Summer Travel Trends Recap 2017

Summer is winding to a close, and it was our biggest travel season yet for Airbnb. In May, we estimated that 1 million U.S. guests were staying in Airbnb homes on Memorial Day weekend alone. Looking back at bookings data between June 1 and August 31, roughly 45 million guests stayed in Airbnb homes across the world.

Global   Stats

45M
guest arrivals

$50
average cost per person, per night (family travelers to the U.S.)

8M
family guest arrivals

2.6M
guests on  Airbnb’s  peak night, August 12

Trending Destinations

Based on percentage growth over summer 2016, we’ve seen the highest growth in Asia, particularly in China. In one of our newest and fastest-growing markets, Chinese cities Hangzhou (495%), Chongqing (388%) and Wuhan (371%) were the top three highest-growth destinations over last year. Across the board, we saw summer travelers largely flocking to oceanside enclaves from Brazil to New Zealand and beyond.

Hover over hotspots to see trending destinations and their growth.

Summer Travel Trends Recap 2017

  • Hangzhou, China
    495% growth
    (495% growth)

  • Chongqing, China
    388% growth
    (388%)

  • Wuhan, China
    371% growth
    (371%)

  • Viñales, Cuba
    347% growth
    (347%)

  • Patuto, Philippines
    274% growth
    (274%)

  • Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
    214% growth
    (214%)

  • Trinidad, Belize
    213% growth
    (213%)

  • Shenzhen, China
    193% growth
    (193%)

  • Fortaleza, Brazil
    192% growth
    (192%)

  • Cluj-Napoca, Romania
    187% growth
    (187%)

  • Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
    185% growth
    (185%)

  • Da Nang, Vietnam
    182% growth
    (182%)

  • Ensenada, Mexico
    179% growth
    (179%)

  • Surrey, Canada
    175% growth
    (175%)

  • Fort William, Scotland
    156% growth
    (156%)

  • Rotorua, New Zealand
    154% growth
    (154%)

Family Destinations

Family travel on Airbnb continues to grow, with 8 million family guest arrivals this summer of 45 million total. Based on total family bookings, we found that the most popular countries for families overall were the United States, France, Italy and Spain.

We also found that more families are using Airbnb to explore destinations that feature family-friendly fun like amusement parks, zoos, beaches and nature reserves. Based on percentages of total booking that were families, these were some of the most popular family travel destinations:

  • Kissimmee, Florida

  • Gulf Shores, Alabama

  • Torrevieja, Spain

  • Poitiers, France

  • Kristiansand, Norway

  • Branson, Missouri

  • Nago, Japan

  • Cowes, Australia

  • Caldas Novas, Brazil

  • San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina

Popular Experiences

Forget the lazy days of summer, though: Airbnb travelers got active and moving this summer, whether it was kayaking through Prague’s city center or a backcountry hike near Toronto. Based on the most-booked Experiences per city this summer, we saw travelers hiking, riding, sailing and dancing their way through popular destinations. Among some of our most popular markets, biking Experiences were most popular, along with hiking and boating:

Amsterdam, Netherlands
Explore Hidden Art & Culture by Bike
Pedal along historical side streets and canals in classic Dutch fashion

Bangkok, Thailand
Biking Bangkok Oasis
Explore an oasis by bicycle, see wildlife,  and sample Thai food

Miami, Florida
A Vibrant Salsa Night
Sip mojitos and learn to salsa with a live tropical band

Prague, Czechia
Kayaking in City Center
Discover Prague by kayak, seeing world-renowned sites on the water

Provence, France
Sailing in Calanques
Sail through the Calanques, near Marseille: Swim, snorkel and sunbathe

San Francisco, California
Sunset Silent Disco
Strike  your best warrior pose  to the beat of music  and incredible  views

Seoul, South Korea
Historical Steps

Take a night hike through an ancient fortress, soaking in history and culture

Tokyo, Japan
Samurai Swordplay
Practice traditional Japanese swordplay with a real samurai

Toronto, Canada
Niagara’s Natural Connection
Navigate a lush, peaceful forest on foot near the famous falls

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