• US flight searches for Paris are up 26% and hotel searches for the destination are up 180% from last year.   

The 2024 travel forecast is looking sunny with a chance of savings. Despite increasing inflation, according to the latest internal data from KAYAK airfare is down 13% for domestic and 3% for international flights vs. 2023. To help travelers score a deal and figure out where to go, KAYAK's Travel Check- In: Summer 2024 report offers data-driven insights on top trending destinations, wallet-friendly hotspots, and summer holiday travel hacks.

"This summer's trending destinations - places gaining more interest vs. last year - are ones we haven't seen 'pop' in years past. From Africa earning the top trending region title to a notable increase in searches for hidden gem European cities like Tirana (Albania), Vienna (Austria) and Bucharest (Romania), the appetite for culturally diverse destinations is on the rise," said Jake Bouvrie, KAYAK's Chief Economist. "If you're considering an international trip this summer -  plan it for after July 4th to take advantage of lower airfares."

The TLDR on summer travel:

  • Holiday weekends are cheaper than last year. The average airfare for a domestic flight over Memorial Day Weekend is $398 (-16% YoY), and the average airfare for a domestic flight over the July 4th holiday is $477 (-17% YoY).
  • Africa is on the radar with searches up 6% YoY - more than any other region in the world. Asia's been bumped to the #2 trending region, though searches are still up 5% YoY.
  • Head south for cheaper flights. Sun-soaked regions like Mexico (-16% YoY), Caribbean (-15% YoY) and Central America (-14%).
  • Paris is going for gold. US flight searches for Paris are up 26% and hotel searches for the destination are up 180% from last year, which is no surprise given that our favorite athletes will grace the city this summer. KAYAK's new Price Pulse tool shows how flight and hotel prices are changing as we approach the summer of sport.
  • To save on international travel - look at August. International airfare costs dropped by 3% since last year and August 12-25 is currently tracking as the cheapest time to fly internationally, based on our data.