The 2026 holiday travel season is turning out to be something of a mixed bag. With ticket prices especially steep thanks to a jet fuel shortage, many Americans (55 percent according to a recent study) are not traveling at all for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Meanwhile, among those who are traveling road trips are especially popular to help reign in costs.
In addition, many travelers this year are opting to stay closer to home, according to a holiday travel report published by the vacation rental metasearch engine and online marketplace Home to Go. The same report reveals that “mountain towns and cabin-country escapes” are dominating the list of fastest-growing destinations for Thanksgiving 2026.
Meaning, travelers are increasingly heading to destinations like Leavenworth, Washington, which is experiencing a 347 percent year-over-year search increase. Located in the Cascade Mountains, Leavenworth is known for its picturesque Bavarian-themed Alpine village.
Also popular among Thanksgiving travelers: the vibrant mountain town of Boone, North Carolina. Searches are up 275 percent over last year. Rounding out the top three most popular destinations for Thanksgiving is the famous Wyoming community of Jackson Hole, which features mountains galore and world-class skiing and is also the gateway to two beloved national parks, Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
Top Destinations for Christmas 2026
Turning our attention to Christmas, the same Home to Go report says international travel is topping the agenda for travelers. In fact, seven of the top 10 trending destinations for the holiday are located outside the United States. The top locations being searched for Christmas include:
Steamboat Springs, Colorado: up 500 percent year over year
Arlberg, Austria: up 279 percent
Grindelwald, Switzerland: up 263 percent
Megeve, France: up 257 percent
Beaver Creek, Colorado: up 203 percent
Copenhagen, Denmark: up 83 percent
Strasbourg, France: up 69 percent
Lapland, Finland: up 58 percent
Tromso, Norway: up 36 percent
All of these insights are based on searches carried out by travelers on the Home to Go platform for check-in dates falling within the week leading up to each holiday, including the holiday itself.
To round out the picture for the 2026 holiday season, TravelPulse reached out to travel advisers to gather more intel on what lies ahead for Thanksgiving and Christmas, both in terms of top destinations and general travel trends. Read on to find out what they’re forecasting.
Go Big or Stay Home
While search data reveals one part of the story, travel advisers planning trips for their clients offer an even deeper look at consumers’ current mood and behavior. And for Heather Hardaway, a travel adviser with Travelmation, the 2026 holiday season is off to a late booking start compared to other years, but people are still traveling.
“I’m finding that clients are living by the, ‘Go big, or stay home,’ motto,” Hardaway tells TravelPulse. “European Christmas Market sailings, villas in Hawaii, and Caribbean cruises are popular this holiday season.”
Echoing the findings of the Home to Go study, many of Hardaway’s clients who are taking cruises over the holidays are opting to drive to cruise ports to avoid steep airfare prices. “Not having the cost of a flight added to a vacation allows for a longer cruise, more desired ports or even a newer ship,” Hardaway adds.
Being able to travel without a passport is also a plus for many cruisers this year, who are opting for itineraries that depart and return from the US.
All-Inclusives Attract Travelers Seeking to Avoid Holiday Stress
Another popular theme among holiday travelers this year is minimizing stress. Shawn Stokes, also a travel adviser with Travelmation, says her top bookings for Thanksgiving and Christmas are for Caribbean and Mexico all-inclusive resorts and cruises.
“For my clients, the holidays are all about getting away with loved ones without the pressure of hosting, cooking, and cleaning up afterwards,” Stokes told TravelPulse. “An all-inclusive resort or cruise gives everyone in the family a chance to relax and the budget is mostly settled before they leave.”
All-inclusive resorts (meaning one flat price that typically covers the cost of food, accommodations and many activities) take the “what’s this going to cost?” anxiety out of the trip. “Travelers know the price tag up front and, for a big family or group, that’s huge,” continues Stokes. “I think that vibe really resonates with travelers. They don’t want to think about their tab. All they want to think about is whether they are starting the day at the pool or with a margarita.”
Europe Holds its Own
Even more insights that echo the Home to Go findings, Cristina Cunham, founder of Luxe Voyage Travel, says she’s seeing a strong demand for Europe over the holidays this year.
“Italy and Portugal continue to be incredibly popular, particularly with travelers who want culture, incredible food and an experience that feels a little more meaningful than simply going somewhere warm,” says Cunham.
At the same time, however, the Caribbean (and specifically Aruba) remains a very strong choice among families and couples who want an easier holiday escape with good airline access and a resort experience where everything is taken care of.
“What has been especially noticeable this year is that clients are not really choosing between an experiential trip and a relaxing vacation. They want both,” adds Cunham. “They may spend several days exploring a European city and then slow the itinerary down, or choose a Caribbean resort but add private excursions, local dining and cultural experiences, hence why Aruba has gotten so popular.”
Copyright 2026 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
