Tripadvisor Winter Travel Index Reveals Top Destinations for Winter Travel

Tripadvisor (TRIP) released its Winter Travel Index, ranking New York City and Cancun as the top domestic and international winter destinations, respectively.

Rhea-AI Summary

Tripadvisor (TRIP) released its Winter Travel Index, ranking New York City and Cancun as the top domestic and international winter destinations, respectively.

The destination rankings presented for U.S. travelers place Las Vegas second domestically and Cabo San Lucas second internationally. Florida has three destinations in the domestic top 10. Lake Buena Vista and Quebec City lead the domestic and international rankings for year-over-year search growth. Cultural tours, day trips and outdoor adventure tours lead experience bookings, while craft classes and wellness activities feature among emerging categories.

Key Figures

Top international winter destination: #1 Top domestic winter destination: #1

Top international winter destination

#1

Cancun, Mexico, for U.S. travelers

Top domestic winter destination

#1

New York City for U.S. travelers

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New York City and Cancun Lead Global Destination Demand as Travelers Plan Winter Getaways

NEEDHAM, Mass., Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform, today released initial data from its seasonal Winter Travel Index, revealing the top trending destinations for U.S. travelers during the upcoming winter season.

Top domestic U.S. travel destinations include a mix of cities with notable holiday footprints such as New York and Las Vegas alongside warm-weather spots in Florida and Hawaii. Internationally, hot spots in Mexico, Dominican Republic and Aruba continue to capture travelers' attention as they seek to escape the cold and hit the beach during peak snow season.

The platform data also reveals how destination demand shifts across key holiday travel periods, with travelers flocking to entertainment and cultural hubs like New York City, Las Vegas, and Orlando for Thanksgiving weekend, and opting for coastal and resort getaways like Key West and Honolulu for Christmas and New Year.

"Whether American travelers are heading toward the sun, with Cancun and the Caribbean continuing to dominate, or the holiday magic of cities like New York and Las Vegas, what's clear is that they're not just booking a destination, but looking for something to do when they get there, said Aarushi Kumar, Associate Director of Research and Insights, Tripadvisor Group. "Cultural tours, day trips and outdoor adventures are leading experience bookings on Tripadvisor, while craft classes and spa days are the fastest-growing newcomers. Whatever the vacation and wherever the destination, there's something to do for every traveler."

Winter Travel Index: 2026 Top Winter Destinations

Mexico and the Caribbean continue to dominate American searches, with Cancun maintaining its reign as the #1 international winter destination. Domestically, New York City claims the top spot, with holiday happenings in the city serving as a large draw, while Florida solidifies its status as a premier winter retreat with three destinations in the top 10. 

Top 10 Domestic Destinations for U.S. Travelers	Top 10 International Destinations for U.S. Travelers
1. New York, New York	1. Cancun, Mexico
2. Las Vegas, Nevada	2. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
3. Key West, Florida	3. Bavaro, Dominican Republic
4. Anaheim, California	4. Palm – Eagle Beach, Aruba
5. Fort Lauderdale, Florida	5. Paris, France
6. New Orleans, Louisiana	6. Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos
7. Honolulu, Hawaii	7. London, United Kingdom
8. Miami, Florida	8. Cap Cana, Dominican Republic
9. Chicago, Illinois	9. Oranjestad, Aruba
10. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee	10. Playa Mujeres, Mexico

Top 5 Fastest Growing Destinations Based on YoY Growth 

Year-over-year search comparisons indicate that American travelers are expanding their horizons toward historic winter wonderlands, Caribbean retreats, and holiday extensions fit for the family. Quebec City, Canada leads international acceleration as travelers embrace authentic cold-weather cultural experiences, while coastal hideaways in the Dominican Republic and British Virgin Islands see surging interest. Domestically, extended family vacation hubs in Florida and California are experiencing the highest rates of year-over-year adoption.

Top 5 Trending Domestic Destinations	Top 5 Trending International Destinations
1. Lake Buena Vista, Florida	1. Quebec City, Canada
2. Bay Lake, Florida	2. El Cortecito, Dominican Republic
3. Sanibel Island, Florida	3. Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
4. Kapolei, Hawaii	4. Playa Avellana, Costa Rica
5. Carlsbad, California	5. Green Island, Jamaica

Holiday Travel Trends

Travel patterns indicate significant concentration around the Christmas and New Year holidays, creating distinct peak travel windows alongside high-value shoulder weeks for budget-conscious travelers.

