New Report Suggests an Increased Interest in International Travel Among US Travelers and Gen Z
NEEDHAM, Mass., May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel guidance platform, predicts a busy travel season according to the brand’s annual Summer Travel Index, released today, with 63% indicating excitement for the upcoming travel season.
Top 5 Destinations for Global Travelers according to the Tripadvisor Summer Travel Index 2025.
Tripadvisor’s Summer Travel Index uncovers the top and trending summer destinations for 2025, with the most popular locations from 2024 still leading the way again for US travelers such as Las Vegas and Cancun. Now trending for summer 2025 are cities including Fort Walton Beach, Florida and Punta Sam, Mexico which topped the list. New data from the report also shows that Gen Z and Millennials are 38% more likely to travel both domestically and internationally compared to Gen X and Boomers.
Summer Travel Index: 2025 Top Summer Travel Destinations
This year’s data indicates that US travelers are looking for a blend of bustling city activities and laid-back beach vacations for their summer travels both internationally and domestically.
Top global summer travel destinations for US citizens include:
- Cancun, Mexico
- Paris, France
- London, United Kingdom
Top domestic summer travel destinations for US citizens include:
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- New York City, New York
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
For all destinations that top the Summer Travel Index for American travelers, see below.
Popular International Destinations – US Travelers
| Popular Domestic Destinations – US Travelers
|
Cancun, Mexico | Las Vegas, Nevada |
Paris, France | New York City, New York |
London, United Kingdom | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina |
Rome, Italy | Ocean City, Maryland |
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico | Chicago, Illinois |
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | Honolulu, Hawai’i |
Barcelona, Spain | Panama City Beach, Florida |
Oranjestad, Aruba | Key West, Florida |
Venice, Italy | Clearwater, Florida |
Cap Cana, Dominican Republic | Nashville, Tennessee |
For international trends, four of the top ten trending destinations for US travelers are in the Caribbean, with 51% of travelers citing that their primary reason to travel is to relax and rejuvenate.
While Florida dominates the list of trending domestic locations for US travelers with four inclusions on the top ten list, remote areas like Big Sur and Moran, Wyoming are trending as 38% of travelers seek to enjoy nature on their summer travels.
For all trending destinations that top the Summer Travel Index for American travelers, see below.
Fastest Growing International Destinations – US Travelers (Based on YoY growth)
| Fastest Growing Domestic Destinations – US Travelers (Based on YoY growth)
|
Punta Sam, Mexico | Fort Walton Beach, Florida |
Noord, Aruba | Isle of Palms, South Carolina |
Puerto Rico, Spain | Big Sur, California |
Cap Estate, St. Lucia | North Wildwood, New Jersey |
Goreme, Türkiye | Dewey Beach, Delaware |
Akumal, Mexico | York Beach, Maine |
Asakusa, Japan | Moran, Wyoming |
Krakow, Poland | St. Augustine Beach, Florida |
Lucea, Jamaica | Panama City Beach, Florida |
Bonaire, Caribbean | Fort Myers Beach, Florida |
Opting for Experiences
Activities and experiences are a top priority for travelers of all ages, with 83% reporting that it’s an important part of their travel budget. Most travelers (89%) are planning up to five activities. Gen Z respondents are more likely to book six or more activities compared to older age group respondents (14% versus older age group average of 9%). Similarly, Gen Z and Millennials are leading the charge on those most likely to travel in general.
While every generation prioritizes relaxation, older respondents do so more than younger ones: 56% of older generations (Boomers and Gen X) versus 47% for Millennials and Gen Z. Conversely, younger respondents are significantly more likely to want to have an adventure and explore different cultures than older generations.
“Summer travel is all about making memories with friends, family and loved ones – and planning those special trips is a highlight of the year for so many travelers,” said Hilary Fischer-Groban, Head of Research & Insights at Tripadvisor. “Whether it’s exploring the unique cultural sights of a new country, playing and relaxing on a beach, or booking an outing like a guided tour or boat ride, taking advantage of local experiences while traveling helps make memories that will last a lifetime. Tripadvisor reviews can help guide travelers to find the best of the best experiences to round out their trip.”
It’s All in the Plan
Planning ahead with a travel guidance platform like Tripadvisor helps ensure travel plans run smoothly and that experiences go according to plan. In fact, 57% of travelers report that they will book activities ahead of their vacations, and Gen Z and millennials are 78% more likely to book on-trip activities in advance (71% vs 40% older age groups). While on their trip, Boomers are more likely to ask locals for recommendations (38%) while Gen Z are more likely to go to social media (51%) to round out their itinerary. The top trending experience categories for 2025 are cultural and themed tours, outdoor activities including things like hiking and horseriding, and cruises, sailing and water tours.
Booking accommodations is also a factor in the planning process. Younger respondents (Gen Z and Millennials, 30% average) are more likely to stay in vacation rentals than older respondents (Gen X and Boomers, 21% average), who favor hotels.
“With experiences and stays available through Tripadvisor, planning your summer travels in one easy-to-use platform simplifies the scheduling process and lets users focus on their getaway,” said Fischer-Groban. “Tripadvisor’s billion-plus reviews and contributions will help travelers decide how best to maximize their valuable vacation days.”
Methodology
The data cited in this release was gathered and analyzed from two key sources:
- A Tripadvisor Consumer Sentiment Survey, based on data drawn from an online survey of over 2,800 consumers, in partnership with Qualtrics, conducted between March 26, 2025 and April 8, 2025 across six countries, including Australia, France, Japan, Singapore, U.K. & U.S.
- Site behavioral data sourced from first party traffic data on the Tripadvisor platform for searches made by travelers in the U.S., U.K. and Japan between February 1 – April 10, 2025 for travel between June 1 – August 31, 2025.
About Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel guidance platform*, helps millions of people each month** become better travelers, from planning to booking to taking a trip. Travelers across the globe use Tripadvisor’s website and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than a billion reviews and contributions, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.
Tripadvisor LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tripadvisor, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRIP). The subsidiaries of Tripadvisor, Inc. own and operate a portfolio of travel media brands and businesses, operating under various websites and apps.
* Source: SimilarWeb, unique users de-duplicated monthly, May 2025
** Source: Tripadvisor internal log files
SOURCE Tripadvisor
