Americans are heading into 2026 with a different relationship to travel than they had during the explosive “revenge travel” years. Inflation, higher airfares and economic unease are prompting many households to cut back on the number of trips they take and, in particular, on discretionary flights. Yet they are not giving up on vacations. Instead, they are consolidating journeys, trading quantity for quality and channeling more of their travel budgets into trips they hope will feel memorable, meaningful and worth the expense.
From More Trips to Better Trips
After two years of robust growth, multiple sets of spending data through 2025 show Americans beginning to pull back on air travel and hotel purchases, even as overall consumer spending remains relatively resilient. Analysts point to a combination of high prices, lingering inflation in services and concerns about the broader economy as reasons many households are reassessing how often they travel and how far they are willing to go.
Rather than abandoning vacations altogether, travelers are increasingly selective. Surveys from travel insurance and research firms in 2025 found that only a minority of Americans were canceling trips outright. Far more were adjusting their plans: taking one big trip instead of several weekends away, choosing a region they can explore thoroughly, or pushing a long-haul journey out a year so they can save and upgrade key elements such as lodging or activities.
This pivot toward “better, not more” aligns with what credit card companies describe as consumer selectivity. Reports from major issuers in 2024 and 2025 highlighted softer growth in airline and hotel spending, even as lifestyle and experiences categories, including dining and entertainment, remained strong. For travel, that has translated into fewer transactions and itineraries overall, but a willingness to pay for experiences that feel special once people are on the road.
Economic Pressures Reshape the American Vacation
High travel costs are a central driver of this shift. Industry data suggest that the average price of a full vacation package, particularly for international trips, climbed sharply between 2023 and 2025. Some analysts estimate that the total outlay for a typical overseas holiday, including airfare, lodging, tours and insurance, rose by double digits year over year, pushing many itineraries into several thousand dollars per person.
At the same time, U.S. consumer spending on airfare and hotels has shown measurable year-on-year declines in 2025, according to research cited by outlets such as Forbes and Bloomberg. The drop is most visible in discretionary leisure bookings rather than in essential trips to visit family, attend weddings or travel for work. Rising interest rates and accumulated household debt have added to the pressure, prompting many families to rethink whether a short, expensive flight-heavy escape is worth the strain on their budgets.
In response, Americans are employing a mix of strategies. Some are shortening trips or choosing shoulder-season dates. Others are pivoting to closer, more affordable destinations where they can keep flight times and ticket prices down but still enjoy a sense of escape. Travel firms report a noticeable increase in domestic itineraries and road trips, along with a readiness to substitute a far-flung island with a beach several states away if it enables travelers to spend more freely once they arrive.
Fewer Flights, Smarter Routing
The most visible consequence for the airline industry is a subtle but important shift in how often Americans fly. Credit card data through mid-2025 show a consistent dip in spending on airline tickets, including among higher-income households that were once viewed as nearly recession-proof travelers. Deloitte’s holiday travel surveys, for example, have found more affluent Americans planning to downgrade their plans, trading flights for driving or choosing to stay with friends and family instead of paying for hotels.
Airlines themselves have acknowledged softer demand in the main cabin, while still aggressively competing for premium customers. Several large U.S. carriers have increased the share of premium economy, extra-legroom and business-class seats on key routes, essentially betting that when Americans do choose to fly, they will pay more for comfort and flexibility. That strategy dovetails with the broader trend: fewer trips overall, higher spend per trip and a focus on value rather than just the lowest fare.
Data from ticket settlement firms in 2025 add nuance to the picture. Passenger numbers on some domestic and international routes remain strong, and in a few markets total trips have even inched higher. But with average ticket prices moderating and travelers spreading out their journeys over longer periods, total sales volumes have not kept pace. The message is that Americans still fly, but with greater deliberation, often bundling multiple experiences into a single, carefully planned itinerary instead of juggling several short hops throughout the year.
Experiences Over Things, and Over Transit
Perhaps the clearest signal of how priorities have shifted is where the money goes once a trip is underway. Credit card companies have repeatedly reported robust growth in experience categories such as restaurants, cultural attractions, tours and live events, even when air and hotel spending cools. For many cardholders, particularly younger travelers, the flight is increasingly viewed as a necessary transfer cost rather than the centerpiece of the journey.
American Express and other issuers have documented a strong appetite for what they describe as meaningful experiences: cooking classes with local chefs, guided hikes with conservation groups, after-hours museum access, neighborhood food tours and small-group excursions led by residents. Travelers may economize on the number of trips or choose a more modest hotel category, then redirect savings into activities that feel authentic or personally enriching.
