Valentine’s Day travel is heating up this year as couples jet set mostly to desert-cities and island hot-spots to celebrate their love. With Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday this year, overall bookings are up nearly 50 percent compared to last year according to new data from Allianz Partners.
After reviewing more than 1.6 million itineraries for roundtrip flights departing U.S. airports between Friday, February 6 and Thursday, February 12, with a return date between Saturday, February 14 and Wednesday, February 18, the travel insurance and assistance company noted that 77 percent of the itineraries are for domestic travel (up 5 percent from last year) and 23 percent are for international trips (down 5 percent from last year). The data also revealed travelers’ top picks for a romantic getaway in honor of the sweet holiday.
Allianz Partners’ annual ranking of top destinations for Valentine’s Day indicates continued momentum in consumer travel demand surrounding the Valentine’s Day weekend. When looking at the weeks immediately before and after the holiday in 2026, overall travel has increased by approximately 20–25 percent, underscoring sustained interest beyond the single holiday travel.
For the sweethearts staying stateside for their romantic getaway, Phoenix remains the top destination, followed by Florida rounding out the top three spots, with Orlando and Miami. At the same time, travelers are booking trips to New York City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and Honolulu. Tampa stands out as a new addition to this year’s rankings, marking a shift from past travel patterns.
Where Americans are Traveling for Valentine’s Day 2026
| Rank | Domestic City | International City |
| 1 | Phoenix, Arizona | Cancun, Mexico |
| 2 | Orlando, Florida | San Jose del Cabo, Mexico |
| 3 | Miami, Florida | Puerto Vallarta, Mexico |
| 4 | New York, New York | London, England |
| 5 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic |
| 6 | Los Angeles, California | Paris, France |
| 7 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Mexico City, Mexico |
| 8 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Liberia, Costa Rica |
| 9 | Tampa, Florida | U.S. Virgin Islands |
| 10 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Oranjestad, Aruba |
International travel remains strong year-over-year, with bookings up 22 percent. Among the top international destinations, France and England posted the largest year-over-year gains, rising 39 percent and 32 percent respectively, accounting for 3 percent and 5 percent of international bookings. However, Mexico represents the largest share of international travel at 31 percent.
Mexico continues to dominate international travel interest, with Cancun, San José del Cabo, and Puerto Vallarta ranking as the top three international destinations. The remaining top international destinations span both leisure and urban travel, including London, Punta Cana, Paris, Mexico City, Liberia (Costa Rica), the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Oranjestad (Aruba). Notably, the U.S. Virgin Islands appears on this year’s list after not ranking among top destinations in prior years.
“Valentine’s Day has become an increasingly popular moment for travel, especially for couples planning romantic getaways,” said Emily Hartman, general manager at Allianz Partners. “As travelers plan these special trips, travel insurance can play an important role in helping protect pre-paid expenses and provide support when unexpected disruptions like trip delays, cancellations, or lost baggage arise.”
Allianz Partners offers travel insurance through most major U.S. airlines, leading travel agents, online travel agencies, hotel companies, cruise lines and directly to consumers. For more information on Allianz Partners and available travel policies, visit http://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/.
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