International travel in 2020 has been up in the air – or not, for many destinations where flights have been grounded or restricted. Now, as some countries ease constraints and domestic travel options open up in many destinations, people are beginning to plan future holidays, staycations and road trips following the coronavirus pandemic. Here are the places and trips that are getting the most interest, according to online search and bookings data.
Google searches for 'road trip' dropped during March and April, when most people were in lockdown or sheltering in place. But they peaked in late May, with many people in the US looking to satisfy their wanderlust with domestic travel that avoids flying. Cross-country road trips, routes from Chicago and Route 66 were all in the top 10 related queries.
The most classic of great American road trips stretches, bends and weaves between Santa Monica in California and Chicago, Illinois, with endless highlights – from vast landscapes to kitsch roadside attractions – in between. The Oatman Highway, a stretch of the historic Mother Road that slices through the Black Hills of Arizona, is among the most striking. Discover how to do Route 66 in three days with our guide too.
Paphos is the most booked destination for spring 2021, according to UK data collated by booking site TravelSupermarket. The site found that many people are looking to escape later in 2020, with searches most popular for October – though, when it comes to actually making a booking, April and May 2021 had the highest numbers.
It seems that the classic getaway ingredients of fun, sun, sea and sand are top of most lists as we look at finally being able to travel again, with people swerving the busiest cities and going for places with a more classic holiday vibe. Paphos, on Cyprus’ southwest coast, is exactly that. Its harbour, beaches and ancient ruins bask in Mediterranean sunshine. Highlights include Petra tou Romiou, or Aphrodite’s Rock – the mythical birthplace of the Greek goddess. You can read more about what to do in western Cyprus here.
Spain’s popular coastal region had the second-highest number of UK bookings for next spring, according to TravelSupermarket data. The country could reopen to international tourists in July, unless the situation worsens, although it’s likely that this will happen on a location-by-location basis. Currently, international arrivals will need to self-isolate for 14 days and there remains a US travel advisory against travel to Spain.
The Costa Blanca, or ‘White Coast’, has long been a hugely popular holiday hot spot, especially for Brits. It stretches for 120 miles (200km) in the province of Alicante, known for its rugged, rocky coastline, white cliffs and gorgeous beaches backed by mountains. The area is also home to the fun resort town of Benidorm.
Italy was badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic and was the first European country to go into lockdown. It was also one of the first in Europe to begin to ease restrictions, and the tourist board announced plans to begin welcoming British visitors from early June 2020, with no quarantine restrictions – though UK travellers will still need to observe domestic restrictions on their return.
Travellers will have missed the country’s rich and varied landscape, from the steep cobbled lanes, mountains and beaches of Sicily to the ruggedly beautiful Amalfi Coast and wineries around Tuscany and Lake Garda. Museums, parks, gardens and restaurants are open with social distancing requirements, so visitors will be able to indulge in creamy gelato from pistachio to stracciatella, a milky ice cream peppered with chocolate shavings once again. Find out about the destinations offering incentives to visitors post-lockdown.
There was a 250% May spike in US Google searches for Walt Disney World Resort reopening. UK travellers are also keen to return to Orlando, with TravelSupermarket reporting it as the third most booked holiday for spring 2021. Travellers from the UK will need to check the latest Foreign Office travel advice, as restrictions on entry to the USA are expected to remain in place until late 2020.
The city is best-known for the Walt Disney World parks, Universal Orlando, and water parks. But it also has some incredible and often overlooked natural attractions, from nature parks and wetlands with native wildlife to Winter Park’s chain of lakes, linked by tree-lined canals.
Gorgeous Greece and its idyllic islands are expected to be hugely popular when the country reopens its borders, expected to be by July 1 at the latest. Currently this will only be to the 26 Schengen states, with non-EU nationals still banned from entering the country. Greece, Cyprus and Israel have also announced they are considering setting up a ‘corona corridor’ to allow travel between neighbouring countries.
Crete, the largest island, and Zante, known for sandy coves tucked below alabaster cliffs, were in the top 20 destinations searched for in May 2020, according to TravelSupermarket. The country’s combination of history, enchanting legends and equally enchanting natural beauty – with delicious food and wine to boot – makes it tough to beat as a holiday destination.
UK searches for West Wittering, a British village in West Sussex, rose by 1,850% in May compared to the previous month, making it the second most popular Google travel query. The beach, which is owned by a private estate and remained closed through most of the UK’s lockdown, reopened to limited numbers at the end of May. Wannabe sunbathers had to pre-book to use the car park, and tickets sold out quickly.
The pretty village is all chocolate-box cottages and quiet lanes, while the area is surrounded by the vast, rolling chalk hills of the South Downs. But the highlight is undoubtedly the broad, biscuit-hued sandy beach itself, backed by shrubby dunes and lined with cute, colourful beach huts. It stretches alongside Chichester Harbour, popular for birdwatching – or just horizon-gazing.
