At the beginning of the year, we’re all dreaming of the places we want to visit. But if you want to plan a trip that’s ahead of the curve, these are the trending destinations you should know about. From classic European getaways to balmy island paradises, here are the places that saw the biggest increase in traveler interest for 2018.
1. Maui, Hawaii
Say Aloha to sandy beaches and rolling surf. Searches to Maui are up 51% for travel this year vs. last, making it the top trendsetter on our list. September is when you’ll find the best deal on both airfare (median $260) and hotels (median $309), so plan your visit then. While those stretches of sandy beach are certainly worth it, there’s plenty to do on the island even if you’re not a beach bum. Book a Maui Craft Tour for a curated experience that’ll bring you to some of the island’s wineries, distilleries and breweries. Plus, you’ll be helping support local artisans and small businesses.
2. Barcelona
Despite 2017’s political upheaval, Barcelona is still a haven for tourists. Good news for you that we found flights to Europe this summer will be the lowest they’ve been in 3 years. So, that’s one less excuse to delay planning your Spanish siesta. Up 35% in interest, we recommend booking your trip at least 6 months ahead (so… now). When looking for a place to stay, the ultra sleek Hotel Regina is one of our top trending hotels for this destination and close to the famous La Rambla. If you want to try something offbeat during your visit, look for shows at Sala Hiroshima, an avante-garde performing arts theater.
3. Bali
You don’t have to go soul-searching to enjoy the beauty of Bali. This year, searches were up 27%. And we get it. Between our friend’s Instagram accounts and the bomb cyclones of winter, paradise looks pretty choice. As median airfares don’t appear to fluctuate much, we recommend booking your flight when you find a great price (use our Anywhere feature to see what’s considered a good deal from your home airport). BEtween basking under leafy canopies and doing a few sun salutations, learn how to bring traditional Balinese cooking to this side of the world. Bumbu Bali runs cooking classes out of its restaurant. They include a morning trip to the market to search for ingredients so you get the full experience.
4. Amsterdam
As a city that was once home to Rembrandt and Van Gogh, it’s not wonder that Amsterdam is picture perfect. Searches to this Dutch classic were up 27% for 2018. Whether its colorful row houses or adorable canals are what call you there, expect to book your trip at least 3 months in advance if you want to get the best deal. While the lowest median airfares are generally found in January and February, you can beat the chill and still score a deal in September when temperatures are still in the 50s and airfares start to lower after the summer bump. When staying there, we recommend getting an I Amsterdam City Card. This will get you free entry to museums, canal cruises and public transportation — perfect for a no-nonsense trip.
5. Lisbon
Portugal is still having its fire moment. We’ve seen its cities trending since last year. Up 25% in searching for 2018, that, erm, trend continues. Lisbon benefits from fairly mild weather in winter, so you can plan a February trip if you want to cut costs. That’s when you’ll find both lower airfare (median $566) and hotel rates (median $82/night). Though, considering we recommend you book your trip at least 6 months in advance, October may be a better bet. It’s when airfares start to go back down after the summer spike and you’ll enjoy temperatures in the 60s. When visiting Lisbon, check out LX Factory. It’s every hipsters dream: an art space-nightclub-food market-boutique hybrid that you can spend the entire day (and night) in.
6. Las Vegas
Searches to Vegas are up, for the first time in a while. While it has ranked among our most popular cities the past 3 years, now the city of neon is also trending. We saw searches for 2018 travel go up 21%. September is the month to go, with median airfares at their lowest and the desert heat finally starting to drop. However, if you’re more concerned about per diem cost, the lowest hotel rates we found were in December. If you’re not big into betting, there are still plenty of things to do in Vegas. Like the Pinball Hall of Fame, where you can play classic arcade games for hours on end (and only spend a few pennies on each). We say, game on.
7. Madrid
It’s no surprise that European destinations dominate our trending list. With airfares lower than previous years, we expect this trend to continue. Madrid is one city benefiting from increased interest — searches were up 20% for 2018. While we recommend booking at least 5 months in advance, March is the month where we see the lowest median airfare for Spain’s classic capital. If you’re there on a Sunday, you can’t miss El Rastro — the city’s oldest and most famous flea market. If you’re looking for a bit of quiet, however, take the AVE (speed) train out to Segovia. You can take in its Roman aqueducts and walk down ancient streets, ending your day with some cochinillo – the roasted pig dish the city is known for.
8. Athens
Speaking of ancient cities, you can dance in Athens’ timeless streets (and learn to tango) on Monday nights for Street Dancing Milonga. Athens made our list this year with a 20% increase in searches. Busy and vibrant, this city manages to join together a rich history and modern sensibility. Look at visiting in November. Since we recommend booking at least 5 months ahead, this is when you’ll find lower median airfares and hotel rates ($677 and $100/night, respectively). Be sure to check out the Coco-mat Hotel for your trip — it was one of the top trending hotels for the city and features and open, airy design that’ll help set the tone for your stay.
9. Paris
While many consider France’s capital a vacation classic, we know it better as being on the cutting edge. Up 18% in searches, Paris is luring new lovers with its lower airfares and city sparkle. If you’re trying to decide when to go, we found that airfares remains relatively low until early summer when it spikes in June, then drops again in August. In fact, August is also when hotel rates take a sudden drop (median $148/night) likely due to the fact that this is when Parisians leave the city for summer vacation. Whenever you decide to go, just be sure to book at least 6 months ahead if you want to get the best deal. And while fine dining abounds, La Reserve de Quasimodo has the distinct honor of being one of Paris’s oldest restaurants as it’s been around since the 13th-century.
10. Rome
Rounding out our list of the hottest destinations of the year is another European classic. Not that Rome isn’t hip — we mean, the do have a vegan cat cafe, afterall. But with interest spiking 17% for 2018, we can imagine a new league of travelers is ready to discover Italy’s capital city. If you’re looking for a flight deal, April may be you best best. While we found lower median airfare in January and February, our data shows that you should book at least 4 months ahead to get a good deal. If you’re looking to go off the beaten path, check out shops and restaurants in the Pigneto neighborhood. Away from the more touristy spots, it’s got trendy cafes like Pigneto 41 — which serves up a great cocktail.
Whether you want a vacation that’s ahead of the curve or are planning a trip that’s a bit more sedate, we’ll make sure you have the information you need so you can be confident in your travel decisions.
