Most In-Demand Winter Holiday Travel Destinations

Image: Cancun Hotel Zone. (Photo Credit: Mexican Caribbean Tourism Board)
Image: Cancun Hotel Zone. (Photo Credit: Mexican Caribbean Tourism Board)
Patrick Clarke
by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 7:00 AM ET, Wed December 3, 2025

Leading travel insurance and assistance provider Allianz Partners has unveiled new holiday travel data uncovering the most popular domestic and international destinations this winter.

After surveying nearly 2,400 customers, Allianz found that 84 percent plan to travel for the festive season. Overall, year-over-year travel is up 3 percent despite economic challenges and disruptions spurred by the government shutdown, with domestic bookings seeing a 3 percent and international trips up 1 percent.

Allianz discovered that Americans continue to plan early, as more than four in 10 respondents (42 percent) booked their winter travel one to three months in advance, while nearly one-third (30 percent) reserved trips four to six months out.

When it comes to where they're heading this winter, it appears travelers are seeking a mix of sun and snow.

Domestically, ever-evolving New York is the top destination for the fifth straight year in 2025, with Americans eager to engage with the Big Apple's iconic winter festivities.

The top three remain unchanged from 2024, as Seattle and Orlando once again rank second and third, respectively.

Rounding out the top five are Phoenix and Salt Lake City. Meanwhile, Miami is up four spots from last year, climbing to sixth, followed by Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth and Las Vegas, which dropped five spots to ninth this year.

Atlanta Christkindl Market in Centennial Olympic Park

Atlanta Christkindl Market in Centennial Olympic Park. (Photo Credit: Kim Banocy)

Atlanta, which ranked as high as fifth in 2023, wraps up Allianz's top 10 domestic winter travel destinations list.

Top US Destinations for Winter Travel

  1. New York, New York
  2. Seattle, Washington
  3. Orlando, Florida
  4. Phoenix, Arizona
  5. Salt Lake City, Utah
  6. Miami, Florida
  7. Los Angeles, California
  8. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
  9. Las Vegas, Nevada
  10. Atlanta, Georgia

Internationally, Cancun's decade of dominance continues as the Mexican Caribbean hotspot continues its stranglehold on the top spot, edging out London and fellow Mexican resort cities in San Jose del Cabo and Puerto Vallarta.

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, ranks fifth-most popular for the third consecutive year, while sixth-ranked Paris returns to the top 10 for the first time since 2023.

Holidays in Paris

Holidays in Paris (Photo Credit: Yves/Adobe Stock)

Liberia, Costa Rica climbed two spots to seventh, while Nassau, Bahamas; Montego Bay, Jamaica—which is eyeing a full tourism reopening this month—and Oranjestad, Aruba are each down two spots to eighth, ninth and 10th, respectively.

Top International Destinations for Winter Travel

  1. Cancun, Mexico
  2. London, UK
  3. San Jose del Cabo, Mexico
  4. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
  5. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
  6. Paris, France
  7. Liberia, Costa Rica
  8. Nassau, Bahamas
  9. Montego Bay, Jamaica
  10. Oranjestad, Aruba


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Patrick Clarke

Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher

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