These are the busiest days for international flights during the New Year's season

2024-11-02 2024-11-02T18:23:31Z

Arab Weather - If you've been waiting for the holidays to take a vacation, it's time to pack your bags, as a new survey has revealed that December 23 will be the busiest day for travel during this year's holiday season. The study, which included 2,000 people planning to travel for the holidays, included information on the busiest travel dates, the best destinations, preferred means of transportation, and travel costs.

Top trends: Holiday travel in December and January

For those planning a trip in December, the most popular day to start the trip is December 23. The return trip is usually after New Year's, as the days following New Year's Eve are the busiest dates to return home.

Thanksgiving Travel: November 28th Busiest Date

For those traveling for Thanksgiving, the day before (November 28) is the busiest day, while the return trip is often after November 30. New Year's Eve on December 31 and January 2 are also the busiest days for those traveling to celebrate New Year's Eve or New Year's Day.

Favorite Holiday Destinations

The study was conducted by Talker Research for IHG Hotels & Resorts to understand travel trends during the 2024 holiday season. According to the survey results, Florida remains the top destination for those traveling out of state for Thanksgiving or December holidays, while New York ranks as the top destination for travelers on New Year's Eve.

Less popular destinations and travel cost concerns

Among the least popular destinations, North Dakota was the lowest on the list for Thanksgiving and New Year’s, while Vermont was the least popular in December. While travelers are eager to see family (56%) and enjoy good food (37%), they are concerned about travel costs (29%), as well as crowds and lines (26%).

Blackout Dates: Best Times to Avoid Travel

More than a quarter of respondents (27%) indicated that there are blackout dates during the holiday season that they would prefer not to travel on, and this phenomenon is more common among Gen Z at 40%.

Nearly 78% of respondents said their holiday trips would be to visit family, while a few preferred to dedicate part of their trip to side adventures. Of these, more than a quarter (28%) plan to travel solo.

Spending holidays with family or exploring adventures

A third of respondents (31%) are considering breaking away from tradition and spending the holiday with loved ones in unique destinations, while a small number (4%) have plans to travel outside the U.S. Of the preferred destinations, cities rank first (35%), followed by suburbs (26%) and rural towns (23%).

For city-bound vacationers, 24% are looking to experience the urban holiday vibe, while others aim to shop (18%) and explore (21%). For beach-goers (12%), a quarter said a beach holiday is a family tradition (24%), and beach activities provide good family entertainment (22%).

12% of mountain travellers say their holiday is about relaxing and recharging away from the stresses of everyday life (25%), while they want to spend as much time outdoors as possible (24%).

Plan your vacations early to avoid stress.

One in 10 holidaymakers started planning their trip before June, wanting to avoid stress later (31%). A fifth of respondents said they prefer to plan early to secure the best deals, while a small number (12%) said making plans in advance helps them turn down other invitations