Summer is officially here—and for many of us, that means travel plans are heating up.
More than 2 in 5 Americans (44%) plan to take a vacation this summer that involves a flight or hotel stay, with an average trip cost of $3,861, according to NerdWallet’s annual summer travel survey.
That’s about 117 million Americans, spending roughly $452 billion on flights and hotels this summer.1
Where’s everyone going?
Seattle is the top domestic destination for Americans, and Cancun leads internationally, according to travel insurance provider Allianz Partners. Most are staying closer to home, with 71% of itineraries booked for U.S. travel and 29% for international trips.2
Overall, Americans are headed to both big cities and relaxed beach towns.
Top 10 Domestic Locations
Ranked by popularity, the top domestic destinations for summer 2025 are: Seattle; Orlando; New York; Honolulu; Kahului, Hawaii; Boston; Portland, Oregon; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; and Anchorage, Alaska.
Internationally, the top destinations include:
Cancun; San Jose del Cabo, Mexico; London; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Calgary, Canada; Oranjestad, Aruba; Paris; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; and Dublin, according to Allianz Partners.
It’s always interesting to see the trends.
Remember, before booking, check travel advisories on the CDC Travelers’ Health3, TSA.gov4 and U.S. Department of State5 websites.
–David Bunker, Financial Advisor & Licensed Fiduciary
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This communication was prepared with financial writer Sharron Senter’s assistance, based on interviews with David Bunker, a financial advisor and licensed fiduciary.
Sources:
1: Nerd Wallet: 2025 Summer Travel Report, https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/2025-summer-travel-report
2: Allianz Partners: Beaches and Big Cities Remain the Top Travel Destination for American Summer Travelers, https://www.allianzworldwidepartners.com/usa/media-center/press-releases/Beaches-and-big-cities-remain-the-top-travel-destination-for-American-summer-vacations.html
3: CDC Travelers’ Health: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
4: Transportation Security Administration: https://www.tsa.gov
5: U.S. Department of State: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/