Expedia cracks the code on New Year's Eve travel

BELLEVUE, Wash., Oct. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- New Year's Eve is synonymous with fireworks, countdowns, midnight kisses and incredible celebrations around the world. A recent survey of more than 1,000 Americans¹ revealed nearly 20 percent of Americans may travel for the holiday this year, and nearly a quarter plan to be away for more than ten days. To help travelers kiss 2017 goodbye in style, Expedia^® data experts have compiled everything travelers need to know about when to book, where to go and how to get the best deals.

"Pumpkin spice season has just begun, but it's never too early to start planning your New Year's Eve," says Sarah Gavin, Expedia's Vice President of Global Communications. "A little research now can prepare travelers to jump on great deals so they can ring in the New Year in an amazing destination. And you can still find an average of $600 in savings during popular travel windows like New Year's Eve just by bundling your flights and hotel."

When to Book

Expedia.com^® data² shows that travelers in the U.S. should book NYE travel 21-30 days in advance to save around five percent on airfares. This is one instance where planning too far in advance might actually hurt you – travelers who book more than 90 days out paid the most, almost 10 percent more than average ticket prices.

• Cheapest time to book: between November 26 and December 5
• Most expensive times to book: prior to September 27, and between December 20 and December 26

10 NYE Destinations Under $400

Though fireworks and festivities are a big draw for NYE travelers, according to survey respondents, the number one factor when choosing a destination for the holiday is the cost of airfare and accommodations. For those looking for a memorable trip that doesn't clean out their bank account, these are 10 of the cheapest destinations for NYE:³

1. Seattle - average ticket price of $309
2. Salt Lake City - average ticket price of $341
3. Phoenix - average ticket price of $342
4. Denver - average ticket price of $342
5. Tampa - average ticket price of $347
6. San Francisco - average ticket price of $361
7. Fort Lauderdale - average ticket price of $362
8. Nassau - average ticket price of $369
9. Mexico City – average ticket price of $372
10. Los Angeles – average ticket price of $377

10 Most Popular Destinations for NYE

Roughly half of survey respondents traveling for NYE plan to remain stateside, and these are the destinations predicted to be the most popular for NYE, based on 2016 flight data:²

1. New York
2. Los Angeles
3. Orlando
4. Denver
5. Phoenix
6. Atlanta
7. Fort Lauderdale
8. Chicago
9. San Francisco
10. Washington D.C.

Trending Destinations for NYE 2017

For travelers looking for up-and-coming spots to ring in the New Year, Expedia data reveals trending destinations⁴ that are seeing a boost in interest this year but are still off the well-trod path for NYE:

1. Philadelphia – 500 percent increase in interest
2. Hong Kong – 465 percent increase in interest
3. Bogota – 365 percent increase in interest
4. Nashville – 235 percent increase in interest
5. New Orleans – 170 percent increase in interest
6. Montego Bay – 170 percent increase in interest
7. Bozeman – 160 percent increase in interest
8. Bangkok – 130 percent increase in interest
9. Punta Cana - 65 percent increase in interest
10. Honolulu – 50 percent increase in interest

More Ways to Save

Travelers can snap up even more savings by signing in or becoming an Expedia+ Rewards member, earning points and unlocking access to members only deals and perks. Members save 10 percent or more instantly on select hotels, just by signing in.

For more information visit https://www.expedia.com/Deals.

About Expedia.com
Expedia.com^® is one of the world's largest full service travel sites, helping millions of travelers per month easily plan and book travel. Expedia.com (https://www.expedia.com/, 1-800-EXPEDIA) aims to provide the latest technology and the widest selection of top vacation destinations, affordable airfares, hotel deals, car rentals, destination weddings, cruise deals and in-destination activities, attractions, services and travel apps. With the Price Guarantee, Expedia.com customers can get the best rates available online for all types of travel.

© 2017 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Expedia and the Airplane logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners CST # 2029030-50.

Visit our web site https://www.expedia.com/ or use our mobile app to book cheap flights and hotels.

¹Survey commissioned by Expedia during September 2017 and conducted by Google Consumer Surveys, polling more than 1,000 respondents, aged 18-65+, located in the U.S.
²Data based on a 2016 booking window and a 26-31 December 2016 travel window.
³ATPs based on all coach, roundtrip flights from the U.S. with search dates of June 25 – September 25, 2017 and a departure window of December 30 or 31, 2017 as of September 27.
⁴Trending destinations based on demand between January 1 – June 30, 2017 with a travel window of December 30, 2017 - January 1, 2018, compared to the same time period in 2016.

SOURCE Expedia.com

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