Travel Report 2022: The Great Wait is Over

Is 2022 the Year of the Bucket List Trip? A new travel report by American Express Travel thinks it is. Fresh from revealing the results of its annual Global Travel Trends Report, the travel company found that with travel restrictions gradually lifting, more and more travelers, especially Millennials and Gen Zers, have their eyes set on new experiences and wishlist destinations:

*2x more likely to travel for dream trip: 53% of Gen Zers and 49% of Millennials want to travel solo now to visit their dream destination vs just 23% of Boomers  

*2x more likely to travel solo: 53% of Gen Zers and 52% of Millennials say they are more likely to take a solo trip in 2022 than I was in 2021 vs just 24% of Boomers  

*2x more likely to book the ultimate trip: 65% of Gen Zers and 67% of Millennials agree they want to book a once-in-a-lifetime vacation in 2022 vs. just 35% of Boomers 

*76% of Gen Zers and 83% of Millennials plan to travel more with friends in 2022 than they did in 2021, compared to 63% of Boomers

Travel Report: Purpose Built Travel Plans

*80% of respondents agree that in 2022 they want to be more thoughtful about the types of trips that they take and who they take them with, especially Millennials (83%)  

*Gen Zers (70%) and Millennials (74%)  agree that they have been reflecting on the impact of their travel decisions more than ever before vs. 52% of Boomers 

*Gen Zers (75%) and Millennials (78%) agree that they are interested in learning about how eco-friendly hotels are positively impacting the local community  vs. 57% of Boomers

Travel Report: Explorations in Adventurous Eating

*80% of Gen Zers and 87% of Millennials  agree that eating local is their favorite way to give back to a community when traveling

*84% of Gen Zers and 89% of Millennials  agree that they like to shop and eat at local businesses while traveling to support the local economy

*81% of Gen Zers and 84% of Millennials want to travel to destinations where they can immerse themselves in the local culture vs. 77% of Boomers 

*83% of Millennials want the money they spend while traveling to go back to the local community, compared to 76% of Boomers 

*85% of Millennials agree they want to have authentic experiences when traveling where they can meet and learn from locals vs. 75% of Boomers 

Travel Report Key Takeaways: Get Ready to Book

• The world is ready to travel: 74% of respondents agree they are willing to book a trip for 2022 even if they might have to cancel or modify it later. This is up from 56% last year.  
  
• Spending on travel is outpacing pre-pandemic levels: 86% of consumers expect to spend more or the same on travel in 2022 compared to a typical pre-pandemic year.  
  
• Tourists want to travel more frequently: 62% of respondents plan on taking 2-4 trips in 2022 and 76% of respondents agree they plan to travel more with family in 2022 than they did in 2021. 
  
• Tourists are seeking out brands that prioritize supporting local communities: 81% of respondents want to visit destinations where they can immerse themselves in the local culture and want the money they spend while traveling to go back to the local community.  
  
• Dreams destinations are becoming a reality: 55% of respondents want to book a once-in-a-lifetime vacation this year; especially Millennials (67%) and Gen Z (65%)
  
• Family vacations are back: 76% of parents agree they plan to travel more with family in 2022 than they did in 2021
  
• People are traveling to celebrate important life events with the people they love: Over half (52%) of respondents stated they are interested in traveling for personal gatherings such as weddings, birthdays, graduations, or holidays
  

Travel Resort: Where are travelers Travelling?

With summer vacation in the offing, Expedia is seeing trends in summer hot spot searches. 

Beach bliss: Bali (+35%), Maldives (+25%), Santorini (+20%), Los Angeles (+20%), Bar Harbor (+20%)

U.S. city breaks: Chicago (+40%), Houston (+55%), Washington D.C. (+35%), Austin (+30%), New York City (+30%)

Adventures abroad: Singapore (+60%), Stockholm (+35%), Ontario (+35%), Berlin (+30%), Dubai (+20%)

National and state parks and other outdoor destinations are expected to remain popular this summer as top road-trip destinations, including Mount Rushmore, Banff and Yellowstone National Park. 

Travel Report: Best Times to Travel for Summer 2022

August is the cheapest month to fly, with average ticket prices (ATPs) nearly 10% lower compared to July and 5% cheaper than June.

The most expensive day to fly is July 1^st, the Friday prior to the July 4^th holiday, when average ticket prices are 25% higher than average for summer months.

Between June and August, the highest ATPs are generally found on Fridays and the cheapest tend to occur on Tuesdays.

Cheapest Domestic Vacation Destinations to Fly this Summer

1. Fort Lauderdale
2. Toronto 
3. Tampa
4. San Antonio
5. Houston
6. Austin
7. Providence
8. Myrtle Beach
9. Kelowna
10. Nashville 
11. New Orleans
12. Charleston

An airfare study by CheapAir.com looked at the best times to buy domestic airline tickets by unpacking 917 million airfares in more than 8,000 markets across the United States. On average, the study showed the best day to buy a domestic flight is 76 days before departure, 12 days earlier than 2021. Fares changed 53 times after going to market, significantly fewer times compared to 69 times last year. There are multiple factors to consider when booking travel, including price, seating and flight experience, and these all play a role in how far in advance to book for the best deal.

This year’s study revealed additional insights to help travelers make the most informed decision when planning their travel and booking their flights:

*The cheapest day of the week to fly is Wednesday, saving on average $57 per airline ticket compared to the most expensive day, Sunday.

*The least expensive months to fly are January and February, saving approximately $100 compared to flying around the Christmas holiday.

*For summer vacation plans, CheapAir.com confirmed that August is the most economical month to fly offering better value without the crowds.