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- Expedia Winter Travel Outlook shows a 10% increase in interest for winter travel, with significant savings on airfare and hotel rates during January and February.
- The top winter destinations for U.S. travelers are a mix of beach locales, cities, and ski getaways; Northern Lights tourism also continues to drive interest in winter travel.
The Expedia Winter Travel Outlook shows a surge in interest in winter travel, with the data indicating a 10% increase compared to last year. According to the report, travelers are seeking sun-soaked destinations and showing a heightened interest in cities and snow getaways.
Traditionally, the post-holiday winter period is considered a low season for travel. However, this period allows travelers to enjoy popular destinations without the usual crowds, coupled with significant cost savings. The report states that average hotel prices in January and February are typically 10% cheaper than summer, and flight prices can drop up to 15% compared to Christmas.
The report reveals that top winter destinations for U.S. travelers include Los Angeles and Cancún, with the fastest-growing being Vancouver (+115%), Curaçao (+90%), Kyoto (+85%), Maui (+80%), and Zurich (+65%). Regarding hotel savings, Seattle, Vancouver, Boston, and Chicago emerge as the top destinations with average wintertime daily rates around 40% lower than summer.
Winter travel also presents attractive flight deal destinations, including Rome, Barcelona, and Montreal, with average ticket prices down 15% or more compared to summer.
Moreover, the prime aurora season, from January to early March, continues to drive interest in Northern Lights tourism. Canadian destinations such as Banff (+60%) and Yellowknife (+10%) have seen a year-over-year increase in searches for Northern Lights viewing.
Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group Brands public relations, emphasizes that winter travel does not necessarily mean higher post-holiday spending. “With lower airfare and off-season hotel rates, it’s a great time to get some winter sun or pack a parka and enjoy a crowd-free European city. A no-brainer hack to remember is when you book your flight and hotel together on the Expedia app, you can save hundreds of dollars on average on your trip.”
The data presented in the Expedia Winter Travel Outlook is based on flight and lodging searches made on Expedia.com for travel from December 1, 2024, to March 1, 2025. The comparisons are made against the same time in the previous year.
