The Spring Travel Outlook finds late April is the best time to save and avoid crowds
Travelers can leverage a strong U.S. dollar to stretch their travel budgets in top international destinations
Expedia Spring Travel Outlook: Book by Valentine’s Day to Save 25% on Airfare
Today Expedia® released its Spring Travel Outlook, revealing flight searches for March through May are up, particularly for international travel.1 Searches for spring trips abroad are higher than last year1, as Americans look to leverage a strong U.S. dollar to stretch their travel budgets when exploring international destinations like Japan and Mexico.
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Expedia’s Spring Travel Outlook reveals flight searches for March through May are up, particularly for international travel. (Graphic: Business Wire)
While Cancún and London remain popular for spring breakers, data shows travelers are also eyeing spring trips to less typical spots like Rio de Janeiro, Bangkok and Seoul.2
Regardless of destination, if last year’s trend holds spring travelers can save up to 25% on airfare by booking three to four weeks in advance of travel and avoiding peak travel dates.3 For travelers planning around school breaks in March, that sweet spot ends around Valentine’s Day.3
Tips from the Spring Travel Outlook include:
When to Book Spring Travel3
- Best time: Three weeks to a month ahead of departure to save up to 25%
- Worst time: 0-6 days out or more than 90 days out
Peak Travel Dates3
- Last two Saturdays of March (22 and 29)
- Easter weekend (April 18-20)
- Mother’s Day weekend (May 9-11)
Best Time to Travel3
- Domestic flights: Last week of April, first week of May (save nearly $55 vs. peak dates)
- International flights: First week of March, last week of April (save nearly $115 vs. peak dates)
- Regardless of the departure date, Expedia data shows departing on a Tuesday instead of a Friday could shave around 15% off the price of a domestic ticket.
Where to Go2
- Most popular: Orlando, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Cancún, London, Punta Cana
- Fastest growing: Rio de Janeiro (+85%), Curaçao (+60%), Tokyo (+50%), Osaka (+50%), Maui (+45%), Istanbul (+45%)
- Best for the U.S. dollar going farther: The U.S. dollar is expected to remain strong for the first half of 2025, meaning travel budgets go farther when visiting international destinations. Now’s a great time for Americans to enjoy a favorable exchange rate in Tokyo, Mexico City, Seoul and other popular spring destinations.
Wave Season
- Spring is a great time to travel, and it’s also the best time to book a cruise. From now until March is “wave season,” the cruise industry’s version of Black Friday. Book before the end of February to score extras like $1,000 onboard credits and other deals, discounts and extras.
“There are two types of spring travelers: spring breakers and everyone else,” says Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group brands public relations. “For the latter group, it’s easy to skip the peak dates and save on your airfare ticket. For those that are beholden to school schedules, you can still save hundreds of dollars just by bundling your flights and hotel on Expedia, especially when you’re headed to resort destinations like Mexico and Hawaii.”
Starting Feb. 26, take advantage of Expedia’s Annual Vacation Sale to save 25% or more with Member Prices on selected hotels.
Head to the Expedia Newsroom for more insights and tips from the Spring Travel Outlook.
Data Sources:
1Based on Expedia.com flight searches for travel during the weeks of March 1 – May 22, 2025 as of Jan. 22, 2025, compared to same time period in 2024.
2Most popular and trending destinations based on Expedia.com flight and hotel searches for travel during the weeks of March 1 – May 22, 2025, as of Jan. 22, 2025. Trending destinations are based on comparisons to the same time period last year.
3Based on Expedia flight demand for travel during March, April and May 2024 compared to the same time frame in 2023.
ABOUT EXPEDIA
Expedia® is one of the world’s leading full-service travel brands, with a mission of helping travelers get the most out of every trip they take by providing everything they need all in one place, ensuring they are getting the most out of every trip they take, and above all else, feel supported every step of the way.
Our commitment to insights matched with our unprecedented scale allows us to understand our travelers better than anyone else, delivering exactly what they need, when they need it. Our personalized experiences, backed by incredible technology, enable us to deliver the widest selection of product offerings across accommodations, transportation, activities and experiences that help you get the most out of your journey.
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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250211761138/en/
Regardless of destination, if last year's trend holds spring travelers can save up to 25% on airfare by booking three to four weeks in advance of travel and avoiding peak travel dates.
