The 9 Most Popular Holiday Travel Destinations in the U.S.

Looking for the perfect place to buy a short-term rental to shine during the holiday season? There are many factors to consider when analyzing a vacation market, but one of the most important is how popular it is among travelers and tourists.

Summer may be the most popular time to travel, but don’t discount the importance of winter vacations, business trips, and family visits when considering a market for your next short-term rental.

For example, most Americans (58%) have made holiday travel plans, according to Tripadvisor’s 2023 Winter Travel Index, with over two-thirds of travelers staying in the U.S. And even though affordability is still a concern for most, 93% are planning to spend the same or more on their trip than they did last year.

Based on travel plans between December 1, 2023, and February 29, 2024, Tripadvisor compiled a list of this year’s top 9 holiday travel destinations in the U.S.

If you’re looking for ideas for short-term rental markets, take a closer look at the most popular winter hotspots below.

most popular holiday destinations

It’s no surprise that NYC is the most popular travel destination, considering how much there is to do in the city.

Each year, visitors flock to the Big Apple to see the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, attend Broadway shows, visit museums, and more. For December visitors, the spectacular Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is one of the most popular attractions.

Historically, the holidays are New York City’s peak tourism season. In 2022, tourism agency NYC & Company expected 6.5 million visitors between Thanksgiving and New Year’s alone.

As a result, accommodations and airfare tend to be more expensive around this time of year. And yet this past November still saw the highest occupancy (86.8%) for hotels in top markets—3% higher than last year.

However, investors should note that, as of this year, NYC is cracking down on unregistered short-term rentals and forcing Airbnb to delete any listings that aren’t registered with the city. Regulations are getting stricter, too, prohibiting hosts from renting out entire apartments or homes and requiring them to be present during guests’ stay.

In light of these restrictions, investors may consider buying in areas technically outside the city but close enough to still attract NYC visitors.

Each year, millions of domestic and international travelers come to the Theme Park Capital of the World to visit Disney World, Universal Studios, or SeaWorld.

On average, Orlando attracts 6 million visitors monthly, bringing in around $4 billion in taxes through hotels and businesses. In total, 74 million people traveled to Orlando in 2022—a 25% increase over 2021.

With temperatures generally in the 70s during the winter months, attractions are still packed with visitors from December through February. The city’s beautiful conventions also make it a popular place for corporate meetings, retreats, and industry conferences. And with so many retirees choosing to settle down in Central Florida, many families come to visit grandparents over the holidays.

Despite its reputation as Sin City (or perhaps because of it), Las Vegas is a popular place for conventions and trade shows. The Las Vegas Strip is one of the busiest commercial destinations thanks to its convention centers and attractions.

Since the pandemic, tourism is making a comeback in Las Vegas. Travel increased by over 20% in 2022 compared to the year before. Throughout 2022, 38.5 million people traveled to Las Vegas, with December accounting for 3.3 million of those visitors.

most popular holiday travel destinations

Snowbirds who want to enjoy a Caribbean atmosphere without leaving the country are quick to book a flight to Key West. Visitors come to experience the area’s vibrant nightlife, pastel beach-front homes, delectable seafood, and famous key lime pie.

Key West is a fairly small island. Yet tourists make up 25% to 34% of the population on any given day. In December of last year, over 194,000 people arrived at Key West via the Key West International Airport, ferry boat, or cruise ship.

The Hawaiian Islands are a prominent tourist destination, with almost 872,000 travelers visiting in December 2022 alone. More than half of those visitors (486,780) went to O’ahu—where the state capital of Honolulu is—and spent a total of $839.1 million.

With its fine-dining restaurants, exciting nightlife, cultural events, white-sand beaches, and turquoise ocean waters, it’s no wonder Honolulu is so popular among winter travelers this year.

Thanks to its expansive waterways and romantic gondola rides, Fort Lauderdale has become known as “the Venice of America.” Winter visitors love the beaches, art shows, cultural events, and shopping districts.

In December 2022, over 3 million visitors arrived at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. It’s no surprise that Fort Lauderdale ranked second place for highest leisure occupancy in Florida in 2021, with guests spending $1.36 billion in hotel revenue.

This year, Miami ranked No. 1 in the nation for most Airbnb listings—and for good reason.

Greater Miami and Miami Beach together received 19.2 overnight visitors in 2022 and 26.5 million total visitors—an increase of 2 million compared to 2021.

Demand for accommodation is growing in Miami, too. Despite new hotels popping up, hotel occupancy rose by 8% last year.

Although June and July are the most popular times for tourists, the winter months still see many visitors thanks to Miami Beach’s moderate weather, blue skies, exciting cultural events, and exclusive restaurants.

Cultural activities, sporting events, holiday-themed parades, and bonfires attract visitors to the Crescent City in December.

The most popular time to visit New Orleans is around March (thanks to Mardi Gras), June, and July. But after a slight dip in tourism in October and November, December and January tend to see an uptick in visitors.

Anaheim experienced record-breaking tourism in 2022, with 24.9 million travelers visiting the city and spending $6 billion.

Home to the Disneyland Resort and the largest convention center on the West Coast, Anaheim attracts families and business people looking for overnight accommodations.

Tourists who visit in December will enjoy Disneyland’s festive light show and decorations, the holiday treats and live entertainment at Knott’s Berry Farm, and the city’s Nutcracker-themed Tree Lighting Festival.

Ready to invest in one of these holiday hotspots and reap the benefits of this uptick in tourism? Find your next short-term rental property with PropStream!