by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 11:00 AM ET, Thu December 12, 2024
Tis’ the season of travel reports. Travel brands far and wide have been busy gifting the media and globetrotters with insights about travel trends for the year ahead and lists of the most intriguing or noteworthy destinations to consider over the coming 12 months.
But travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth is taking a different approach: It’s offering a look back at 2024 and what it says were the most surprising trends to have emerged during the past year of travel.
In a year that was marked by everything from a record-breaking hurricane to record breaking levels of travel during the holidays, naming the most surprising moments in travel is no small endeavor.
Squaremouth says its list is based on analyzing traveler spending and survey data from thousands of travel insurance policies purchased for trips in 2024.
With that in mind, here’s a closer look at the Squaremouth list.
Travel insurance claims increased
The past year was marred with travel disruptions and delays, and according to Squaremouth data, travel insurance claims increased 18% in 2024 compared to 2023.
Canceled trips accounted for 27% of claims, followed by medical emergencies at 24%. Travel delays and missed connections, meanwhile, were the third most common claims, making up 21%.
Trip costs continued to climb
Travel costs have continued to rise all year, and are expected to continue to rise through 2025.
The average trip cost for Americans in 2024 was $5,861, up 25% from 2023 and 39% from 2022.
Travelers took fewer, but longer trips
According to a recent survey, 68% of travelers took one to two trips in 2024.
In contrast, 64% of travelers in 2023 opted for three or more trips. While travelers took fewer overall trips in 2024, the average trip length increased by 21%, from 14 days in 2023 to 17 days in 2024.
Boomers took the most trips
For the third consecutive year, the Boomer generation is leading the pack in terms of whose traveling the most.In 2024, Boomers accounted for 39% of all trips, which is a 5% increase over 2023.
Gen X travelers came in second at 22%, followed closely by Millennials at 18%.
Cruises increased in popularity
With bigger more mind-blowing ships being built every day it seems, cruises are skyrocketing in popularity.
In 2024, 33% of travelers opted for a cruise vacation, compared to 26% in 2023 and 20% in 2022.
The top cruise destinations for the past year included Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, and Antarctica.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
