Move over, Euro Summer — Americans are staying closer to home this year.

Why it matters: Higher airfare and broader economic concerns have pushed many travelers to rethink long-haul trips.

Zoom in: Travel adviser Erica Christie says clients are shifting toward affordable weekend trips in the Carolinas, New England and California.

• Bookings to Asheville, North Carolina, jumped 174% in the past year, according to Fora, the global travel agency where Christie works.
• South Carolina bookings rose 157%.

Travelers still heading to Europe are swapping popular (and pricey) hot spots like the Amalfi Coast and Lake Como for lesser-known alternatives — including the Italian Riviera near the French border, the Tuscan coast, Montenegro and Malta, Christie tells Axios.

Booking site Expedia reports travelers are choosing Philadelphia, Palm Springs, Fort Lauderdale and Puerto Rico over New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Honolulu.

• London, Paris and Rome are giving way to Dublin and Brussels.

By the numbers: Nearly three-quarters (73%) of Americans say they plan to take a summer vacation this year, up from 66% from last year, per a new survey from transportation company Enterprise Mobility.

• Even so, most travelers (69%) say they're opting for weekend getaways, with about half citing affordability as the reason.
• 89% say they plan to stay domestic for their next trip.

The bottom line: Travelers aren't giving up on summer — they're getting more strategic.

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The Dominican Republic and Morocco are trending summer destinations for U.S. travelers this year, per Kayak search data.

• 2026 FIFA World Cup host areas Kansas City and San Francisco also made Kayak's top 10.

Driving the news: Interest in the D.R. could reflect new routes and affordability, Kayak's Kayla DeLoache tells Axios.

Kayak's list reflects trending destinations, with more search interest compared to last year.

• Its top 10 most-searched summer destinations overall this year: Orlando, Las Vegas and London.

Follow the money: Average domestic airfares are up nearly $100 year over year, per Kayak.

• International airfares are up nearly $200.

Yes, but: It's still possible to book relatively affordable flights, DeLoache says.

• That's especially true if you're willing to travel midweek, and if you're open to lower-cost destinations.

Mexico, Iceland and Ireland have some of the most affordable airfares for U.S. flyers this summer, per Kayak's summer travel dashboard.

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Travelers are increasingly turning weddings, reunions, etc. into bigger trips — a trend that American Express Travel is calling "milestone travel."

• They're also seeking out hands-on opportunities, big adventures that promise a good story to bring home, and unique local snacks, AmEx says.

⚽️ Expedia's "Unpack '26" report highlights sports pilgrimages — timely given the World Cup right around the corner.

• "57% of travelers say they're likely to attend a local sporting event while traveling, rising to 68% among Gen Z and Millennials combined."

Expedia also highlights "hotel hopping:" staying at more than one hotel in the same area.

• It's a way of seeing different neighborhoods — or just saving money.

🚂 And Condé Nast Traveler says it'll be a big year for luxe train travel.

• "New routes to new destinations are driving the trend in 2026, with travel agencies packaging multi-rail journeys catering to the demand for luxury train hopping."

Jet-setters, take note: We asked travel writer Lydia Mansel to share her top packing advice for summer trips.

The big picture: Forget folding tricks and compression cubes. The smartest way to pack lighter is to bring clothes you'll actually wear, says Mansel, who writes the packing-list newsletter Just Packed.

👕 Find your travel uniform. Mansel suggests sticking to staples that work for all kinds of trips. Think: oversized button-downs, plain white tees and loose linen pants.

🧴 Keep a mini-toiletry stash. Save Sephora samples, hotel shampoo bottles, travel-size toothpaste and contact solution bottles so you can "shop" your collection before each trip.

👟 For Europe, skip the leggings. Prioritize comfortable linen and cotton pieces that you can easily wash or hand-wash.

🩴 For beach trips, less is more. Pack swimsuits, a cover-up, sandals and a few "throw-and-go" outfits.

• Buy full-size sunscreen when you arrive — so it's not the reason you need to check a bag — but Mansel always brings a travel-size bottle for her face.

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😮 The Internal Revenue Service has approved a remote work policy after employees had to contend with a severe rat and cockroach infestation for several weeks. (WSB)

🗳️ President Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. Mike Collins over Derek Dooley in the Republican primary runoff election for the U.S. Senate. (AJC)

🇭🇹 A new initiative seeks to bring metro Atlanta's Haitian community together to celebrate the country's first World Cup appearance in 50 years. (Saporta Report)

🎻 The Buford Highway Orchestra Project, a free program that started in 2021 for metro Atlanta students, has become a respite for children with families who face deportation fears. (WABE)