Is your ideal summer getaway sinking your toes into warm sand while ocean waves roll in? If so, your plans match past summer travel trends. A review of Americans’ summer travel by Allianz Global Assistance found that domestic travelers frequently choose coastal destinations and theme-park hotspots.
Orlando, Fla., ranks first for domestic summer travel between May 29 and Sept. 4, with nearly 9 percent of U.S. travelers visiting the city during that period. Las Vegas comes in second, followed by Honolulu, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Maui, Boston, Denver and Fort Lauderdale.
For international trips, Mexico and the Caribbean dominate Americans’ choices: eight of the top 10 overseas destinations lie south of the U.S. border. Cancun leads the list, named by 17 percent of travelers as their preferred destination, with Punta Cana rising to the No. 2 spot. The remaining top international destinations in order of popularity are Los Cabos, Montego Bay, San Juan, Aruba, London, St. Thomas, Nassau and Paris.
The study also shows that most planned trips to popular summer destinations like Orlando are taken by groups of two or more, suggesting families and multigenerational groups are using summer months to travel together.