultural sites is on the rise. Additionally, Tripadvisor’s own data indicates that travelers are interested in trying more local tours and activities, booking new and improved ways to experience classic attractions (shown below).
Most popular international destinations for Americans this fall
Solo travel is on the rise
More than a quarter (26%) of American travelers surveyed will take a solo trip this fall. This is well above the global total of 15%, as well as the 17% who reported traveling alone last fall. While the reasons behind this trend may vary, it is a sign that travelers are more comfortable traveling alone and want to fully immerse themselves in the local culture. For solo explorers looking for great places to visit, Tripadvisor has recent guides on the best places to travel alone in the world, as well as throughout the US.
Americans most excited about their trips
When asked how they felt about their upcoming trip, 78% of Americans reported being excited and 70% responded “happy,” both figures well above the global totals of 64% and 60%, respectively, for these positive emotions. .
This is despite the fact that their trips will be more modest than those of their international counterparts: Americans are more likely to take trips of 2 to 4 nights in duration, well below the totals of other countries that will average more than 5 nights. In particular, boomers are more likely to take trips longer than five days compared to other age groups. Americans also outrate staying in vacation rentals and staying with friends and family (compared to hotels) and are more likely to be flexible when choosing a destination (60%) than the global population of respondents (48%). .
With fewer trips being made on average, Americans are eager to maximize those trips. Therefore, American travelers are likely to book more activities during the trip on average (3-5) compared to people living in all other countries surveyed, and are interested in a wide range of components such as food, activities, relaxation, shopping, people. and the weather, showing that their enthusiasm is multifaceted.