Over 80% of Americans have been traveling this summer, and more than half (55%) increased their travel since last year, according to Tripadvisor’s Summer Travel Index. But where are they heading this Labor Day weekend to mark the unofficial end of summer?

Major U.S. cities can expect the most travelers this long weekend, while Mexico tops international travel for those looking to soak up a bit of sunshine before the fall.

Tripadvisor tip: make sure to leave early if you are flying, as airports, particularly in major tourism hubs, will be congested. If driving, try to leave off-hour to limit traffic.

— Source: TripAdvisor— Source: TripAdvisor
— Source: TripAdvisor

Meanwhile, Asian and Caribbean destinations are seeing the greatest year-over-year growth in interest since last Labor Day weekend. Savvy travelers are looking to explore less-crowded beach destinations or venture further away.

Here are the top trending destinations for Americans this Labor Day Weekend:

  1. Hong Kong, China
  2. St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
  3. Lucea, Jamaica
  4. Bolans, Antigua and Barbuda
  5. Saint James Parish, Barbados
  6. Rincon, Puerto Rico
  7. Oyster Pond, St Martin / St Maarten
  8. Playa del Secreto, Mexico
  9. Sydney, Australia
  10. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Methodology: The data cited in this release was gathered and analyzed from two key sources:

  1. A Tripadvisor Consumer Sentiment Survey, based on data drawn from an online survey of over 2,400 consumers, in partnership with Qualtrics, conducted between March 17-27, 2023 across six countries - Australia, Italy, Japan, Singapore, U.K. & U.S.
  2. Site behavioral data sourced from first party traffic data on the Tripadvisor platform. Searches made by travelers in the U.S between May 20-August 20, 2023 for travel between August 31 - September 5, 2023.

About Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform*, helps millions of people each month** become better travelers, from planning to booking to taking a trip. Travelers across the globe use Tripadvisor's website and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than a billion reviews and contributions, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.

Tripadvisor LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tripadvisor, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRIP). The subsidiaries of Tripadvisor, Inc. own and operate a portfolio of travel media brands and businesses, operating under various websites and apps.

* Source: SimilarWeb, unique users de-duplicated monthly, November 2024
** Source: Tripadvisor internal log files

Casey Brogan