Google searches for Ibiza rose 50% during May in the UK, while TravelSupermarket reported the White Isle as the ninth most-booked destination for spring 2021 holidays. The Balearic island is expected to reopen, along with mainland Spain, in early July 2020, without a mandatory quarantine.
Areas like San Antonio, whose west-facing stretch of bars is known as Sunset Strip, and the hilltop Old Town have been eerily quiet during the pandemic. But, though the Spanish island is famous for its partying, the many beaches and coves that lace its coastline will be a huge draw for those who have been denied travel for so long. Find out what to see on a laid-back weekend in Santa Eulària des Riuo on the island's east coast.
There was a 500% spike in Google searches for NYC during May in the US, with people keen to know when the Big Apple might reopen to visitors. It was also the top searched-for destination by UK travellers in the first half of April, according to Skyscanner, with people considering a festive trip to the city.
The city began emerging from lockdown restrictions in June 2020, with plans for a slow, phased reopening of businesses with social distancing measures in place. Restaurants, bars and entertainment venues are likely to be among the last, but this is a city that’s lovely just to wander around and get lost in – as are green spaces from the High Line to Central Park. Check out our guide to New York for more on what to see.
Sin City was the second most popular destination for travellers considering booking a spring 2021 trip, according to data gathered by TravelSupermarket. The Strip planned to reopen in early June 2020 with social distancing measures in place, including restricted numbers in casinos and contactless dining with digital menus and virtual waiting lists.
The glitzy city is best known for its 24-hour casinos, of course, but it’s also surrounded by natural beauty and outdoor spaces. Red Rock Canyon, a short distance from the Strip, has hiking trails and scenic driving (or cycling) loops, while Spring Mountain Ranch State Park – once owned by business mogul Howard Hughes – is a lovely spot for a picnic surrounded by canyons and, sometimes, the wild donkeys that graze there. Discover more of America's beautiful state parks too.
Many US travellers are keen to travel further afield, according to Skyscanner’s global survey. Melbourne was the top April search for December holidays, as people look ahead to some (probably much-needed) winter sun and fun. UK travellers are dreaming of Sydney for a winter break, according to the same data, though it’s not yet clear when Australia will reopen to International travellers.
Regularly rated as one of the world’s most liveable cities, Melbourne has plenty for visitors, too. The capital of Victoria state is known for its cosmopolitan vibe and outdoorsy lifestyle, with parks, wildlife sanctuaries, wineries, trails along the Yarra River and bayside beaches – including Brighton Beach with its colourful huts. See the most wish-listed Airbnb properties during lockdown here.
European searches for Bangkok were sky-high during April, according to Skyscanner. It was the second most searched-for destination in the UK, and number one in Germany and the Netherlands. Thailand announced plans to reopen its borders for international travel from July 2020, though the government is following a strategy of ‘travel bubbles’ – mutual travel agreements with particular countries – to prevent a further outbreak.
Trips to the usually bustling capital may not be feasible for UK and US travellers until early 2021, though it seems that isn’t stopping people dreaming of temples, neon nights and sky-high views. Areas like Hua Hin, a laid-back resort area south of Bangkok, have broad stretches of soft pale sand, making social distancing a little easier.
UK Google searches for this popular British beauty spot rose by 350% in May 2020, as the uncertainty of overseas travel restrictions and introduction of quarantine periods swerves interest towards staycations for Brits. The national park was overwhelmed with visitors during lockdown as people flocked to the great outdoors, and has launched a series of measures including a car park alert system so visitors can see how busy it is before arriving.
The vast park’s green-carpeted limestone valleys and swathes of bouncy, heather-blanketed moorland sprawl mostly through Derbyshire. Striking sections include the stepping stones of Dovedale, the jagged rock formation known as the Salt Cellar (pictured), and the highest point, Kinder Scout. Every millimetre is gorgeous, though, and the Pennine Way hiking route weaves and winds throughout.
TravelSupermarket data shows the Maldives the top searched-for destination for April 2021 bookings, though it wasn’t among the most booked holidays – perhaps as people remain cautious about paying for long-distance trips while restrictions and quarantine requirements remain uncertain. The archipelago announced plans to reopen to tourism – its biggest industry – in July 2020, though said visitors may be required to stay for at least a fortnight.
These glittering jewels of the Indian Ocean are always high in travellers’ dream holiday lists, so it’s no wonder people are keen to get back there, hop on a seaplane and find their perfect spot on one the blindingly bright white beaches. Many of the islands are occupied by individual resorts, from laid-back huts to super-luxury water bungalows with private pools and butler service.