BELLEVUE, Wash., Dec. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Expedia.com®
analyzed thousands of data points this year to identify the top
trends in travel for 2018, and the results show that American
travelers are increasingly interested in unique and novel
experiences. Highlights from the report include the rise of
secondary destinations like Chiang
Mai, the Azores and Cartagena, and non-traditional lodging
options such as tentalows and houseboats. In the activities and
attractions space, observation decks and architectural landmarks
saw the biggest growth, with cooking classes and other culinary
experiences close behind.
"In this day and age, it's possible to have the exact type of
experience and trip you want, whether it's visiting a breathtaking
island off Portugal, or staying on
a family farm where you can gather your own fresh eggs in the
morning," says John Morrey, SVP
Brand Expedia. "Being able to meet the needs of every kind of
traveler is our driving force at Expedia, and why we strive to make
it easy and affordable to find the perfect accommodation for any
trip and bundle it with flights or car for even more savings."
Read on for more highlights from Expedia's 2018 Year in Review,
including trends across destinations, air travel, lodging and
activities.
2018: The Year of the Secondary City
Expedia crunched flight data from 20181 to determine
the destinations seeing the most year-over-year growth, and it was
clear that U.S. travelers are venturing beyond the primary tourist
stops to seek out the culturally-rich offerings of secondary
cities. Here are some of the most noteworthy trending destinations
for 2018, all of which saw double- or triple-digit growth from last
year:
- Portugal: Azores
It's no secret that Portugal had a
major moment in 2018, seeing big boosts in tourism throughout the
year. But it wasn't just Lisbon
and Porto attracting crowds – the
Azores also wooed tourists with its dramatic landscapes and
world-class diving and hiking.
- Thailand: Chiang Mai
Chiang
Mai, Bangkok's more
laid-back and spiritual sibling, is home to hundreds of Buddhist
temples, incredible street food and historic festivals. Visit in
November to launch a fire lantern during Loi Krathong, or in April
to see the city come alive for Songkran.
- United Kingdom:
Inverness and Belfast
London remains one of the top global
destinations in the world, but flight data proves travelers are
venturing farther into the UK to Northern
Ireland and Scotland.
- Malta: Valletta
For those craving a beautiful
Mediterranean getaway without the high prices of the French Riviera
or crowds of the Italian coast, Malta could be just the ticket. Its capital
city of Valletta, an UNESCO World
Heritage site, is surrounded by water and features carefully
restored and preserved monuments dating back to the late
Renaissance.
- Alaska: Kenai and Kodiak
The Emerald Isle of Kodiak, with its immense National Wildlife
Refuge, and Kenai's legendary
salmon fishing are proof that there's more to Alaska than just Anchorage and Juneau. For visitors looking to experience the
best of Alaska, many of the
highly-rated cruises will stop at three or four port towns.
- Australia: Brisbane and Perth
U.S. travelers embarking on the
14+ hour journey to Australia are
clearly seeing more than just Sydney's iconic Opera House. Queensland's capital, Brisbane, and Western Australia's Perth both appear on the trending destination
list this year.
- Ecuador:
Cuenca
Ecuador's capital,
Quito, and the Galapagos Islands
are both popular tourist destinations, but this year Cuenca saw
increased demand. Perhaps word is getting out that its historic
city center, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and array of street
markets are just as worthy of a visit.
- Croatia: Zagreb
Zagreb may be Croatia's capital but from a western tourism
perspective it's been playing second fiddle to coastal Dubrovnik
for a few years now. But U.S. travelers are starting to take notice
of Zagreb's urban appeal, lighter
crowds and affordable prices.
- Colombia:
Cartagena
Quite different in terms of climate and
personality than the capital city of Bogotá, Cartagena is rich in
colonial charm.
- Spain: Seville
For those looking to experience
real Spanish culture, Seville will
not disappoint. Less touristy than popular Barcelona, locals would tell you Seville is where to find authentic flamenco
and tapas.
Check out the full list of Expedia's Top Trending Cities on the
Viewfinder blog.
Alternative accommodations are on the rise
While traditional resorts and hotels continue to be a favorite
for U.S. travelers, Expedia.com data shows a growing interest in
alternative lodging options. Here are some of the fastest-growing
accommodation types for 20182:
- Tentalows (cross between a tent and a bungalow) – up 135
percent year-over-year
- Chalets – up 85 percent year-over-year
- Villas – up more than 45 percent year-over-year
- Agritourism properties – up more than 40 percent
year-over-year
- Houseboats – up more than 35 percent year-over-year
Top trending activities include observation decks and
culinary experiences
Activities and experiences are increasingly popular as travelers
look to personalize and customize their vacations. These are the
fastest-growing activity categories in 2018 for the U.S.:
- Fastest-growing category: Attractions. Observation decks
and architectural landmarks are leading the pack, with the Eiffel
Tower, Rome's Colosseum, the 360
Chicago Observation Deck and the High Roller Observation Wheel in
Las Vegas among the top trending
attractions.
- Runner-up: Tours & Sightseeing. Walking and
hop-on-hop-off bus tours remain popular among travelers visiting
big cities.
- Third place: Shopping & Culinary Experiences round
out the top categories, as travelers look to get the most out of
their destinations and sample local flavors.
It's never been easier to browse and book activities on the fly
with Expedia's mobile app, which lets travelers sort and filter
things to do by proximity, popularity and activity type.
Busiest & least busy days to fly
Flight data confirms that traveling ahead of the holidays is
bound to be hectic. However, the least busy travel days of the year
also fall around the holidays: the day after Christmas, Christmas
Day and New Year's Day drew the fewest airport crowds. These are
the busiest air travel days of the year3:
- Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day
- Friday before Christmas Day
- Friday before Labor Day
Want to see more trends? Be sure to head over to Expedia's
Viewfinder blog for the rest of the results from the 2018 Year in
Review, including the most popular last-minute getaways and where
to find the best views, spa, pools and service.
About Expedia
Expedia.com® is one of the world's largest full
service travel sites, helping millions of travelers per month
easily plan and book
travel. Expedia.com (https://www.expedia.com/,
1-800-EXPEDIA) aims to provide the latest technology and the widest
selection of top vacation destinations, affordable airfare, hotel
deals, car rentals, destination weddings, cruise deals and
in-destination activities, attractions, services and travel
apps.
© 2018 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Expedia and the
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Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners. CST#
2029030-50. Visit our web
site https://www.expedia.com/ or use our mobile app to
book cheap flights and hotels.
1Based on air travel demand on Expedia.com
from January 1, 2018 – November 1, 2018 compared to the same timeframe
in 2017
2Based on demand on Expedia.com from January 1, 2018 – September 30, 2018 compared to the same timeframe
in 2017
3Based on air travel demand on Expedia.com from
October 31, 2017 – November 1, 2018
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