Travel trends for Thanksgiving and year-end holidays 2026

Travelers planning for the 2026 holiday seasons are identifying budget-friendly destinations for Thanksgiving and the year-end period. For Thanksgiving, destinations such as Orlando, Nashville, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Mexico City have been noted as economical options.

Data from KAYAK suggests that flying on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, could potentially save travelers up to 19% on domestic routes compared to the most expensive departure dates. In Orlando, visitors can mitigate costs by utilizing free attractions like Lake Eola Park and Disney Springs.

Regarding Christmas and New Year's Eve, search trends show significant interest in several international locations. Cancun, Mexico, leads with a 33% increase in searches, followed by Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Bogotá, Colombia, both seeing 31% growth. Other trending destinations include Fort Lauderdale, Santiago, Mexico City, Orlando, New York, Medellín, and Willemstad. While international travel costs vary significantly, some routes like Curacao and Rome are noted for offering potential savings compared to previous seasons.