Seattle's 2026 travel trends
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While Americans are increasingly searching for less crowded destinations abroad, many Washington state residents are planning trips to more familiar places in early 2026, according to Tripadvisor data.
The big picture: Seattle-area travel data shared with Axios by Tripadvisor and tour operator Intrepid Travel paints a mixed picture for the new year, with classic destinations dominating bookings.
- Tripadvisor booking data suggests Washington residents planning trips in early 2026 sticking to tried-and-true picks: entertainment centers, beach hubs and U.S. cities — led by Las Vegas, Honolulu, Anaheim, New York City and Palm Springs.
International bookings skew toward Mexico's resort corridors, such as Cabo San Lucas and Cancun, while Western Europe's marquee capitals — Paris, London and Rome — remain perennial favorites.
Zoom in: Last year, top destinations for Seattleites included culture-rich countries like Morocco, Vietnam and India; adventure hubs such as Peru and Iceland; and nature-focused locales like Yellowstone and Grand Teton, per Intrepid Travel, the tour operator behind Seattle-based REI Adventures trips.
Between the lines: Three factors have a strong influence on local explorers, Leigh Barnes, president of Americas at Intrepid Travel, told Axios.
- The region has a strong love of the outdoors with an outsized interest in hiking, cycling and adventure trips to places like Patagonia and Morocco, he said.
- Second, new international routes — especially from Alaska Airlines — drive demand. "Anywhere Alaska adds a new international route, people want to go," said Barnes.
- And third, there's ever-increasing interest in sustainable travel and experiences that positively impact local communities.
The latest: Nationally, there's been a nearly 180% bump in U.S. search interest for flights to the Czech Republic for 2026 compared to 2025, Kayak says.
- Searches for Bulgaria are up nearly 140%, those for Hungary are up nearly 90%, and those for Albania rose just over 65%.
- There's also notable interest in parts of the Middle East, with searches for Jordan and Egypt both up nearly 50%.
- Christchurch, New Zealand, tops the list of trending cities, with search interest up nearly 200% for 2026 travel versus 2025, per Kayak. It's followed by Prague, Czech Republic (+180%); Sofia, Bulgaria (+136%); and Kraków, Poland (+106%).
What they're saying: Kate Williams, Kayak's travel trends expert and chief communications officer, says rising interest in Eastern Europe is being driven by access and affordability.
- Airlines are adding nonstop routes to the region, and new boutique hotels are opening, Williams says.
- Travelers are also seeking alternatives to post-COVID hot spots like London, Rome and Paris.
"People want that next place — with fewer crowds, better value and a quintessential European experience," Williams says.
What's next: "Up-and-coming" destinations, novel accommodations now bookable with points (think tiny cabins, Airstream trailers, etc.) and impact-conscious traveling will be big trends in 2026, per a look-ahead from travel site The Points Guy.