Tripadvisor’s 2025 Winter Travel Index indicates strong winter travel demand, with 60% of global travelers planning trips and 45% traveling more this season than last year.
The report highlights both urban cold-weather destinations and warm-weather escapes as primary draws, revealing a generational divide in travel behaviors and priorities.
According to a press release, Tripadvisor’s annual Winter Travel Index shows that most travelers—83%—are organizing one to two trips this winter, with more than half committing to extended stays of five nights or more.
Cost considerations remain central for travelers, yet over half (52%) plan to spend more this season despite economic uncertainties.
Destination preferences show a mix of cold and warm locales. U.S. travelers favor New York City, Las Vegas, Orlando, and Key West, while sunny international destinations in Mexico rank highest among global travelers from the United States.
Globally, major cities such as New York City and London compete with warm-weather spots like Cancun and Bangkok for traveler attention.
The index also identifies trending destinations year-over-year. Domestically, New York City, Key West, Hamburg, and Anaheim show notable growth, while internationally, Prague, Shanghai, Mecca, and Nha Trang are emerging as popular destinations.
Experiences and activities are central to travel planning. Ninety-three percent of travelers agree that experiences are an important part of their budget, and 84% prioritize planned activities.
Cultural sightseeing dominates travel activity preferences at 38%, followed closely by nature sightseeing at 37%, shopping at 31%, and road trips at 28%.
Generational trends show younger travelers—Gen Z and Millennials—prioritize experiences more than older generations, with 47% of Gen Z and 48% of Millennials placing activities at the center of their travel plans.
Older travelers—Gen X and Baby Boomers—focus more on relaxation, with 51% citing it as their primary motivation, while meeting new people appeals more to younger travelers.
Seasonal factors influence 86% of winter travel decisions, emphasizing family connections and cultural traditions as key motivators for trip planning.
Tripadvisor collected the data from a consumer sentiment survey of over 6,123 participants across six countries, supplemented with site behavioral data from searches on its platform between August 1 and October 31.