HomeToGo, the world’s largest vacation rental search engine, released its 2021 Summer Travel Forecast, revealing the summer travel trends that are starting to heat up and the exotic destinations travelers are searching to cure their wanderlust.
Based on an analysis of HomeToGo’s internal data, the study also unveils interesting booking patterns as well as the most popular summer travel spots for both luxury and budget travelers, both of which are showing a strong preference for domestic getaways.
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“Although the travel landscape is drastically different this year, travelers are longing for a change in scenery and looking to outdoor destinations to enjoy the warmer months ahead,” said Caroline Burns, Head of PR and Travel Expert at HomeToGo. “We’re already seeing an upward trend in summer bookings in the U.S. especially in areas along the East Coast that offer quiet escapes from their nearby city counterparts. While travelers are primarily staying stateside, they’re still dreaming of faraway future jaunts to places.”
Key findings from HomeToGo’s 2021 Summer Travel Forecast include:
- Early Planning: Bookings for vacation rentals this summer in the U.S. are already up by 27%.
- Travelers are Staying Stateside: 86% of summer travel searches are for domestic destinations (+15%), with searches for spots on the East Coast seeing the biggest lift (+95%).
- Rural Reigns over Urban: Only 12% of searches are for urban destinations (-35%).
- Longer Road Trips: Travelers are willing to go the extra distance and searching for vacation rentals within 397 miles (+32%) from home.
- Entire Properties Preferred Over Shared Spaces: Cabins, cottages and detached homes are the most popular accommodations option(bookings up +35%).
Although travel plans might be on hold for now, that hasn’t stopped U.S. travelers from dreaming of lavish poolsides, stunning beach homes and luxurious weekend getaways for the warmer months ahead.
This Summer’s Top Trending Destination
HomeToGo’s study shows that most travelers in the U.S. are currently searching for domestic getaways, such as escapes to sunny Florida beaches and secluded Idaho cabins. While many are opting to travel within the U.S., according to HomeToGo’s search data, travelers are also beginning to consider destinations like Aruba, which tops the global list in terms of searches followed by: Gulf Coast, US; Tulum, Mexico; Reunion, Florida; Bali, Indonesia; North Captiva Island, Florida; Lido Key, Florida; the Maldives; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Priest Lake, Idaho.
Luxurious Summer Destinations in the U.S.
From the playground for New York’s elite to a laid-back beach town in South Carolina, HomeToGo took a look at the 2,000 most-searched destinations to reveal the places travelers are eyeing for more extravagant getaways this summer. Here are the top places for travelers looking to splurge on a no-holds-barred, blow-the-budget getaway. Topping the list are the Hamptons, NY ($1,066 medium price per night), Nantucket, MA ($1,038) and Montauk, NY ($957), Seaside, Florida ($780)
Most Affordable Destinations in the U.S.
With schools on holiday and temperatures on the rise, the summer period is typically one of the most expensive times to book a vacation home. HomeToGo has researched the top ten most affordable spots for travelers looking to get away on a tight budget. Some anticipated budget-friendly trips include Orlando, Florida ($201.60), Upper Peninsula, Michigan ($222), New York City, New York ($234), Fort Myers Beach, Florida ($261.60)
“On the heels of the countless canceled trips in 2020, wanderlusters are seeking travel revenge on the year that deprived them of vacations and looking forward to a change of scenery and new escapes,” says Burns. “We expect to see this upward trend continue through the year with travelers who are seeking quiet getaways to reconnect with nature and their loved ones. Cabin rentals in particular continue to be in demand for a home away from home staycation. We imagine this will be a hugely popular option in the fall as well as overall bookings are up already nearly 30% for the autumn season.”
She says, “Summer is of course peak travel season, especially for beach destinations that dominate the top trending destinations in terms of searches on HomeToGo.com. We’re already seeing a big boost in summer 2021 bookings as travelers are eager to have something to look forward to and booking out vacation rentals with great value and higher ratings. The sooner travelers begin choosing their accommodations the better. They’ll be able to find the best price and filter for amenities, size and prime location to find that perfect escape to look forward to. It’s never too early to begin planning a dream vacation, and after this past year we all deserve one.”
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