Virtuoso, the world’s leading international luxury travel agency network, has identified where affluent Americans are traveling this summer. Thanks to travel’s unprecedented resurgence and Virtuoso’s data warehouse of more than $49.5 billion in travel bookings, they were able to pinpoint the top 10 domestic and international destinations for the 2022 summer season. I sat down with Misty Belles, Virtuoso’s Vice President, Global Public Relations to talk about the findings. See video and lists below:

YouTube video

82 percent of Virtuoso travelers polled said that they were heading to the beach. A-list destinations like Africa, Australia and Alaska that were unavailable to Americans last year are now the ones to watch.

Top 10 U.S. Destinations for Summer 2022:                                         

  1. California
  2. Hawaii
  3. Florida
  4. Massachusetts
  5. Colorado
  6. Washington
  7. Montana
  8. South Carolina
  9. New York
  10. Alaska

Traditional ski destinations like Colorado and Montana are emerging as summer playgrounds while southeastern states, including South Carolina and Florida, continue to be popular into the warmer months. “Meanwhile, Alaska cracks the top 10 without even taking into account the cruising season, which is how most travelers experience the state. Washington’s surge in bookings is likely in support of the Alaska summer season, as many travelers choose to stay over and enjoy the Evergreen State. Overall, though, California leads the way for summer travel by offering amazing diversity throughout the state, from expansive beaches to culturally rich cities, not to mention some of the country’s best food and wine offerings.”

Top 10 Destinations for Summer 2022:

  1. United States
  2. Italy
  3. France
  4. Canada
  5. Greece
  6. United Kingdom
  7. Spain
  8. Mexico
  9. Ireland
  10. Switzerland

While most Americans are continuing to explore the U.S., it’s the return to European summer vacations following a two-year hiatus that is clearly garnering the most excitement. With seven of the top 10 destinations located in Europe, pent-up demand is outweighing any concerns associated with the conflict in Ukraine. Neighboring Canada, which was also off-limits to U.S. travelers last summer, is making its return to the list. And to the south, Mexico remains a yearlong favorite.

All data is based on hotel bookings made by Virtuoso-affiliated U.S. leisure travelers and includes travel for June, July and August 2022. To learn more about travel to any of the above destinations or for more Virtuoso travel trend insights, visit virtuoso.com.

Wherever travelers decide to go this summer, they need to plan and book quickly. Virtuoso advisors say that favorite spots such as Italy’s Amalfi Coast, where my grandparents were from, are nearly sold out.

Leave a Reply

Required fields are marked *