Want to see what the experts have to say about spring break travel in 2026? This year, we already have insights from CheapOair’s Chief Supply and Revenue Officer, Yuvraj Datta.
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According to Datta and the booking patterns at CheapOair, which is a global travel agency, there are two trends that are lining up so far for spring break 2026.
The first is related to how travelers are booking their spring break trips. The second covers where they’re going. Let’s dig in to see what’s in store for this year’s spring travels.
Spring break travel prediction #1: Last-minute bookings are still popular
One prediction that Datta noticed over the last few years that will continue in 2026 is last-minute bookings. During the COVID-19 pandemic, travelers were stuck dealing with canceled trips—including vacations they had spent months, possibly years, fine-tuning.
Datta says that early bookings remain in decline. Trips booked within 60-90 days of travel now make up the minority of plans, with less than 25%. Now, booking trips within 30 days is the dominant booking window. Based on CheapOair bookings, around 45% of travelers finalized their trips within 30 days between March 2024 and March 2025.
But Datta has a few insights into that last point. Competitor data from other travel agencies suggests only around 30% of bookings were made within 30 days of travel. That means one thing: travelers are most likely using CheapOair to book cheap deals at the last minute, when prices tend to drop the most.
Spring break travel prediction #2: Beach towns remain strong—but international destinations are growing
If you want to save on your spring break trip, consider booking with a discounted travel agency within 30 days of your departure date. Aside from insights into when travelers are booking their spring break trips, Datta also has a few clues into where they’re going.
According to CheapOair bookings, these are the most popular domestic beach destinations this year: Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
And here are the most popular international beach destinations this year: Cancun, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; and Kingston, Jamaica.
Based on bookings, some travelers (especially families) are even heading further inland for more city-slicking adventures. These other destinations are seeing added traction: Mexico City, Mexico; Guadalajara, Mexico; San Salvador, El Salvador; Guatemala City, Guatemala; Lima, Peru; Bangkok, Thailand; Manila, Philippines; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; London, England; Paris, France; Vancouver, British Columbia; Toronto, Ontario; and Montreal, Quebec.
