While popular domestic destinations like Florida and the Carolinas topped Clevelanders’ travel plans last year, trends this year show more people vacationing abroad, most likely thanks to cheap, competitive airfare.
That and other tidbits come from travel agents who are tracking where we’re heading this summer.
Heather Jones, a travel consultant for The Travel Connection, says that desired travel destinations boil down to three things: how cheap it is to get there, how easy and, of course, weather conditions.
Here’s what 2018’s hot spots are shaping up to be:
Iceland
Don Miller, Owner of Lakewood Travel Bureau, says one of this summer’s newest popular travel destinations for Clevelanders is Iceland. With Icelandair and WOW Air offering cheap non-stop flights out of Hopkins since May, travelers are already taking advantage. Danielle Johnston, a travel agent at Canary Travel, also confirmed this pattern.
Europe
Great value flights aren’t just heading to Iceland, though. France, Italy, Ireland and a bunch of other European countries are also welcoming Clevelanders this summer, according to Jones, as many airlines are dropping prices to stay competitive.
Cruises
Cruises are a popular travel method for those wanting to experience a lush life and multiple vacation spots. But the hot thing this summer are river cruises, in both Europe and America. Miller says that popular domestic river cruises include those in Mississippi, while Jones says Alaskan river cruises boast breezy summer weather, making them perfect for summer.
Beaches
Classic favorite vacation spots that haven’t changed from last summer include various islands in the Caribbean and also Riviera Maya and Cancun in Mexico. The reason for these spots’ popularity remains the same: families love all-inclusive packages (and water parks), according to Johnston. And who wouldn’t love paying one price for food, beverages (alcoholic ones, too) and activities like snorkeling and water skiing? Miller says that many of his clients also travel to Hawaii year-round.
This article appears in Jun 20-26, 2018.