Mapped: Favorite US Travel Destinations for Winter

New York, Las Vegas and parts of Florida are among Americans' top domestic destinations this winter, while Cancun, Mexico, is their favorite international winter destination, according to TripAdvisor's Winter Travel Index.

A TripAdvisor report released last week found that 57 percent of Americans were preparing to travel in winter, with 96 percent plan a trip as much, if not more, than last winter.

The survey was conducted among more than 4,850 consumers between September 6 and October 3 in six countries: the United States, Australia, France, Japan, the United Kingdom and Singapore. The report also included data on searches made on TripAdvisor by travelers in the United States, United Kingdom and Japan between August 1 and October 20, for trips made between November 1 and January 31, 2025.

Ryan Gillis, associate director of research and insights at TripAdvisor, said News week: “New York is without a doubt one of the best Holiday cheer cities in the United States: from the light shows and skating rinks of Rockefeller Center to the famous Broadway shows, there are celebrations on almost every corner.

“Meanwhile, for those seeking sun and outdoor adventures, Cancun’s proximity and ease of flights from the United States make it the premier international destination this winter.”

TripAdvisor found that New York was the top domestic destination for U.S. travelers this winter, with Las Vegas, Honolulu and two Florida cities among the top five destinations.

Miami Beach, another Florida city, also made the top 10, along with New Orleans, Chicago and the West Coast cities of Anaheim, California, and Sedona, Arizona.

On the list of international destinations, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic follows Cancun, as do two other Mexican cities: Cabo San Lucas and Playa del Carmen. Rounding out the top five is Paris, the French capital.

In the second half of the top 10, London, the English capital, was an exception, with the other four destinations being tropical destinations: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Palm Eagle Beach, Aruba; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Bavaro, Dominican Republic.

Travel spending remains strong among Americans, with 93% of respondents planning to spend the same or more than in 2023, while 53% planned to increase their budget, according to TripAdvisor.

According to Gillis, “85 percent of Americans remain flexible in choosing their vacation locations as their vacation priorities change. Changes in these priorities are typically influenced by differences in winter climates and the unique celebrations that some offer regions.”

Nearly 80 million Americans are expected to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday this year, marking record levels in various modes of transportation, including driving and flying, AAA reported.

Travel is expected to reach “record levels” in 2024, with global tourism spending expected to reach $2 trillion, according to Euromonitor International, a market research firm.