Written by Martha Williams, Dailymail.Com
19:14 April 30, 2024, Updated 19:19 April 30, 2024
- Travel experts say now is the time to book your summer vacation
- Hotels and flights are currently at their lowest prices for the summer
- Experts reveal the best destinations to buy right now
Travel experts are urging Americans to book their summer vacations now, claiming flights and hotels are the cheapest.
The best booking window known as the “Goldilocks Window” is currently occurring.
This term refers to the pre-flight time when great deals are most likely to appear.
Brian Kelly, founder of travel website The Points Guy, says it's not too late to start planning your summer vacation.
“For international travel, you should book at least 60 days in advance, while for domestic travel, 45 days in advance is usually the best spot,” he said.
Mr Kelly advised aspiring travelers to choose the best deal rather than searching for the perfect location.
“Demand for travel is strong, especially intergenerational travel,” Kelly told GMA. “We recommend choosing destinations with great deals, so you can save money on flights and hotels and spend more at your destination.”
One of the best value hotspots this summer, he says, is the beautiful state of Hawaii, which is a great destination for travelers looking to enjoy beautiful beaches, rich culture and great weather.
“Flights to Hawaii this summer can be found in the $400 range from JFK to Honolulu.” [range] This is 40% lower than historical prices. ”
Prices in other popular destinations, such as Europe, are also down 10% compared to the same time last year.
The average summer airfare is $325 for domestic flights and $1,000 for international flights, according to travel booking site Hopper.
This week's great deals include round-trip flights from Boston to Barcelona for just $493.
Travelers can purchase flights from Chicago to Paris for just $571 round-trip.
Mr Kelly reminded travelers that the best way to score deals is to know the best tips and tricks to save money, such as choosing the best days to travel.
“There are no days of the week where cheap fares magically appear. Typically if you travel on Tuesday and Saturday, those days will be cheaper than traveling on Thursday, Friday and Sunday,” he said.
Google recently announced the top 20 trending destinations in its search engine's flight booking service.
The list, shared with GMA, revealed which destinations travelers from the United States searched for through the search engine from June 1 to August 31, 2024.
Topping the list was London, followed by Paris.
France ranks first on the list of most visited destinations for international travel, with approximately 80 million international tourist arrivals in 2022.
The UK was seventh on the list with around 31 million visitors, but its popularity as a summer holiday destination in 2024 could change that.
Japan has not been in the top 10 most visited destinations in recent years, with Tokyo coming in at number three, but that could change with this year's rankings.
Also in the top 10 were Rome, New York, Cancun, Orlando, Las Vegas, Seattle and Athens.
The biggest changes from 2023 to 2024 are Cancun moving up from 2nd to 6th place and Tokyo moving up from 8th to 3rd place.
San Juan, Puerto Rico and Madrid made the top 20 list this year, while Chicago and San Francisco missed the mark.
According to Google data, “travel itineraries” and “solo trips” hit record highs in January.
