Nearly 5 million Washingtonians are expected to travel this summer, with many opting for day trips and regional getaways due to sky-high travel costs.

The big picture: Seattle's unofficial start to summer begins Sunday, and AAA Washington tells Axios it's expecting another busy season despite higher prices for airfare, hotels and other vacation expenses.

Zoom in: While Seattle remains the state's largest tourism destination, Leavenworth, Lake Chelan and the San Juan Islands continue to rank among the Evergreen State's most popular summer escapes, said Kyle Hays of AAA Washington.

• Travelers venturing a little farther are gravitating toward destinations that are still relatively easy to reach, including Oregon, Idaho, Las Vegas, San Diego and Alaska cruises, Hays told Axios.

By the numbers: Nationally, nearly three-quarters 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.

• But most travelers (69%) say they're opting for weekend getaways and 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.

For Seattle-area travelers heading overseas, some of the hottest destinations this summer may be ones you rarely hear of.

The big picture: Nationally, many travelers are trading pricey places like the Amalfi Coast and Lake Como for the Italian Riviera, Montenegro and Malta — destinations that offer many of the same charms at a lower cost, travel adviser Erica Christie tells Axios.

Zoom in: The Dominican Republic and Morocco are among this summer's fastest-growing international destinations for U.S. travelers, according to Kayak search data, driven in part by affordability and new flight options.

• "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 Kayla DeLoache tells Axios.

Follow the money: Average domestic airfares are up nearly $100 from a year ago, while international fares have climbed nearly $200, according to Kayak.

Yes, but: Travelers can still find deals by flying midweek and keeping an open mind about their destination.

• Mexico, Iceland and Ireland offer some of the most affordable international airfares for U.S. travelers this summer, according to Kayak's summer travel dashboard.

Also trending: American Express Travel says more travelers are turning weddings, reunions and other celebrations into longer vacations — a trend it's calls "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.

Go deeper

Airfare and hotel rates may grab the headlines, but it's often the smaller expenses — baggage fees, parking, meals and rideshares — that push a vacation over budget.

By the numbers: Travel costs are 11% higher than a year ago, according to NerdWallet's Travel Price Index.

• The average vacation budget has climbed to a record $6,630, according to Future Partners.
• And 84% of travelers expect to put at least some vacation expenses on a credit card, with more than a third still paying off last year's trip, per NerdWallet.

What's happening: One of the biggest mistakes travelers make is falling in love with a destination before deciding what they can realistically afford, said James Rothwell of Washington-based Gesa Credit Union.

• "Once you're excited about a destination, it becomes easy to keep adding activities, upgrades and experiences that push the budget higher," Rothwell told Axios.
• Instead, he recommends deciding what you can spend first — and then building the best trip within that budget.
• He also encourages travelers to leave a 10% to 15% cushion for expenses they often overlook.

"A vacation should create happy memories, not months of financial stress," he said. "Planning ahead and understanding the full cost of a trip can help families enjoy time away without bringing home unnecessary debt."

The bottom line: A little planning before takeoff can help ensure vacation memories outlast the credit-card bill.

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🏢 Artificial intelligence company Anthropic is expanding in Seattle, a move seen as a potential boost for a downtown office market still trying to rebound. (GeekWire)

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.

👟 For Europe, prioritize comfortable linen and cotton pieces that you can easily 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, but bring a travel-size bottle for your face.

🧳 Only check a bag when you need to.

• "I also always consider how inconvenient it would be if my checked bag didn't make a connecting flight," she said.

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