Travelers are shown at Los Angeles International Airport on November 22, 2023, in Los Angeles, California.
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Where do Californians want to vacation this summer?
Here's a hint: it involves pasta, Vespas and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Italy is the leading international summer vacation destination for California residents, according to a new study from USA Today Blueprint.
“American travelers will head to Europe in droves this summer, based on travel insurance data for June, July and August trips,” USA Today said in its study released May 31.
The publication analyzed data from TravelInsurance.com, a travel insurance comparison site, on sales in the 25 most populous U.S. states to see “where Americans are heading this summer and how much it will cost them.”
Where do Californians go on vacation?
According to USA Today, the No. 1 outbound travel destination for Californians was Italy, based on travel insurance sales.
The United Kingdom comes in second in terms of destinations favored by Californians to take a trip this summer, while France comes in third.
The average cost of international travel for California residents was about $9,129, USA Today reported.
In California, the international destination with the fastest growing fan base is Peru.
Insurance policies purchased by Californians planning trips to the South American country have increased 525% since 2023, USA Today reported.
Who else wants to visit Italy?
Golden State residents aren't the ones craving hand-tossed pizza, Aperol spritzes and the Sistine Chapel.
Italy was the most popular international destination for residents of Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Michigan, according to USA Today Blueprint.
Residents of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia also craved an Italian vacation.
Where did USA Today print its information?
USA Today Blueprint compared sales data for thousands of travel insurance policies purchased on TravelInsurance.com from January 1 to March 31, 2023 and January 1 to March 31, for travel dates between June 1, 2023 and August 31, 2023., as well as June 1 and August 31.
Sarah Linn is a deputy editor and reporter on the California Service's journalism team, working with journalists in Sacramento, Modesto and San Luis Obispo. She previously served as local/entertainment editor of The Tribune in San Luis Obispo, working there for nearly two decades. A graduate of Oregon State University, she has won several California journalism awards.
