Expedia’s annual holiday travel report is here and based on their findings, more people will be traveling this year. According to the travel company, 2024 is set to see 20% more travelers compared to last year – which saw an eye-popping 115 million people travel for the holidays. Here’s everything to expect this holiday travel season, according to Expedia’s findings.
The Best and Worst Days to Travel
Based on when people booked flights through Expedia, the company has mapped out the best and worst days to travel this year. The agency says that the busiest days will be Friday to Sunday, December 20 to 22. It’s a little earlier than previous years, likely because people’s WFH schedules allow them to head home a little sooner than normal. However, it seems that many travelers won’t be staying long after opening presents, with December 26 also being one of the busiest travel days.
The slowest (and cheapest) days to travel will be before December 18, which is likely already too late for many travelers. However, Expedia also noted that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are expected to be slower and cheaper travel days if you don’t mind traveling on the actual holiday.
Where People Are Going This Year
Based on booking information from Expedia, the busiest destinations for the holidays this year are Los Angeles, New York City, Orlando, Las Vegas, and Miami, which means that lots of people might be taking vacations instead of visiting family (or maybe even going on vacation with their families).
There’s also a big rise in international travel for the holidays this year, with cities like Tokyo, Munich, and Zurich seeing a big rise in visitors.
Holiday Travel Tips and Tricks
For anyone traveling during the busy holiday season, Expedia has a few tips:
~ Travel Early. Morning flights are 50% less likely to be delayed or canceled than flights after 3 pm
~ Book Early. Expedia found that flyers who booked domestic flights 28 days in advance saved up to 24%, and international travelers who booked 60 days in advance saved 10%.