New York, Las Vegas and parts of Florida are among Americans’ top domestic destinations this winter, while Cancún, Mexico, is their favorite international winter spot, TripAdvisor’s Winter Travel Index shows.
A TripAdvisor report released last week found that 57 percent of Americans were preparing for winter travel, with 96 percent planning to travel as much as or even more than they did last winter.
The survey of more than 4,850 consumers was conducted between September 6 and October 3 across six countries: the United States, Australia, France, Japan, the U.K. and Singapore. The report also included data for searches made on TripAdvisor by travelers in the U.S., United Kingdom and Japan between August 1 and October 20, for travel between November 1 and January 31, 2025.
Ryan Gillis, an associate director of research and insights at TripAdvisor, told Newsweek: “New York is undoubtedly one of the best cities for holiday cheer in the U.S.—from light displays and ice rinks at Rockefeller Center to renowned Broadway shows, there are celebrations on nearly every corner.
“Meanwhile, for those seeking sunshine and outdoor adventures, Cancún’s close proximity and easy flights from the U.S. make it the top international destination this winter.”
TripAdvisor found that New York was the top domestic destination for U.S. travelers this winter, with Las Vegas, Honolulu and two Floridian cities among the top five locations.
Miami Beach, another city in Florida, also made the top 10, along with New Orleans, Chicago and the West Coast cities of Anaheim, California, and Sedona, Arizona.
On the list of international destinations, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic followed Cancún, as did two other Mexican cities: Cabo San Lucas and Playa del Carmen. Paris, the French capital, rounded out the top five.
Among the second half of the top 10 ranking, London, the English capital, was an outlier, as the other four destinations were tropical locales: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Palm-Eagle Beach, Aruba; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Bavaro, Dominican Republic.
Travel spending remains strong among Americans, with 93 percent of those surveyed planning to spend the same as or more than they did in 2023, while 53 percent planned to increase their budget, TripAdvisor found.
According to Gillis, “85 percent of Americans remain flexible when choosing vacation spots as their vacation priorities change. Shifts in these priorities are generally influenced by the differences in winter climates and the unique celebrations that certain areas offer.”
Almost 80 million Americans are expected to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday this year, marking record levels across various modes of transport, including driving and flying, AAA reported.
Travel is forecast to reach “record highs” in 2024, with global tourism spending expected to hit $2 trillion, according to Euromonitor International, a market research firm.
Americans’ Favorite U.S. Travel Destinations for Winter
- New York City, New York
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Orlando, Florida
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Key West, Florida
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Anaheim, California
- Chicago, Illinois
- Miami Beach, Florida
- Sedona, Arizona
Americans’ Favorite International Travel Destinations for Winter
- Cancún, Mexico
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Playa del Carmen, Mexico
- Paris, France
- London, England
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Palm-Eagle Beach, Aruba,
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Bavaro, Dominican Republic
iStock / Getty Images Plus
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