Holiday Travel 2025: KAYAK Data Shows Searches Up 10% and Airfares Trending Down as Travelers Turn to AI tools for Smarter Planning

Rhea-AI Summary

KAYAK holiday travel data (Nov 21, 2025) shows travel interest up 10% YoY while prices are largely stable or lower, offering more affordable options for the season.

Key price moves: international flights -7% YoY, domestic flights -1% YoY, U.S. rental cars -6%, and hotel rates roughly flat (+2% domestic / +5% international). Eastern Europe demand surged (Warsaw +73% YoY; Prague +65% YoY). KAYAK highlights top airfare drops (Tokyo -29%, Venice -18%, Helsinki -19%) and recommends specific cheapest departure days. KAYAK also launched an AI Mode conversational tool to simplify planning.

Positive

• Holiday travel interest up 10% YoY
• International airfares down 7% YoY
• U.S. rental car prices down 6%
• Strong demand gains: Warsaw searches +73% YoY

Negative

• International hotel rates up 5%
• Domestic hotel rates up 2%

Insights

Travel & Consumer Data Analyst

KAYAK reports holiday searches +10%, softer fares, and launches an AI planning tool — suggestive of stronger demand and improved pricing leverage.

The data shows clear demand growth with searches up 10% year‑over‑year while key price series moved lower or remained stable: international fares down 7%, domestic fares down 1%, U.S. rental cars down 6%, and hotel rates roughly flat (+2% domestic / +5% international). These dynamics imply more booking opportunities per search and potential for higher conversion if inventory and pricing convert to completed transactions.

Risks and dependencies include conversion rates, average booking lead times, and whether lower fares compress margins or simply increase volume; the release provides no booking, revenue, or margin figures. Also note the product update: KAYAK rolled out an "AI Mode" for conversational trip planning, which may affect user engagement and funnel efficiency but has no disclosed adoption or monetization metrics.

Monitor near-term indicators: booking conversion and average revenue per booking in the next holiday window around Nov. 24, 2025 and Dec. 24, 2025, changes in average fares listed (e.g., Myrtle Beach average $342, Tokyo average $1,071), and early usage/adoption data for AI Mode over the next quarter. Time horizon: immediate holiday season outcomes and the following quarter for measurable impact.

BOSTON, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to data from KAYAK, the world's leading travel search engine, holiday travel interest is up 10% year-over-year. Despite higher interest, prices across major travel categories are stable or down, giving travelers more opportunities to find affordable trips this holiday season.

Holiday Travel Forecast: Interest Up, Prices Down
KAYAK flight search data indicates that interest in holiday trips are up 10% compared to 2024, showing that travelers are eager to take seasonal getaways. Prices are trending favorably across most categories:

• International flight prices are down 7% YoY
• Domestic flight prices dipped 1%
• Rental car prices dropped 6% (U.S.)
• Hotel rates held steady (+2% domestic / +5% international)

"Interest is strong, but prices are holding steady or lower compared to last year," said Kate Williams, KAYAK travel trends expert and CCO. "There are deals to be found if you are able to be flexible with dates and destinations."

Trending Holiday Destinations: Eastern Europe Takes the Spotlight
Eastern Europe has emerged as a top holiday travel trend in 2025, with several destinations seeing major increases in flight searches compared to last year:

• Warsaw, Poland – up 73% YoY, known for festive markets and great value
• Prague, Czech Republic – up 65% YoY, offering classic holiday charm
• Tallinn, Estonia and Budapest, Hungary also saw notable increases

New flight routes and the inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen Area are making the region more accessible and appealing to U.S. travelers seeking affordable, culturally rich winter escapes.

Where the Holiday Deals Are: Top Destinations to Find Deals
For travelers hunting value, KAYAK found these destinations having the biggest drops in airfare compared to last year:

Domestic travel deals:

• Myrtle Beach, SC: airfare down 18% YoY (average $342)
• Bozeman, MT: down 10% (average $509)
• Reno, NV: down 15% (average $414)

International travel deals:

• Tokyo, Japan: down 29% (average $1,071)
• Venice, Italy: down 18% (average $823)
• Helsinki, Finland: down 19% (average $727)

For travelers who treat holiday deals like a sport: in 2024, Cyber Monday delivered the lowest domestic fares of the season (average $316), while Travel Tuesday offered the lowest international fares (average $793), trends travelers may see again in 2025.

Best Days to Fly (and What to Avoid) This Season
To stretch holiday budgets further, KAYAK analyzed holiday flight search data to pinpoint the most affordable departure days:

• Thanksgiving: Fly Nov. 24 – the cheapest day for domestic flights (avg. $415).
• Christmas: Fly Dec. 24 – quieter airports and lower prices (avg. $393 domestic / $864 international).

Avoiding peak travel days can save travelers hundreds while offering a less stressful airport experience.

Travel Smarter with KAYAK's New AI Mode
KAYAK's new AI Mode, an AI travel planning tool, helps travelers simplify the trip planning process by using conversational searches. Users can type natural prompts like: "Find me a Christmas week getaway for under $500, somewhere warm, leaving from LAX" and instantly get real-time flight, hotel and car rental options.

"Having a trip to look forward to at the end of the year is the gift we all need," said Kate Williams, KAYAK travel trends expert and CCO. "If you haven't booked yet, let our AI tools do the hard work for you to surface the best destinations for your budget."

Explore KAYAK's full 2025 Holiday Travel Forecast at https://www.kayak.com/news/holiday/.

About KAYAK
KAYAK, part of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG), is the world's leading travel search engine. With billions of queries across our platforms, we help people find their perfect flight, stay, rental car and vacation package. Trusted by millions of travelers, the KAYAK app makes travel planning seamless on iOS and Android, and we also support business travelers with our corporate travel solution, KAYAK for Business.

*Methodology: KAYAK analyzed search queries from a U.S. origin across flights, hotels, and rental cars for travel during the 2025 Thanksgiving and December holiday periods. All data reflects YoY comparisons from the same search windows in 2024.

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SOURCE KAYAK

FAQ

What does KAYAK's 10% YoY holiday interest increase mean for BKNG investors on Nov 21, 2025?

KAYAK reports holiday travel searches up 10% YoY, signalling stronger consumer demand that could benefit travel platforms like BKNG.

How have airfares changed in KAYAK's Nov 21, 2025 holiday forecast and what matters to BKNG?

KAYAK found international airfares -7% YoY and domestic airfares -1% YoY, indicating cheaper tickets that may stimulate bookings volume for BKNG.

Which destinations showed the biggest search gains in KAYAK's Nov 21, 2025 data?

Eastern Europe led gains with Warsaw +73% YoY and Prague +65% YoY, highlighting demand shifts investors may monitor for BKNG.

What major airfare drops did KAYAK report for holiday 2025 that could affect BKNG bookings?

KAYAK cited large airfare declines including Tokyo -29%, Venice -18%, and Helsinki -19% versus last year.

When are the cheapest days to fly this Thanksgiving and Christmas per KAYAK's Nov 21, 2025 report?

KAYAK identifies Nov. 24 as cheapest for Thanksgiving domestic flights and Dec. 24 as cheapest for Christmas departures.

What is KAYAK's new AI Mode and how could it impact BKNG user engagement?

KAYAK's AI Mode is a conversational planning tool that returns real-time flight, hotel, and car options from natural prompts, potentially improving user conversion.