Summer travel is heating up and Americans are making plans to get out of town. AAA has found that two-thirds of leisure travelers (64 percent) plan to take vacations as the weather warms and the kids are out of school.
"Millions of Americans are making plans for summer vacations, visiting famous landmarks in Europe, family attractions stateside, and anything in between," said Paula Twidale, vice president, AAA Travel. "AAA recommends travelers plan ahead and book early with the expertise of a knowledgeable travel agent to maximize your vacation experience, saving time and money so you can focus on making vacation memories that will last well after summer fades away."
This year's trends are fairly typical. Theme parks remain one of the top draws for family vacationers. Orlando, Florida, once again claims the top spot as the most-visited summer travel destination as Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World prepare to unveil new attractions.
Many Americans will also head to Europe this summer. London, Rome, Dublin and Paris remain the top cities for summer travelers.
Cruise travel is on the rise, especially for North American travelers. That is definitely apparent to summer travelers, many of whom are setting their sights north in Alaska. Vancouver, Seattle and Anchorage top the list of embarkation ports for these coveted sailings.
Overall, U.S. families are looking to warm-weather destinations after a particularly harsh winter that refuses to back down. Hawaii and the Caribbean are looking pretty good to travelers these days looking to relax in the sunshine. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, has once again cracked the top 10 after briefly dipping off last year's list.
Top Summer Travel Destinations
Orlando, Florida
London, England
Rome, Italy
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Dublin, Ireland
Paris, France
Seattle, Washington
Anchorage, Alaska
Honolulu, Hawaii
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
"These top locales are sure to see an influx of travelers this summer, but some people will be looking for great vacation spots with slightly fewer crowds," said Twidale. "Other destinations to watch this year that didn't quite make the top 10 list include Montego Bay, Jamaica; Calgary, Canada; Amsterdam, Netherlands; and Anaheim, California."
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