Vaccine rollouts mean the times are a-changing and travel is coming back. Our first ever ‘Return to Travel’ Hacker Guide is here to help you navigate the constantly shifting world of reopenings and restrictions so you can get back in your travel groove. Whether you’re planning a post-quarantine blowout adventure to reintroduce yourself to the world, are a newly minted digital nomad looking for your next solo destination, or are determined to finally go on that group trip that’s been pushed back three times, we’ve got the data to get you where you want to go.
In addition to our top 10 destination lists, our guide has a few new features to help you get back on your feet – or rather, to get your feet back on a people mover at your favorite airport. Because your vacation wants and needs are bound to look a little different than they did a year ago, our Trip Matchmaker quiz will help you find your perfect first trip by matching you with a destination, based on how you spent your quarantine..
If you’re not quite ready to jetset across the globe, we’ve also got suggestions for trips close to home, proving that you don’t have to go far to experience something new. We’ll show you driving times as well as car rental and accomodation prices so you can spend less time planning and more time crafting the ultimate road trip playlist.
For those with more of a “I’ll go wherever this bank account can take me” mindset, our Top Flight Deal Destinations list shows the destinations seeing the biggest drop in airfare this month. And if you just want to finally be where the people are, our Trending Destination list is updated monthly with the destinations seeing the largest increase in searches.
Speaking of trends, here a few patterns we’ve been seeing already this year:
- Vaxxed and ready to relax… and headed to the Caribbean. The Caribbean announced eased restrictions for US travelers ahead of most other destinations, and y’all responded enthusiastically. Caribbean destinations took 8 spots in our guide for the summer.
- For our next act, Europe. US travelers were quick to start their search engines as Europe began to announce the possibility of borders opening for vaccinated US citizens. Even prior to the news, some European destinations were starting to pop, European destinations that saw the biggest spike in searches month over month for travel anytime include Dubrovnik (searches up 20%), Zurich (searches up 167%), Prague (searches up 144%) and Reykjavik (searches up 143%).
- Solo travelers head to South America. Searches to South America for solo travelers are up. Around 80% of flight searches to Cartagena, Medellin and Lima are for just one person.
- Pod Goals. It should be no surprise after a year spent socially distancing that group travel is trending now that those restrictions are starting to ease up. Whether you’re searching with friends, family, or literally anyone that is not a houseplant, searches for groups are up to anywhere you can get outside and enjoy the sun. Honolulu, Orlando and Las Vegas are the most searched for destinations for groups of three or more.
No matter where you go, it’s likely been a hot second since you had to write an out of office autoreply. Whether you’ll be casually checking emails or burying your phone in the sand, our OOO reply generator can help you craft the perfect response to let your colleagues know where you’re going, how long, and when they should expect a reply.
So now that that’s sorted, here are KAYAK’s curated lists for 2021’s ‘Return to Travel’ Hacker Guide.
Vaxication Destinations
Vaccinated and ready to go? These ten destinations are our most searched destinations open to any US citizen who has received full immunization or is willing to follow their testing and quarantine guidelines. Planning ahead is still key! But if you’re ready to get out of the US, let’s just say this list is looking beachy keen, so grab your sunscreen and sunglasses and check out these tourist-friendly destinations.
Solo Destinations
Whether you were sheltered in place with the same faces for a year or think you and your cat’s relationship would benefit from a few weeks of alone time, it may be time to go your own way. These destinations are getting solo travelers’ attention with between 76-84% of searches to them being for just 1 passenger. Stroll the ancient wonders of the world at #2 or take in the street art and relax at an open air cafe at #3. And most importantly, enjoy your alone time. You earned it.
Group Getaways
We all get by with a little help from our friends. If you haven’t seen your friends or family for a year or your pod can’t wait to swap an indoor game night with a beach day, a group trip could be just the thing. We looked at destinations seeing the most searches for groups of 3 or more. #1 and #2 are old time favorites, holding on to their spots from 2019, and if zoom game nights were your thang in 2020, #1 might be the place for you to slip on some sequins and take it up a notch.
Near, far, wherever 2021 takes you, we’ve got the data to help you plan and book the perfect trip for you. Happy booking and safe travels.
Methodology for KAYAK’s ‘Return to Travel’ Hacker Guide can be found here.
