Feast Your Eyes on This Year's Top Thanksgiving Travel Destinations

New York City and Cancun top the Thanksgiving travel charts, while new Allianz Partners research finds family reunions, extended getaways and confident travelers are shaping the holiday season

RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether gathering around the dinner table with loved ones or trading turkey for tropical temperatures, Americans are preparing to take flight this Thanksgiving. According to the latest Top Thanksgiving Destinations report* from travel insurance provider Allianz Partners, New York City and Cancun have topped the list as the most popular domestic and international destinations, respectively, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

While popular destinations draw holiday travelers, new survey findings** from Allianz Partners suggest that who travelers are visiting for Thanksgiving may matter more than where they're going. Among surveyed U.S. customers who purchased travel insurance for Thanksgiving-period trips, nearly 62% cited proximity to loved ones as the most important factor in choosing their destination, while the median insured trip cost came in at $875.

A Full Plate of Domestic Favorites

New York takes the biggest slice of the travel pie, claiming the No. 1 spot among domestic destinations, with Orlando and Seattle following at No. 2 and No. 3. Dallas takes fourth place, while Phoenix rounds out the top five.

Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Fort Lauderdale complete the domestic top 10, with a mix of bustling metropolitan hotspots and sunny escapes for travelers looking to celebrate the holiday.

Sun-Soaked Escapes Continue to Entice International Travelers

For Americans heading abroad, Mexico and the Caribbean are serving up plenty of tropical escapes this Thanksgiving. Cancun claims the No. 1 international spot, followed by San José del Cabo at No. 2 and Punta Cana at No. 3. London takes fourth place, while Aruba's Oranjestad rounds out the top five.

Montego Bay, Paris, Puerto Vallarta, Nassau and Mexico City complete the international top 10, highlighting a mix of beachside retreats and bustling cultural destinations for travelers looking to spend the holiday overseas.

Making Room for Seconds (and Extra Vacation Days)

Beyond the destination rankings, Allianz Partners' 2026 Thanksgiving Travel Intent Survey reveals that holiday travel is overwhelmingly driven by connection. Two-thirds (67%) of surveyed policyholders are traveling primarily to visit family or friends, while others are hitting the road to celebrate special occasions, including weddings, birthdays and anniversaries, or to attend sporting events.

However, Thanksgiving isn't just about the holiday itself. Nearly one-third (32.4%) of respondents are either planning to add vacation days to their Thanksgiving trip or are considering doing so. One in five (20%) have already decided to extend their getaway, with those surveyed policyholders planning a median trip length of eight days, compared to six days for holiday-only travelers.

Respondents also show strong confidence in their holiday plans, with 90.5% of surveyed policyholders reporting that they are very confident their Thanksgiving trips will take place. Many are also planning ahead, with 68.6% reporting that they booked their trips between one and six months before travel.

"Thanksgiving travel has always been about bringing people together, and this year's findings show just how much Americans value those connections," said Emily Hartman, General Manager at Allianz Partners. "Whether travelers are heading home to see family, escaping to a sunny destination or extending the holiday into a longer vacation, having travel protection in place can help them feel more prepared for unexpected disruptions and focus on making memories with the people who matter most."

Travel Smart This Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving marking one of the busiest travel periods of the year, Allianz Partners encourages travelers to plan ahead and consider travel insurance to help protect their holiday investments. Depending on the plan selected, travel insurance may provide benefits for covered trip cancellations, travel delays, baggage issues and emergency medical situations.

Travelers planning longer getaways should also review their policy details to ensure their coverage aligns with their full travel itinerary, including any additional vacation days.

Allianz Partners offers travel insurance through most major U.S. airlines, leading travel advisors, online travel agencies, hotel companies, cruise lines and directly to consumers. For more information on Allianz Partners and available travel policies, please visit http://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/.

*Thanksgiving Destination Methodology: The data of U.S. travelers' 2026 Thanksgiving travel plans was gathered by analyzing the number of customers that went through the online booking process of airfare and package paths for customers generating itineraries for roundtrip flights departing from U.S. airports from 11/21/2026 – 11/26/2026 and returning 11/27/2026 – 12/1/2026 and purchasing Allianz Global Assistance Travel Insurance. In total, just over 145K itineraries were analyzed using this methodology.

**Thanksgiving Travel Intent Methodology: 1,524 Allianz Travel Insurance customers with trip departure dates of 11/20/2026 - 11/26/2026 and return dates of 11/26/2026 - 12/2/2026 traveling at least 100 miles from home participated in the survey.

Allianz Partners Thanksgiving Travel: The Travel Menu Is Set for 2026

About Allianz Partners
In the United States, Allianz Partners (AGA Service Company) offers Allianz Travel-branded travel protection plans and serves millions of customers each year. In addition to travel protection, the company offers event ticket protection, registration protection for endurance events and unique travel assistance services such as international medical assistance and concierge services. AGA Service Company is doing business as Allianz Partners Insurance Agency in Arkansas, California (License # 0B01400), and Hawaii. Allianz Partners is part of the Allianz Partners Group. Allianz Partners Group is a world leader in B2B2C insurance and assistance, offering global solutions that span international health and life, travel insurance, mobility and assistance. Customer driven, our innovative experts are redefining insurance services by delivering future-ready, high-tech, high-touch products and solutions that go beyond traditional insurance. Present in over 75 countries, Allianz Partners Group's 19,400 employees speak 70 languages, handle over 58 million cases each year, and are motivated to go the extra mile to offer peace of mind to our customers around the world. 

**For Allianz Partners products offered and sold in the U.S.: Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply to all plans. Plans are available only to U.S. residents. Not all plans are available in all jurisdictions. Availability of coverage, including the epidemic-related benefits and covered reasons described here, varies by product and by state. Products may not include all benefits or covered reasons described here. All benefits are subject to maximum limits of liability, which may in some cases be subject to sublimits and daily maximums. Benefits and limits vary by plan. For a complete description of the coverage and benefit limits offered under your specific plan, carefully review your plan's Letter of Confirmation/Declarations and Certificate of Insurance/Policy. Insurance coverage is underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: Oakbrook Terrace, IL), rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: Richmond, VA), rated "A+" (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101–C series or 101–P series, depending on state of residence. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best's 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Except as otherwise specified, Allianz Partners is the licensed producer and administrator of Allianz Travel-branded travel protection plans in the U.S. and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. Allianz Partners is a mark of AGA Service Company or its affiliates. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between Allianz Partners and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance and assistance services. Noninsurance benefits/products are provided and serviced by Allianz Partners.

SOURCE Allianz Partners