Fueled by Covid vaccines, flexible cancellation policies and people yearning to break free from home, the summer travel season is already booming for some parts of the travel industry. A survey from research company Toluna indicates Americans are gaining confidence to travel with each passing month, with 27% comfortable to travel in April and 42% by July.
But a sudden surge in bookings shows many people are locking in reservations and rates before it’s too late. U.S. domestic flight bookings for summer travel sharply rose earlier this month, according to research from the data identity company Adara. Since Feb. 1, domestic hotel bookings have more than tripled.
Leisure travel — particularly family travel (which is outpacing bookings by singles and couples) — is driving the growth, according to Adara’s report. The most popular destinations for summer leisure flights are to; Honolulu, Denver, Chicago, Miami, and Orlando.
Where home rentals are hottest: Airbnb is reporting travelers are looking to rent homes near small beach towns and state and national parks this summer. Vacationers are searching for patios, backyards and barbecue areas (for Fourth of July gatherings) at higher rates than before.
Vacation home rentals and villas are in high demand due to social distancing concerns and growing demand for “bubble travel,” said Inteletravel’s Ferrara, who cited Florida, Las Vegas, Puerto Rico and Hawaii as domestic hotspots Though travelers are largely expected to travel domestically this year, Americans are searching summer home rentals in Aruba; the U.S. Gulf Coast; Tulum, Mexico; and Reunion, Florida, according to HomeToGo’s “2021 Summer Travel Forecast.”
Source: CNBC
