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New data: Americans say bring on the heat for spring and summer travel

 

The dawn of warmer weather already has travelers focusing on summer getaways. A Memorial Day and Summer Travel Trends study by travel-booking website Kayak reveals that when it comes to summer travel, winter-weary Americans choices are declaring: the hotter the better.

“This Memorial Day, our data show Americans are headed south to the Caribbean, Mexico and to a few southern U.S. cities.” Kayak spokesperson Maria Katime told Yahoo Travel.

Kayak analyzed flight and hotel searches on its site from January 1 through mid-March, gaining insight into where Americans are choosing to spend their summer holidays. The report also looked at the average costs of flights and hotels.

Going international

When Kayak looked at flight and hotel searches combined, the 10 most searched destinations for Americans seeking to get out of town this summer were international.

“Thanks to the World Cup, demand for flights and hotels in Rio de Janeiro is blowing up, making it the No.1 trending destination this summer for Americans,” says Katime. Rio de Janeiro flight searches saw an increase of 222% (average airfares to the Brazilian city are $1,670.25). Hotel searches for Rio de Janeiro saw a jump of 306% compared to last summer, with average rates of $337.99 per night.

Milan took second place overall, with a 67% increase in searches targeted toward this Italian city. The average airfare for a visit: about $1,150. Though it didn’t make the study’s top 10 destinations, searches for Naples, Italy, indicated strong tourism interest elsewhere.

Taking fourth place in the overall top 10 was Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. A recent article in USA Today offered insight into why: Tel Aviv was the top ranked of 15 beach party spots in a recent list on the Matador Network travel site. 

"We are thrilled to see Tel Aviv gaining increasing international recognition as one of the world's most vibrant and dynamic coastal cities,” Haim Gutin, an Israel tourism commissioner, said in a statement. Gutin says tourists come to Tel Aviv for its thriving art, music and nightlife scenes as well as its “impeccable weather.”

Coming in at No. 9 is Dublin, Ireland. Attractions that keep the city on the high-demand list run the gamut from the 1204 AD-established Dublin Castle and Phoenix Park’s Dublin Zoo to Dublin Falconry and Dublin Writers Museum.

Airfare deals

When air travel from Memorial Day through summer was tallied on its own, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, came out on top for searches.

“It’s the No.1 trending destination for flight searches, up 59% compared to last Memorial Day,” says Katime. “Our data also show that people are finding slightly lower airfares to the beach destinations than last year.” Average airfare to Puerto Vallarta has dropped 3% year-to-year with current average rates at about $560.

Searches also perked up, to the tune of 20%, when it came to summer airfare deals to San Jose, Costa Rica. “The city saw the biggest drop in average airfare compared to last year, down 10% to $524.24,” Katime said.

Less warm, but still a good option for summer travel, is Anchorage, Alaska. “For anyone who’s dreamed of traveling to Alaska, this summer is a great time to visit,” says Katime. “Surprisingly, Anchorage saw the biggest drop in average summer airfare compared to last year, 8%, down to $594.”

Other popular spots

Also spiking was travel to Nashville, Tenn.; New Orleans; Austin, Texas; and Savannah, Ga. Why the interest in these particular areas?

Nashville’s music is compelling, Deana Ivey, chief marketing officer for Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “Summer is the perfect time to experience some of Nashville’s one-of-a-kind festivals and events,” she told Yahoo Travel in an email.

“The CMA Music Festival, Bonnaroo and our July 4th celebration are a few of the larger annual summer festivals that make Music City unique,” especially coupled with frequent music events like Musicians Corner, Nashville Dancin’, Live On the Green and Bluebird on the Mountain.

Convenience, cuisine and an authentic nature are New Orleans’ draws, Mark Romig, president of New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, told Yahoo Travel. “New Orleans offers the consumer something at every price point, from the most casual to white tablecloth dining,” Romig says.  He added that getting around is easy, with downtown and the French Quarter within walking distance and historic streetcars costing a mere $1.25.

There are two big lures to Austin this summer, Shilpa Bakre, a communications manager at Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau, told Yahoo Travel. “ESPN’s X Games is moving to Austin, where it will be held for next five years. A big feature during the games, which take place June 5 through 8, is Circuit of the Americas, the first and only purpose-built Formula One track in the United States.”

Another reason Bakre cites for Austin’s allure: bats. “Austin has the largest urban bat population in world. Thousands of people flock to the city to see its 1.5 million bats, many of which live under the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge.”

Canada shines

Kayak’s report also shows an increased number of flight searches for Canadian destinations such as Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Adding to this search’s popularity: average airfare to Toronto dropping 15% and Vancouver 9% since last year.

Michelle Revuelta, Tourism Toronto’s media relations director, told Yahoo Travel she has several theories, beyond affordability, about the demand for Toronto travel. “There’s no shortage of summer activities and events to do in Toronto. From music to film, food, and art, there’s a festival for everyone.”

Revuelta highlighted the Luminato Festival (June 6–15), NXNE: North by Northeast Music & Film Festival (June 13–22), TD Toronto Jazz Festival (June 19–28), Redpath Waterfront Festival Toronto (June 20–22), Pride Toronto Festival + WorldPride 2014 (June 20–29), Honda Indy Toronto (July 18–20), Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival (July 8–August 3) and, for tennis fans, the Rogers Cup (August 2–10).

Along with Toronto’s festivals, Revuelta says travelers “enjoy our many parks, including the Toronto Islands; catch a baseball game; or simply wander through the hip and quirky streets and neighborhoods that make up our diverse landscape.”

Click below for another budget-friendly summer travel list: U.S. beach hotels under $200