Fora advisors are booking summer travel at nearly twice last year’s pace, according to the host agency’s newly released Summer 2026 Travel Trends report, with both domestic and international trips posting year-over-year growth.
The report points to a 106-day stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day — the longest possible, and a calendar quirk that won’t repeat until 2037 — as one factor giving travelers room to act on increasingly specific plans. Across the board, Fora found clients willing to spend more for particular experiences, whether attending a major sporting event or sailing on a newly launched ship.
Europe dominated the international picture, claiming seven of the top 10 most-booked countries. Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Portugal and Ireland all made the list, with Rome the single most-booked international city and the Amalfi Coast the top-booked Mediterranean region.
But the data also showed advisors pushing clients into less-trafficked corners. Bodrum, on Turkey‘s Turquoise Coast, saw the region’s steepest growth at 307 percent year over year, while Italian towns including Portofino (up 262 percent), Amalfi (up 143 percent) and Praiano (up 113 percent) all posted triple-digit increases.
Canada cracked Fora’s top 10 international countries for the first time, with bookings up 119 percent year over year. Québec City led the growth at 400 percent, followed by Richmond, B.C., at 279 percent and Ottawa at 208 percent. Trip lengths lengthened as well, with average stays in Montreal doubling from five to 10 days.
Cool-climate destinations, or “coolcations,” emerged as another clear signal. Oslo bookings rose 154 percent year over year, with Helsinki (124 percent), Stockholm (90 percent) and Copenhagen (78 percent) close behind.
Domestically, New York, Florida, California, Texas and Hawaii ranked as the most-booked states, while New York City, Las Vegas and Chicago led among cities. The Midwest posted some of the strongest gains, with South Dakota, Michigan, North Dakota, Missouri and Ohio rounding out the fastest-growing states. In New England, New Hampshire’s average trip length jumped from four days to 16, concentrated in the White Mountains.
The FIFA World Cup proved a major demand driver across host cities. Philadelphia saw bookings during the June 14 Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador match weekend climb 20 times year over year, while Los Angeles bookings around the USA vs. Paraguay match rose fourfold — the highest total volume of any U.S. World Cup city to date.
Cruise bookings climbed 144 percent year over year, led by expedition sailings (up 168 percent) and a wave of ultra-luxury launches. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection saw bookings rise 363 percent, with Azamara (333 percent) and Crystal Cruises (327 percent) also posting sharp gains. The summer also marks the inaugural season for the Four Seasons Yachts and Orient Express Sailing Yachts.
Travelers are making decisions with specificity and intentionality, keeping classic beach trips on the table while giving rising destinations like Bodrum and Bozeman, Montana, a real look. Book fast, so you and your clients don’t miss out.
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