Travel search engine KAYAK has published its 2015 KAYAK Holiday Travel Hacker, a data-driven guide designed to help travelers plan holiday getaways. Compiled by KAYAK’s researchers and travel experts, the report highlights top destinations for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve, and provides insights into median airfare trends to help travelers find better prices.
“If you’re unsure when or where to travel this holiday season, we analyzed the data so you don’t have to,” said David Solomito, North America brand director at KAYAK. “Our findings point to great deals in cities around the world and reveal up-and-coming hotspots for ringing in the New Year.”
Among the key takeaways, the report lists destinations with the largest drops in airfare over the holiday period. Leading the pack is Hong Kong, which shows the biggest decline at 29 percent. Other destinations with significant decreases include Taipei, Rio de Janeiro and Chicago. For New Year’s Eve specifically, KAYAK’s search data identifies the cities most likely to attract holiday travelers: Dubai ranks first, followed by Cartagena, Barcelona and Reykjavik.
Based on median airfare trends, the Holiday Travel Hacker offers timing recommendations for North American travelers to secure the best fares: book no earlier than two weeks before Thanksgiving, about three weeks before Christmas, and approximately four weeks before New Year’s Eve. These suggested booking windows aim to balance price and availability for holiday trips.
The 2015 KAYAK Holiday Travel Hacker consolidates search and pricing data into an easy-to-use resource for planning seasonal travel, making it simpler to spot deals, select destinations and decide when to buy tickets.