Top 5 Trending Domestic Destinations for Thanksgiving	Top 5 Trending International Destinations for Thanksgiving
1. New York, New York	1. Cancun, Mexico
2. Las Vegas, Nevada	2. Paris, France
3. Orlando, Florida	3. Playa del Carmen, Mexico
4. New Orleans, Louisiana	4. London, United Kingdom
5. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee	5. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Top 5 Domestic Trending Destinations for Christmas through New Years	Top 5 International Trending Destinations for Christmas through New Years
1. New York, New York	1. Cancun, Mexico
2. Orlando, Florida	2. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
3. Las Vegas, Nevada	3. Playa del Carmen, Mexico
4. Key West, Florida	4. Bavaro, Dominican Republic
5. Anaheim, California	5. Paris, France

Winter Experience Trends and Activities

Winter travelers are prioritizing curated cultural and outdoor experiences on their vacations. Cultural tours, day trips, and outdoor adventure tours lead the most-booked bookable experiences on Tripadvisor, while hands-on craft classes and wellness activities represent the fastest-growing emerging experience categories.

Top Booked Experiences:

• Cultural Tours & Historic Sights
  • Options in top Domestic U.S. Destinations include:
    • New York, New York
      • 9/11 Ground Zero & Memorial Tour with Optional 9/11 Museum
      • New York Catacombs by Candlelight
      • NYC Grand Central Station Secrets Small Group Tour
    • Las Vegas, Nevada
      • Fremont Street Experience
      • The Mob Museum
      • The Neon Museum
    • Key West, Florida
      • The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
      • Southernmost Food & Cultural Walking Tour by Key West Food Tours
      • Southernmost Key West History and Culture Small-Group Walking Tour
• Day Trips & Excursions
  • Options in top Domestic U.S. Destinations include:
    • New York, New York
      • Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour with Reserved Ferry Entry
      • Washington DC & Philadelphia 1-Day Guided Tour from NYC
      • Circle Line: 2hr - New York City Harbor Lights Cruise
    • Las Vegas, Nevada
      • Award-Winning Lower Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour
      • Small Group: Valley of Fire Half Day Tour from Las Vegas
      • Ultimate Hoover Dam Tour from Las Vegas
    • Key West, Florida
      • Key West Mangrove Kayak Eco Tour
      • Dry Tortugas National Park Day Trip by Catamaran from Key West
      • Key West Full-Day Ocean Adventure: Kayak, Snorkel, Sail
• Adventure & Outdoor Tours
  • Options in top Domestic U.S. Destinations include:
    • New York, New York
      • NY Helicopter Tour: Ultimate NYC Sightseeing
      • Central Park Pedicab Guided Tours
      • Central Park NYC Highlights Small-Group Bike Tour
    • Las Vegas, Nevada
      • Half-Day Mojave Desert ATV Tour from Las Vegas
      • Red Rock Canyon eBike Half-Day Tour
      • 2-Hour Exotic Car Driving Experience in Las Vegas
    • Key West, Florida
      • Shark and Wildlife Viewing Adventure in Key West
      • Key West Island Adventure Jet Ski Tour: Bring a Partner for Free
      • Key West Parasailing - Next to Cruise Port with Amazing Views

Top Emerging Experience Types:

• Craft Classes
• Day Spas
• Rentals
• Museums
• City Walking Tours

Methodology 

Site behavioural data sourced from first-party traffic on the Tripadvisor platform for searches made by travellers in the UK between 1st August, 2026 and 31st October, 2026 for travel between 1st November 2026 and 28 February, 2027.

About Tripadvisor Inc.
Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform*, helps millions of people each month** become better travelers, from planning to booking to taking a trip. Travelers across the globe use Tripadvisor's website and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than a billion reviews and contributions, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.

Tripadvisor LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tripadvisor, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRIP). The subsidiaries of Tripadvisor, Inc. own and operate a portfolio of travel media brands and businesses, operating under various websites and apps.

* Source: SimilarWeb, unique users de-duplicated monthly, September 2026
** Source: Tripadvisor internal log files

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SOURCE Tripadvisor