Skip to main content

Summer travel: Airbnb reveals the most popular hot spots

Will you travel to any one of these popular destinations this summer?

North Carolina beach sunrise
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re itching for a summer vacation and want to know where the hot spots are, both internationally and domestic, travel site Airbnb has you covered. For summer travel this year, it is expecting over 300 million guest arrivals on its website, an indication that people are ready to get out of their own houses and into someone else’s. “Since the beginning of Airbnb, there have been 1.4 billion all-time guest arrivals,” said Airbnb in a recent report. “With more guests traveling last year than ever before,” this year is likely to outpace even the first post-pandemic year.

Recommended Videos

“We ended last year with 900,000 more listings than we had at the beginning, excluding China,” Airbnb continued. “Guests are opting for a more affordable stay, which is no surprise amid a rising cost-of-living crisis.” If you want to know just where people are searching to see how it may drive summer prices, the company listed the most trending summer destinations, so you can get an idea of where you may want to go (or avoid if you don’t like crowds).

Trending summer domestic destinations

Since we know summer airfare is skyrocketing for traveling internationally, staying domestic may just be the way to go for your wallet and your sanity. It’s always spectacular to travel to faraway lands, but this country offers so many stunning places to visit.

Topping the list and coming in third, respectively, are Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky. Known for the hospitality, people, food, and fun, it just makes sense. Other obvious locations when it comes to fun in the sun, beaches, and summer sports and activities are Panama City, Florida, Surf City, New Jersey, and North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, all with guaranteed good weather.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Trending summer international destinations

If you’re itching to travel abroad, one place that’s sure not to surprise anyone is Mykonos, Greece, the site’s top trending location. It just makes sense with the weather, food, stunning sunsets, and rich history. If you’re looking for an Italian getaway, there are three places in the country that seem to be on everyone’s list — the Amalfi Coast, Florence, and Sorrento.

With that much wine, good food, and views, it’s hard to argue. If you want to go far, far away, Bangkok, Thailand, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil also made the cut. While airfare and travel costs may be higher than staying domestic, any of these locations would be ones you’ll likely talk about forever.

Whether you need a quick weekend retreat or a multi-week vacation, these summer destinations offer a unique travel experience that you’ll look back on and cherish. Sometimes, it’s nice to stay at a home that offers amenities like a kitchen, privacy, pet-friendly accommodations, and a place you can gather with friends and family to relax. Happy summer, indeed.

Julie Scagell
Former Contributor
I am a freelance writer based in Minneapolis, MN. My passions include my dogs, talking about my dogs, and taking pictures of…
This Virginia city was just named the most underrated US travel spot
Williamsburg, Virginia, just earned big travel praise for 2025
Williamsburg VA

If you’re tired of crowded tourist traps, pricey tours, and the usual vacation clichés, Williamsburg, Virginia, might be the quiet getaway you’ve been searching for. According to Wander, a luxury vacation rental service that analyzed data from Google, Numbeo, Tripadvisor, and Instagram, Williamsburg ranks as the most underrated travel destination in the United States for 2025.

Scoring an impressive 9.29, Williamsburg boasts over 150 museums and galleries per 100,000 residents and 265 sights and landmarks. Despite its abundance of offerings, it remains under the radar online, with just over 31,000 annual searches and fewer than 3,000 Instagram posts, meaning visitors can enjoy a peaceful, less crowded experience. The city also earned a perfect 100 out of 100 rating from visitors for safety, cleanliness, and ease of walking around.

Read more
Real travelers share their favorite bucket list travel destinations
Real travelers share the best places they've ever been
Kristiansand Norway

When you search for bucket list travel destinations, the same names always seem to pop up: the Northern Lights in Iceland, a romantic week in Paris, or the iconic skyline of New York City. And don’t get me wrong, those places are absolutely worth visiting. But I couldn’t help wondering: what would seasoned, real-world travelers choose if they had just one dream trip to take?

So, I asked a group of travel experts and globetrotters from around the world to share the destinations that have stuck with them long after they unpacked their bags. Some of their picks were no surprise – classics make the list for a reason. But others were refreshingly unexpected, places that sparked transformation, connection, and that wide-eyed feeling of awe we’re all chasing.

Read more
The in-flight Wi-Fi mistake most travelers make without realizing it
So you can stream your shows, not your personal info
Person standing on an airplane

The moment your plane hits 10,000 feet and that little Wi-Fi symbol lights up, it’s hard not to connect. I’ve logged on countless times without thinking twice, eager to catch up on emails and scroll through Instagram. But just like you wouldn’t hop on a sketchy, open Wi-Fi network at your local coffee shop, you shouldn’t treat airplane internet as totally safe either. So, here’s how to stay safe using in-flight Wi-Fi.

Why airplane Wi-Fi may not be as safe as you think

Read more