The Most Popular Holiday Travel Destinations

The holidays are here and travelers have their sights set on a few destinations in particular. Coupon company RetailMeNot recently joined forces with travel website Priceline to publish a joint study on 2021 holiday travel and spending trends. Priceline analyzed flight and hotel data from December 17 to January 1, uncovering the most popular U.S. destinations for holiday travelers this season. Here's a look at the 10 garnering the most buzz in 2021.

No surprises here. New York City is the most popular 2021 holiday travel destination based on Priceline flight data and the second-most sought-after by hotel bookings. The COVID-19 pandemic thwarted many holiday traditions in the Big Apple last year but the destination is getting back to normal a year later.

The Theme Park Capital of the World is routinely among the nation's top destinations for travelers celebrating the holidays and ringing in the New Year. According to Priceline, Orlando is the second-most popular 2021 holiday travel destination based on flight bookings and the third-most-popular by hotel bookings.

Las Vegas joins Orlando and New York City as one of Americans' preferred end-of-year getaways. After all, the trio has been the top three most popular destinations for Christmas and New Year's in 2019, 2020 and now 2021.

The Mile High City is among the most coveted domestic destinations this holiday season based on Priceline's flight data and visitors will be pleased to know that it's also among the most affordable for a hotel stay, with the average nightly rate coming in at $151.

Many warm weather seekers have their sights set on Los Angeles and while it's one of the most popular places to visit for Christmas and New Year's in 2021 it isn't the most budget-friendly, missing the top 10 in affordability for both hotels and flights.

Atlanta is the sixth-most popular U.S. destination this holiday season based on Priceline flight data and the 10th-most popular based on hotel figures. Boasting an average airfare rate of $326, Atlanta is also one of the most affordable destinations holiday travelers can visit this winter.

Getting away to Miami for Christmas and or New Year's doesn't have to break the bank either in 2021. Priceline data shows that the average airfare rate for the Magic City is just $330, which is only $13 higher than nearby Fort Lauderdale.

A holiday getaway to the desert is high on many travelers' priority list in 2021 and while it isn't the cheapest destination for flights this winter, Phoenix ranks sixth in terms of hotel affordability, with Priceline reporting an average nightly rate of $149.

Orlando and Miami aren't the only Florida favorites this time of year. On the Sunshine State's Gulf Coast, Tampa ranks ninth nationwide for holiday season popularity based on Priceline flight data. What's more, Tampa's average airfare rate of $330 ties that of Miami.

Dallas is the 10th-most popular U.S. travel destination based on flights for the two-week period Priceline analyzed. It's also one of the most affordable when it comes to hotel prices, with an average nightly rate of just $152 this holiday season.