RateHawk Reveals Christmas Travel Trends in the USA

 

December 16, 2025 – RateHawk, a B2B online system for booking hotels, air tickets, and transfers, reports the most popular destinations booked by American travel agents for the Christmas holiday. The company reveals the growing interest in European destinations among American travelers for the festive period.

During the Christmas holiday season, a large proportion of US travelers continue to favor domestic destinations, with New York, Orlando, Miami, Florida, and Hawaii ranking as the top choices for those celebrating at home.

The top 10 outbound destinations this Christmas include Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Colombia, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Switzerland, and Thailand. The average transaction value for accommodation bookings is $2176, with an average stay of four nights. 

 

According to RateHawk, European destinations show a 64% growth in bookings amid a growing popularity of transatlantic trips among American travelers throughout the whole year. Many of them traditionally choose destinations with a Christmas atmosphere and the opportunity for skiing and snowboarding, like Italy and Switzerland. European capitals and cities are also in great demand with travelers who are more into cultural experiences: Rome, Milan, London, Paris, Madrid, and Barcelona. 

 

Ron Fenska, Regional Director of RateHawk in North America, commented:

“The launch of 60 new air routes from the U.S. to Europe this year has meaningfully expanded connectivity and sparked even greater interest in European travel, especially heading into the holiday season. We’re also seeing a clear shift toward luxury: the share of 5-star hotel bookings has doubled year over year, now reaching 22%. With average transaction values up 10% from the same period last year, it’s a strong signal that travelers are prioritizing elevated experiences—and an important opportunity for travel professionals to expand their premium offerings.”

Travelers who prefer beach resorts opt for Mexican seasonal hotspots like Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Playa Mujeres, and Puerto Vallarta. Also, this year, resorts in Brazil, the UAE, and Colombia have gained particular popularity.

 

Japan is among the top 10 countries Americans choose for Christmas trips, confirming the global trend toward traveling to Asia. In December and early January, travelers can not only explore cultural sights and exciting landmarks, but also some popular ski resorts in Hokkaido, Nagano, and Niigata. 

Fenska concludes: “RateHawk now provides access to more than 2.9 million accommodations worldwide, including 220,000 directly contracted properties ranging from major hotel brands to boutique independents. With such a broad selection and powerful search filters, agents can quickly match clients with the right options and confidently manage even last-minute requests.”

About RateHawk

RateHawk is an innovative B2B travel booking platform developed by Emerging Travel Group. It offers hotels, flights, train tickets, transfers, car rentals, and more — all in a single, user-friendly system. With 24/7 support and powerful booking tools, RateHawk helps travel professionals build complete and competitive itineraries efficiently.

RateHawk partners have access to over 2.9 million properties from over 220,000 directly contracted hotels and 330 global suppliers, along with flights from 400+ airlines and transfers in more than 150 countries.