Nashville's top summer travel destinations, best deals for NYC, Vegas, Los Angeles, more
Thinking of taking a trip this summer? You're not alone. The Transportation Security Administration expects the crowds passing through U.S. airports to hit record levels this summer.
Part of the surge in travel may be driven by lower airfares. Flight booking sites report that ticket prices are down this year, with flights to some parts of the world dropping by 15% or more compared to last year. After a massive 30% spike for airfares in 2022, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, travelers will no doubt welcome prices coming back down to earth.
Where to go this summer?
Are you still deciding where to go on vacation this summer?
In Nashville, the most population domestic destinations are New York City, Seattle, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Miami, according to search traffic from the online travel agency Hopper.
New York is the cheapest of those popular destinations with the typical round-trip ticket out of Nashville available for $162, Hopper said.
The most popular international destinations out of Nashville are London, Paris, Tokyo, Rome and Toronto.
Are you someone who follows the trends? The online travel agency Expedia analyzed hotel searches on its site to find which destinations have jumped in popularity compared to last summer.
In the United States, those trending destinations are St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (up 45%), San Juan, Puerto Rico (up 35%), Cleveland (up 35%), Indianapolis (up 35%) and Napa County, California (up 30%).
The trending international destinations are Tokyo (up 60%), Munich (up 60%), Osaka, Japan (up 60%), Kyoto, Japan (up 55%), Edinburg, Scotland (up 50%), Zurich (up 50%) and Mallorca, Spain (up 50%).
How to save money on summer travel?
Want to get the best deal this summer?
If you can, avoid booking during major summer holidays. The most expensive flights this summer will be the weekend before the long Fourth of July weekend, Hopper said. Airfares also increase around Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.
Late June is the peak of summer travel, according to Expedia, while August has the smallest crowds and often the best deals. The last week of August is the lightest travel period of the summer.
Book a trip between 21 to 60 days before your departure and you could save up to 15% on airfare, according to Expedia. International travelers often get the best prices with a Monday departure, while domestic departures on Tuesdays can be cheaper. However, airports typically experience their busiest days on Fridays, bringing the most expensive fares.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville summer flights: Best vacation spots, direct flights
