America's holiday travel hot spots
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Florida claims five of the top 10 trending domestic holiday destinations this year, according to Kayak search data.
Why it matters: As airfares climb, travelers are "chasing sunshine without blowing the holiday budget," Kayak's Kayla DeLoache tells Axios.
Zoom in: The Sunshine State's Punta Gorda, Valparaiso and Sarasota saw the biggest jumps in searches compared with last year, likely reflecting new routes and affordable fares, per Kayak.
- Meanwhile, low-cost flights and local draws — New Orleans' live music, Savannah, Georgia's historic squares and Knoxville, Tennessee's proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains — are fueling interest in Southern weekend getaways, DeLoache says.
By the numbers: As of Nov. 1, domestic fares on Kayak were averaging $417 for Thanksgiving and $418 for Christmas and New Year's — compared with $317 and $351, respectively, last year.
- Booking company Hopper reports travel this holiday season is on track to be the most expensive in at least a decade, largely because of soaring jet fuel costs.
Yes, but: It's possible to avoid eye-watering prices, especially if you're open to flying midweek or trying a different destination.
- Punta Gorda, the Carolinas and Minneapolis are among the cheapest domestic destinations for holiday flights, with fares under $400, per Kayak.
Another way to save: Booking two one-way flights (even on different airlines) instead of a round-trip could cut fares to several U.S. cities, most of all Washington, D.C., and Chicago, Kayak found.
And lower "bucket list fares" might put that dream holiday vacation within reach.
- Airfares to long-haul destinations in Latin America, Asia and the Caribbean are seeing some of the steepest drops compared with last year, per Kayak — with Cusco, Peru, down 20% and Phuket, Thailand, down 16%.
The bottom line: Consider this your nudge to get those holiday flights booked.
