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.

The big picture: The Iran war sent oil prices soaring, causing airlines to cut flights and raise fares, and drivers to pay more at the pump.

• Flight and hotel bookings have already dipped, Virginia Tech professor Mahmood Khan previously told Axios. "People are very hesitant to make long-term bookings."
• Meanwhile, budget travelers are mourning the loss of Spirit Airlines.

By the numbers: 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.

💭 Asher's thought bubble: High ticket costs and a short window for travel scared us off a potential trip to Europe.

• Instead, we're headed to New York and Toronto to visit family.
• Pro tip: We booked pretty cheap nonstop one-way flights from Canada back to Austin on Porter Airlines' new service.

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

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.

• "International fares are getting expensive, but if we head to our neighbors to the north or the south, those are typically a little bit cheaper."

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.

• DeLoache adds that it's smart to book flights early to lock in today's fares, as price hikes are likely.

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.

🚧 The I-35 expansion is forcing P. Terry's to close its flagship Capital Plaza location in Austin. (KUT)

🏠 The city of Austin is ramping up enforcement of short-term rental licensing rules. (KVUE)

🧾 A city audit found Austin Energy workers racked up about $37,000 in costs through misuse of city vehicles. (Austin American-Statesman)

Every day, we work to bring you the local stories, insights and updates that help you stay connected to your community.

📍 Become a member today. Your support helps us continue delivering trusted local reporting and keeps our newsroom focused on the stories that matter most.

Help keep local journalism strong where you live.

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.

• "This eliminates the desire to bring any 'just in case' items," Mansel tells Axios.

🧴 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.

• She also recommends refillable Cadence capsules for liquids, lotions and serums.

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

• "You'll stand out as an American tourist if you're wearing athleisure," Mansel says.

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

• Use a magnetic clip to attach a large sun hat to your tote.
• Buy full-size sunscreen when you arrive.