Dive Brief:
- Despite rising costs, Americans are still splurging on spring break vacations this year and are expected to spend nearly 14% more on trips than during the same period in 2024, according to new data from travel insurance provider Allianz Partners.
- Travelers’ increased spending this spring break season comes as hotel stays in the U.S. are 8% more expensive than last year, according to AAA booking data.
- Allianz Partners’ spending data suggests that U.S. travelers continue to prioritize leisure travel even amid economic uncertainties and competing financial priorities, per the report. Travelers, though, will stay closer to home this year rather than making international voyages.
Dive Insight:
U.S. travelers will pay an average of $5,325 on trips this spring break season, Allianz Partners found, as the cost of hotels and airlines is up year over year.
AAA reported that U.S. hotel stays during spring break this year will increase to an average of $660, while roundtrip airfare for domestic cities will rise 7% year over year. International hotel stays, though, will be 4% cheaper this year, averaging $740, according to AAA.
Travelers will favor domestic trips this spring break season, according to Allianz Partners. After analyzing 8.7 million travel itineraries for roundtrip flights departing from U.S. airports from Feb. 21 to April 19, Allianz found that 79% of itineraries booked were for domestic destinations, while 21% were for international trips.
Meanwhile, some 54% of travelers surveyed by AAA said their favorite destinations to visit in 2025 will be domestic places, over the Caribbean (22%) and Europe (20%).
The most popular domestic destination this spring break season is Orlando, Florida, according to both Allianz Partners and AAA. Other top 10 destinations in the U.S. that both companies identified are Atlanta, New York City, Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“Americans continue to make vacations a top priority,” Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA, said in a statement. High-income households, particularly, have remained committed to traveling over the last year.
In its 2025 travel industry outlook published last month, Deloitte similarly found that while affordability remains a big barrier, Americans are still prioritizing traveling for leisure.
