The final installment of the Tripadvisor Travel Index for 2021, which is based on first-party site data and consumer sentiment data, found that 55% of Americans report that they are planning to travel this winter. This is up from 50% who traveled in the same season in 2020, but still lags behind the 63% who hit the road in 2019.
Notably, 24% of Americans are still undecided about winter travel. Only about a third (30%) have already booked their trip, but 74% of those who haven’t yet are waiting until November or December to do so, so there may be significantly more travelers hit the road as the coldest season further approaches.
Although the vast majority (94%) of travelers will remain domestic, Americans are looking to broaden their horizons and experience new things this winter, as 37% are planning to travel somewhere they haven’t been before and 42% have booked a tour or activity.
New York City is back on top in the U.S. for the first time since the start of pandemic, as the most popular destination and home to the most-booked experience this winter.