It may seem like summer has only just begun, but the days are getting shorter and the nights are already upon us. Some travelers, hoping to make the most of the last days of summer, have already started booking last-minute trips for Labor Day weekend.
The holiday weekend comes as many in the travel industry are concerned that Americans are taking fewer vacations amid economic uncertainty. Airbnb, for example, recently announced that it is seeing a drop in its car rental rates. the slowest growth rate since 2020as the pandemic decimated the travel industry.
Co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky told investors this week that long-term bookings fell in 2020 because customers were not confident in their ability to travel, then increased in 2022 and 2023 as people became excited about their ability to travel again.
The CEO called 2024 a “return to normal,” but many in the industry fear travel will continue to decline given economic concerns. Other industry players, including Marriott International and Delta Air Lineshas reported worrisome forecasts for the next quarter in recent projections.
Despite these predictions, many Americans are still planning exciting trips for the last long weekend of summer 2024. International travelers plan to head to Latin American cities like Lima, Peru, and Cancun, Mexico, as well as favorites like Tokyo and Paris, according to an analysis by Reservation.com.
The travel site identified trending foreign and domestic destinations by analyzing U.S. travelers' searches for hotel rooms with check-in dates between August 29, 2024, and September 3, 2024, and comparing the results to the most searched destinations for the same weekend in 2023.
Several of the most popular cities have been attracting the attention of potential travelers throughout the summer season. Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas and Panama City Beach all top the list of hottest destinations for Labor Day and Memorial Day weekends, according to Booking.com.
Read on to see which U.S. cities are most popular with travelers ahead of Labor Day weekend.
