In the blink of an eye, summer is just around the corner, and those who haven’t had a chance to book their holidays just yet are scrambling to find a place that’ll be worth their time and hard-earned money (and where there’s still a couple of hotel rooms left).
If that’s you and you’re feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices, it’s worth taking a look at Expedia’s latest ranking of the trendiest summer destinations around the world – even if you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for on this list, you’ll at least get inspired.
Before we move on to the crème de la crème, let’s quickly take a look at the places that made it to the top 10 but weren’t quite popular enough to nab the first spots (these might be perfect for people looking to go somewhere trendy but not so ginormously popular that it’ll be hard to walk through the tourist-filled streets):
- Madrid
- Montego Bay
- Punta Cana
- Barcelona
- Athens
Now, let’s move on to what you probably came here for in the first place, the top 5 – and I’m telling you right off the bat, No. 1 is probably not what you think it is.
5. Tokyo
Tokyo is one of the most consistently trending travel destinations on Earth, and with American Airlines launching the very first non-stop flight from the U.S. to the Japanese capital, that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon.
But because most people try to schedule their Tokyo trips in spring (you have cherry blossom season to thank for that), few actually know how amazing the city gets in summer.
The hot, 30°C (86°F) days can be enjoyed in the tree-filled parks and shaded alleyways, providing a far more interesting alternative to the typical beachy summer vacation.
4. Paris
As the capital of the most visited country in the world, Paris has always attracted millions and millions of travelers during the summer months, most of whom spend part of their trip in the city and part of their trip exploring the jaw-dropping French Riviera.
This year, though, you can expect Paris to skyrocket in popularity more than ever thanks to the 2024 Olympics being hosted in the city.
Sports lovers and generally curious travelers looking to experience a world-class event will join the already massive crowd of Paris admirers this summer and set off for what will likely be the capital’s new record-breaking travel season.
3. Rome
If you’ve been planning to go to Rome for a while (and chances are you have) take this as a sign to finally pull the trigger – the city truly lives up to the hype.
I do want to note, though, that come summertime, the Italian capital can get a bit hot, with temperatures averaging around 28°C (82°F), so my advice would be to spend a couple of days in the city (the Colosseum, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, and Fontana di Trevi are all must-sees) and then head over to one of the many dreamy beach towns south of the country – there’s nothing like an Italian summer retreat!
2. Cancun
The list wouldn’t be complete without the place that has consistently been Americans’ top international destination – this time, though, our ultimate beachy escape didn’t reach the No.1 spot.
Nonetheless, you don’t need me to convince you how amazing it is to visit Cancun in the summer.
The dry, 32°C (90°F) weather is just the perfect backdrop for those looking to sink their toes in the powdery sands of Playa Delfines, dive along the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, or explore the iconic ruins of Chichen Itza.
1. London
London has had a massively successful tourism year thus far, and, by the looks of it, this summer will be no different.
Now, the fact that a city that’s notorious for its rainy, dreary weather has been named the most popular summer destination among American travelers might’ve caught you a bit off guard, especially when there are so many idyllic tropical paradises far closer to mainland U.S. (our very own runner-up included).
But when you think about it, the interest is always there, so it only makes sense for people to pick the warmest possible time to finally see the places they’ve been dreaming about for so long – after all, summer temperatures in London stay at a perfect 22°C (72°F).
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