Americans' Most Coveted Future Travel Destinations

Americans are looking forward to traveling abroad again in 2021 based on new research from online travel marketplace KOALA, which recently analyzed Google data to determine the cities and regions around the world that U.S. travelers have been searching for the most over the last six months. Here's a look at the 10 most popular places for future travel.

With 153,780 searches, Cabo San Lucas ranks as the 10th most sought-after international locale and is one of five Mexican destinations in the top 15, narrowly edging out Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta to round out the top 10. The destination is one that Americans can travel to with confidence in 2021 as Cabo recently received high praise for its handling of the pandemic

Travelers can't wait to experience Tokyo, which will host the previously postponed Olympic Games this summer. According to Google data, the Japanese capital has been searched for more than 166,000 times within the U.S, with Japan as a whole garnering an impressive 288,700 searches.

Perhaps the most surprising entry in the top 10, the Mexican town of Tulum has inspired over 194,000 Google searches by Americans consumed with wanderlust. Located just southwest of other Mexican hotspots such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Cozumel, Tulum is renowned for its gorgeous beaches and fascinating ancient Mayan ruins.

Americans have been forced to put their plans for travel across the pond on hold since the coronavirus pandemic was declared last March so it isn't shocking to see many are itching to visit London. The capital of the United Kingdom has been hit hard amid the COVID-19 crisis and recently closed all travel corridors until at least February 15.

There's tremendous demand for Bali despite the fact that visa-free and visa-on-arrival entry remains suspended for all foreign travelers, including U.S. citizens. According to KOALA's research, the lush Indonesian island has been searched nearly 243,000 times over the past half-year.

Travel to India for tourism is still not permitted but that hasn't stopped Americans from thinking about and searching for Mumbai, which ranks as the fifth-most popular city/region with nearly 285,000 Google searches. India's largest city is a perennial favorite for its rich culture and eye-popping architecture, among other notable draws.

Dubai is one of the top international destinations that Americans can visit right now. Currently, travelers age 12 and up need to test negative for COVID-19 (PCR test result) up to four days prior to their date of travel and ensure that they have medical travel insurance with international coverage for COVID-19. Meanwhile, those traveling with Emirates or FlyDubai who purchase their ticket after December 1, 2020, will automatically receive additional multi-risk travel insurance from AIG Travel.

The City of Lights has been off-limits to Americans for nearly an entire year so there's plenty of pent-up demand for Paris this winter. The destination's 330,400 searches over the last six months are the most of any European city or region. Paris is full of must-see sights but unfortunately, its gradual reopening isn't happening fast enough for U.S. travelers.

Cancun is not only one of the hottest international destinations in 2021 with more than 425,000 Google searches but it's also among the most accessible as Americans can currently fly to Mexico without requiring a negative COVID-19 test result. What's more, many popular all-inclusive hotel and resort brands have launched on-site coronavirus testing so U.S. travelers can secure a negative result before returning home.

The picturesque island of Bora Bora in the South Pacific's French Polynesia is far and away America's most sought-after setting, being searched a whopping 555,400 times by U.S. travelers over the last six months. The destination is open to tourism but travelers will need proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test within three days prior to their departure and complete a self-test four days after their arrival.