EXPEDIA RELEASES U.S. TRAVEL TRENDS REPORT
What do Lima, Osaka and Lisbon have in common? These were all trending destinations for US travellers in 2019.
Fast-forward to 2020’s trending list: Lincoln, New Hampshire. Lake Havasu, Arizona. The Hamptons, New York.
In addition to tapping into its own database of search and demand data, this year, Expedia partnered with the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) for a deep dive on the effect of the pandemic on air travel.
“It’s no secret that air travel changed this year in ways we have never seen before, but people are still flying, and they will continue to fly. We are keeping a close eye on these changes to help travellers get the most from their journeys,” says Chuck Thackston, Managing Director of Data Science and Research for ARC. “Expedia and ARC are teaming up again to get to the bottom of what’s changed and equip travellers with new trip-planning insights to use when they do fly again.”
“What we learned by looking at traveler behaviors in a year as unusual as 2020 is that travel will always be an integral part of our lives,” says Christie Hudson, Senior PR Manager for Expedia brand. “Travelers responded to the uncertainty and restrictions by finding ways to safely explore closer to home, and the result is a bigger emphasis on flexibility and a list of trending destinations that are inspiring and attainable for the year ahead.”
Airfare Booking Hacks for 2021
Based on ARC data, average ticket prices (ATPs) for domestic flights hit their lowest in late April 2020 but have since started to recover. From May to October, prices were between 25-35% lower year-on-year but followed the usual seasonality curve. Meanwhile, ATPs for international flights briefly spiked in April before normalising to 2019 levels in mid-June and finally settling between 30-35 percent lower year-on-year during the fall months.
What this means for travellers is that while average ticket prices are historically low for both domestic and international flights, prices rise during peak travel periods such as spring break, summer and the holidays. To get the best deal, travellers need to know when to book and start their trip.
- Best day of the week to book: Sunday
- For domestic flights, book on Sunday, not Monday to save around 15%
- For international flights, book on Sunday, not Friday to save more than 20%
- Best day of the week to depart: Thursday or Friday
- For domestic flights, start your trip on Friday, not Monday to save around 20%
- For international flights, start your trip on Thursday, not Sunday to save nearly 25%
Traveller Priorities in 2021
- Flexibility isn’t a “nice-to-have”, it’s required: In 2021, flexibility will continue to be top of mind for travellers, who booked refundable rates 10 percent more often this year compared to last. Luckily, flexibility is more affordable than ever: Expedia lodging data shows average daily rates for refundable bookings were 20% cheaper in 2020 compared to 2019.
- Health and safety advancements: In the year to come, concerns about staying safe while traveling will continue to impact every aspect of trip planning, from what type of accommodations to choose to where to go to who to travel with. Since May, nearly 300,000 properties have added health and cleanliness information on Expedia.com, including enhanced cleaning, contactless check-in, social distancing and other guest safety measures.
- Majority of travellers booking less than a month out: According to ARC data, in 2019, the average U.S. traveler booked flights around 35 days in advance of their departure date, but during the onset of the pandemic, that window lengthened to 46 days. The new normal (since August) is just 29 days out – the average advance purchase dropping below the 30-day mark for the first time in years – and illustrating how travellers have adapted to the rapidly changing environment. However, with airlines eliminating change fees travellers may feel more confident booking further out, knowing they can always change their plans down the road.
- Growth in alternative accommodations: While the most popular lodging type in 2020 was hotels, the types of accommodations showing the biggest growth compared to last year were castles, ranches, cabins, chalets and cottages. These types of retreats, typically found outside of big cities, were the perfect getaway spots for travellers in search of wide-open spaces, nature and privacy. This trend is expected to continue as people look to travel safely amid the pandemic. Whether it’s a hotel, vacation rental or chalet, Expedia lodging data shows the cheapest days to stay are Sunday through Tuesday, so try scheduling a long weekend trip at the start of the week instead of the end.
- Maximising the trip: During lockdown, many travellers relied on virtual tours and activities to satisfy wanderlust. But once able to roam again, whether it was just within their own cities or on a proper getaway, travellers resumed looking to activities as a way to get the most out their trips.
2020’s Trending Destinations
This year’s list might look a bit different than last year’s, with backyard beaches and outdoorsy escapes taking the place of exotic international destinations. Still, these domestic gems are proof there’s plenty to explore even when travellers are staying closer to home.
- Lake Havasu, Arizona
- New Bern, North Carolina
- The Hamptons, New York
- Ocean City, Maryland
- Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
- Panama City, Florida
- South Padre Island, Texas
- Lincoln, New Hampshire
- Sun Valley / Central Idaho
- Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
The Next Big Trip: Top-searched destinations for 2021 and beyond
While nearby escapes and road trips are likely to remain popular as travellers navigate the ongoing realities of life amid a pandemic, search data proves that aspirations persist for grander, far-flung vacations. More specifically, it seems vacation-deprived Americans dreaming of their next trip fall into one of two categories:
Island escapists. Looking at the top 20 destinations, half are islands and another third are popular beach resorts. After a year like 2020, it’s not hard to imagine why so many travellers want to escape to an island the next chance they get.
- Cancun (#1)
- Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen and Tulum (#2)
- Punta Cana (#5)
- Oahu (#6)
- Maui (#7)
- Los Cabos (#9)
- French Polynesia (#10)
- Maldives (#11)
- Montego Bay (#12)
- Aruba (#13)
- Puerto Vallarta (#14)
- Key West (#16)
- Nassau (#18)
- Bali (#20)
The urban returner. Larger cities haven’t seen their usual tourist bustle over the past year, but search results make it clear that travellers are eager to return and enjoy all the culture, activities and experiences that you can only find in these iconic US cities.
- Las Vegas (#3)
- Orlando (#4)
- Miami (#8)
- New York (#15)
- Los Angeles (#17)
- New Orleans (#19)
Photo – top of page – Hamptons – by Expedia