The 2025 Smarter Summer Report: Skyscanner Reveals Top Tips and Hacks for Travel as Data Reveals 84% of Americans Will Alter Plans to Maximize Budgets

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Apr 30, 2025, 09:00 ET

The cheapest day for Americans to travel this summer is Wednesdays***
The cheapest week to travel this summer is the week of August 25 – 31 **
One-third (33%) of Americans are looking to travel during off-peak season*
Over two-thirds (68%) of Americans are staying domestic this summer*

MIAMI, April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Skyscanner, today announced the release of its 2025 Smarter Summer Report all about how travelers are planning to maximize their summer. To make the most of the season, 88% of American travelers are looking to maximize every aspect of their summer from stretching their budget and extending their travel time to staying flexible and exploring more destinations.

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Americans have yet to book their summer vacation – 39% are actively looking and 25% have not even started planning. Amidst economic uncertainty, many Americans are reevaluating their summer vacation budgets and remaining flexible when it comes to the timing and destination to cut costs. While 35% of Americans admit they need travel inspiration and are still deciding where to go this summer, Skyscanner's Smarter Summer Report serves as a guide to summer travel deals for both trending and alternative destinations.

"For many, summer feels like it goes by too fast. Travelers look forward to their summer vacation all year and this year people are looking to get the most of the season," says Laura Lindsay, Global Travel Trends Expert. "They're getting into the summer mindset earlier by making the ultimate summer playlist and looking up the weather of their dream summer destinations. To truly maximize the summer season, travelers are becoming more flexible than ever. They are stretching their budgets, extending their travel time and exploring more underrated destinations."

All About That Budget (and Wanderlust)
Travelers are seeking ways to make their summer vacation budgets go further and 52% of Americans are looking to make smarter travel choices to cut down costs.

To save money, 84% of Americans are willing to change the day and/ or week of their summer vacation to a different day and/or week
The cheapest week of the summer to travel is the week of August 25 – 31 with an average international airfare of $763
- 40% of Americans are planning to travel on a less popular week or day to get better prices on travel this summer
The cheapest day of the week to travel this summer is Wednesdays with an average airfare of $878
- 32% of Americans are planning to travel on less popular days (e.g. midweek) to save money on summer travel

Taking the Path Less Instagrammed
Trending on Instagram comes at a price and travelers are footing the bill. For many, the allure of alternative destinations is calling as a way to have a more wallet-friendly and unique experience.

In an effort to escape the crowds, 26% of Americans are opting for alternative destinations this summer over expensive hotspots
In fact, 68% of Americans are staying domestic this summer and discovering hidden gems in their own backyard
43% of Americans are exploring new destinations this summer that they have not previously considered

Top Ten Cheapest Destinations from the U.S.

Wilmington, NC
Hilo, HI
Atlanta, GA
Myrtle Beach, SC
New Orleans, LA
Cincinnati, OH
Asheville, NC
Tampa, FL
Denver, CO
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Giving the "Cold Shoulder" to Peak Summer Months
Traveling during peak summer months of July and August often means a big price tag and sometimes even bigger crowds. To get around this, savvy travelers are extending their summer by shifting their vacations to the shoulder season. For travelers who have their heart set on popular destinations, shoulder season is a great way to visit without the crowds or the hefty price tag.

One-third (33%) of Americans are looking to travel during off-peak season to enjoy fewer crowds and lower prices
In particular, Gen Z is looking to shoulder season to costs with 42% of 18–24-year-olds planning to travel early (May/June) or late (September) in the summer travel season
Thoughts of crowded destinations are influencing travelers' choices – driving 50% to look for quieter destinations and 36% looking to travel during shoulder season (just to avoid crowds)

Shoulder Season's Most Popular Destinations from the U.S.
*June and September (combined)

London, England
Tokyo, Japan
Rome, Italy
Paris, France
Miami, Florida, USA
Seoul, Korea
San Francisco, CA, USA
Dublin, Ireland
Bangkok, Thailand
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Shoulder Season's Cheapest Destinations from the U.S.
*June (average airfare) and September (average airfare)

June

Atlanta, GA ($177)
Durham, NC ($180)
Nantucket, MA ($190)
Tampa, FL ($200)
Minneapolis, MN ($202)
Myrtle Beach, SC ($207)
Memphis, TN ($209)
Miami, FL ($209)
Nashville, TN ($236)
Dallas, TX ($259)

September

Buffalo, NY ($148)
Portland, OR ($182)
Orlando, FL ($153)
Chicago, IL ($218)
Las Vegas, NV ($230)
Miami, FL ($250)
Denver, CO ($255)
San Francisco, CA ($259)
Boston, MA ($264)
Fort Lauderdale, FL ($287)

Seeking Hotter Deals for Summer Hot Spots
Many travelers are open to shifting their travel dates to save money, taking advantage of the cheapest days and weeks to fly – if that's what it takes to get to the trending destinations at the top of their list this summer. To help travelers get to the most popular destinations this summer, Skyscanner identified the cheapest week to travel there.

Most Popular Destinations (and the cheapest week of summer to visit)

Tokyo, Japan – (August 18-24; $613)
London, England – (August 18-24; $551)
New York, USA – (August 18-24; $193)
Rome, Italy – (August 25 – 31; $594)
Los Angeles, USA – (August 18-24; $165)
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – (August 4-10; $922)
Honolulu, USA – (August 4-10; $341)
Las Vegas, USA – (June 30 – July 6; $163)
Tirana, Albania – (August 25-31; $602)
San Francisco, USA – (August 25-31; $139)

*OnePoll research conducted in March 2025 with 2000 US respondents
**To identify the cheapest week of the summer to travel in 2025, Skyscanner analyzed our flight search activity from January 1 to March 31, 2025, covering outbound travel dates from June 30 to August 31, 2025, broken down by week.
***To identify the cheapest day of the week to travel during summer 2025, Skyscanner analyzed our flight search activity from January 1 to March 31, 2025, covering outbound travel dates from June 30 to August 31, 2025, segmented by day of the week.

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SOURCE Skyscanner