Boatsetter Reveals Holiday Travel Trends for 2024

Last Updated on November 18, 2024 by Boatsetter Team

Whether you’re planning a cozy Thanksgiving getaway or seeking unique holiday experiences, the holidays are a wonderful time of year to explore, reconnect with family, or getaway on your own. The trending travel statistics that follow are supported by market and consumer trends as well as internal data.

Trending travel statistics for 2024 

• Fall and winter are the most affordable seasons to travel in the U.S. (¹) 
• Americans are increasingly interested in “slow-travel” with Google searches for”slowcations” up 50% compared to last year (2). 
• Spending time in nature ranks as the second most popular vacation activity (47%), just behind dining out (52%). 
• Thanksgiving sees a 54% increase in travel to destinations 50+ miles away, surpassing both Christmas and New Year’s travel volumes (3).
• Internal data shows an increase on bookings for large groups and holiday celebrations such as friendsgiving (4).
• 40% of Americans plan to travel for December holidays, with most celebrating New Year’s Eve locally (5). 

Trending holiday destinations for boating & on-the-water experiences

The shoulder season brings unique opportunities on the waterfront, with several destinations showing particular promise for memorable holiday plans:

• Miami, FL
• Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
• San Diego, CA
• West Palm Beach, FL 
• Los Angeles, CA 
• The Florida Keys 
• Gulf Shores, AL 

Find boat rentals & on-the-water experiences in trending holiday destinations 

“Slowcations” & the great outdoors

Whether it’s your big family vacation or holiday vacation, Americans are changing the way they travel. With over 16.3 million TikTok posts dedicated to “slowcations,” people are interested in a slow-paced, more mindful way of exploring destinations. It should come no surprise that on the rise with slowcations are people’s interest in doing more nature-based activities such as hiking, fishing, and beach visits. Slow-paced explorations in nature helps us to be present and reduce anxiety and stress (6). 

Not only does a boat day give you the added benefit of more waterside time (which has unique health properties of its own), but also it’s a great addition to your slowcation as boats give us access to remote islands, secluded coves, and wildlife. 

Beach destinations to visit in the shoulder season

Beach season is far from over. From the snowbirds’ arrival in the Florida Keys to casting a line for “bull reds” along the coasts of the Carolinas and fewer crowds in popular destinations, below are some of the best beach destinations in the U.S. to visit in the shoulder season (7): 

• Coronado Beach, CA 
• La Jolla Cove, CA 
• Padre Island National Seashore, TX  
• Gulf Shore, AL
• Miami, FL
  

Find boat rentals & on-the-water experiences in trending beach destinations 

Cozy boat + your group = the perfect Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving stands out as the year’s premier travel period, with the U.S. Department of Transportation reported a 54% increase in travel to destinations 50+ miles away during the holiday weekend. 

Booking trends show that people typically start making Thanksgiving travel plans in early fall with October as the prime time for securing Thanksgiving bookings including group activities. With the average booking of 7 people, a boat rental can provide the ideal environment for a fun group outing (8). With the advent of searching by Amenities, Guests can easily find boats with cozy accommodations for their group such as grills, WiFi, and air conditioning (9). 

Tis’ the season 

This holiday season, it is estimated that 40% of Americans are planning to travel (10). Millions of which are headed to South Florida (11). Kicking off the holiday season in South Florida is the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade, the largest annual lighted boat parade in the U.S. With an average high of 77°F, December offers plenty of perfect beach days. If you’re looking to get on the water for the holidays with family or friends, consider booking a motor yacht. With variety ranging from 30 ft cruisers to 60 ft luxury yacht, this boat type was the most booked boat during last years holiday season (12). 

Staying local this New Year’s? 

While only 9% of U.S. adults plan to travel to vacation destinations for New Year’s Eve (down from 12% the previous year), internal booking data shows significant spikes in reservations leading up to the celebration. This trend suggests a preference for unique experiences right at home.

From learning how to sail with an experienced captain to going fishing with a local angler and discovering secluded coves at-home, explore a curated collection of unique boat rentals and on-the-water experiences designed to inspire more people to explore our waters (13).  

Check out the Explorer Collection 

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Footnotes

1. 1. https://www.fox61.com/article/travel/destinations/shoulder-season-off-season-trips-have-lower-costs-and-fewer-crowds-aaa/520-888a1b8e-6932-4fe4-b04e-28e533f59627#:~:text=Shoulder%2Dseason%20and%20off%2Dseason%20trips%20have%20lower%20costs%20and%20fewer%20crowds:%20AAA.&text=%E2%80%9CAnd%20while%20many%20families%20must%20travel%20during,those%20locations%20are%20less%20overrun%20by%20tourists.%E2%80%9D 
   2.  https://www.scottdunn.com/us/inspiration/travel-trends/reports/2024/summer https://www.businessinsider.com/travel-slowcation-holiday-work-vacation-destress-summer-2024-8
   3. https://www.statista.com/statistics/372271/number-of-thanksgiving-holiday-travelers-us/#:~:text=Thanksgiving%20holiday%20travelers%20in%20the%20U.S.%202001%2D2023&text=The%20number%20of%20Thanksgiving%20holiday,to%20increase%20to%2055.37%20million.
   4. Based on an internal data report.
   5. https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/get-ready-for-an-even-busier-holiday-travel-season-in-2023

1. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/liftoff/202409/solving-screen-induced-anxiety-is-simple-go-outside
2. “Shoulder season” in this post refers to September, October, and November. 
3. Based on an internal data report.  
4. In August of 2024, Boatsetter released filtering by Amenities.
5. Holiday season in this post refers to Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.
6. https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/holiday-travel-crush-in-south-florida-busy-roads-crowded-airports-as-christmas-nears/#:~:text=CBS%20Village-,Holiday%20travel%20crush%20in%20South%20Florida:%20Busy%20roads,crowded%20airports%20as%20Christmas%20nears&text=FORT%20LAUDERDALE%20%2D%2D%20For%20travelers,family%20in%20three%20years%20now.%22&text=The%20crew%20had%20planned%20an,1%20p.m.%20and%205%20p.m.
7. Based on an internal data report.
8. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boatsetter-releases-explorer-collection-expanded-on-the-water-experiences-following-a-record-breaking-summer-302283193.html?tc=eml_cleartime

Gabriela dos Santos

Gabriela dos Santos is an experienced Editor known for her insightful and engaging writing. Gabriela has been working in editorial writing for 3 years, with a background in writing for magazines and media outlets. In 2022, she joined the Boatsetter Team, bringing her dedication, passion for storytelling and factual accuracy to the Boatsetter Blog. She is always on the lookout for stories of connection and community; to inform, to entertain, to inspire! In her free time, Gabriela loves traveling and spending time by (or on) the water.