Dining is a key part of this experiential shift. Spending data in 2024 showed Americans cutting back on some big-ticket travel outlays while increasing their restaurant budgets. In travel contexts, that often means choosing a destination specifically for its food scene, booking fewer flights but lingering longer in one place to sample local markets, bakeries and regional specialties. Instead of a week of quick, urban stops connected by multiple flights, a family might pick a single coastal town or mountain region and devote several days to eating, walking and exploring.
The Rise of “Meaningful Travel” in 2026
Industry analysts expect these patterns to carry into 2026, but with a clearer emphasis on trips that travelers define as meaningful. That label encompasses a wide range of motivations: reconnecting with scattered family members, revisiting heritage destinations, supporting communities affected by disasters, engaging in volunteer projects or simply carving out time for rest and reflection away from screens and work.
Surveys conducted through late 2025 show strong interest in multi-generational vacations and extended-family gatherings, often centered on rentals or resorts where grandparents, parents and children can stay under one roof. Younger parents, in particular, tell researchers they are willing to pull their children out of school to prioritize travel experiences, seeing them as an investment in shared memories and global awareness.
Solo and small-group travel is also evolving in this direction. Polls of frequent travelers in 2025 found that Americans who took at least one notable trip during the year spent more than two thousand dollars on average and typically visited several new places. Many describe their journeys in emotional terms such as grateful, refreshed and inspired. Looking ahead to 2026, a large majority say they plan to travel as much or more than before, but with a stronger focus on destinations and itineraries that feel low-stress and meaningful rather than simply impressive on social media.
Domestic Discoveries and the Lure of Nature
As travelers downshift on the number of flights they take, domestic and closer-to-home destinations are gaining prominence. Research from travel insurers and marketing firms in 2025 points to a sizable share of Americans choosing to stay within the United States or in nearby countries, motivated by both budget considerations and a desire to reduce logistical headaches associated with long-haul travel, visas and connecting flights.
Road trips remain a cornerstone of the American vacation, ranking above both domestic and international flights in some surveys of preferred travel modes. Scenic drives through national parks, coastal byways and wine regions offer a sense of freedom and control at a time when airline disruptions and crowded airports can make flying feel unpredictable. The ability to pack the car, bring pets and stop along the way adds to the appeal.
Nature-focused travel in particular is benefiting from this trend. Destinations built around hiking, rafting, stargazing and wide-open landscapes in states such as Utah, Colorado, Montana and the Carolinas report steady interest. Travelers say they value opportunities to disconnect, move their bodies and share unhurried time outdoors, whether on a long weekend within driving distance or on a once-a-year trip that replaces multiple quick city breaks they might have taken in the past.
How Loyalty, Rewards and Technology Enable Fewer-but-Better Trips
Behind the scenes, loyalty programs and travel technology are helping Americans reconcile fewer flights with richer experiences. Credit card rewards have become a central planning tool, with many travelers using accumulated points and miles to offset airfare on the one or two big trips they prioritize each year. Surveys from American Express and others indicate that a majority of travelers feel a sense of accomplishment when they can stack benefits, combining cards, airline miles and hotel points to upgrade cabins, extend stays or book special experiences.
At the same time, generative artificial intelligence and planning apps are changing how itineraries take shape. Younger travelers, in particular, lean on digital tools for destination inspiration, budgeting help and on-the-ground recommendations. This technology allows them to research in depth, compare options and build trips that feel personalized, even if they are taking fewer of them. The result is often a highly curated experience that targets specific interests, whether that is architecture, food, wellness or adventure.
Travel insurance has also become part of the equation, especially as trip costs rise. Comparison platforms report heightened interest in policies that protect against cancellations and disruptions, an understandable concern when travelers are staking more of their annual budget on a single, significant journey. Knowing that an investment is protected can make travelers more comfortable adding a splurge experience or venturing farther from home, even if they remain cautious about booking multiple flights a year.
What This Means for 2026 and Beyond
The emerging pattern as 2026 approaches is not a collapse in American wanderlust but a recalibration. Households are flying less frequently, especially on short, discretionary trips, and they are scrutinizing airfares, fees and travel logistics more closely. Yet they continue to devote substantial money and emotional energy to vacations, family reunions and bucket-list journeys that feel worth the effort and expense.
For destinations and travel providers, the message is clear. Competing on volume and low prices alone may be less effective than demonstrating value through distinctive experiences, human-centered service and a sense of purpose. Travelers who opt to take one major trip in a year will demand more from every component, from airport transfers and check-in to food, activities and opportunities to connect with local culture.
For travelers themselves, the trend toward fewer flights and more meaningful experiences is reshaping how they think about time off. Planning a single, longer trip or a thoughtfully designed series of close-to-home escapes requires more intention but can yield deeper satisfaction. As economic and political uncertainties continue to buffet the global travel industry, Americans appear to be signaling that what matters is not how often they can post from the boarding gate, but how powerfully a journey resonates once they return home.