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As the promise of balmy afternoons and poolside lounging approaches, many of us find ourselves hunting down the latest up-and-coming destinations, keeping our fingers and sand-sprinkled toes crossed that we’ll arrive before the secret’s out.
Thanks to Expedia, Brits’ 2025 travel plans have been revealed, as the number whizzes have tracked the fastest-growing destinations right now.
Melanie Fish, spokesperson for Expedia, said, "This summer, the short-haul travel trend continues as Brits head to destinations like Zürich, Basel and Tbilisi, where temperatures are usually cooler. That doesn’t mean travellers shy away from long-haul travel, though, with Sapporo, Nha Trang, and Cairns trending during the off-season."
“Rising costs also have Brits searching for ways to stretch their travel budget, and the Summer Outlook shows that sandwiching the summer is the key – flight prices are lower in June, and the least busy time to travel is late August.”
Trending destinations for the coming months include the Sardinian city of Olbia, Sapporo in Japan, and Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital – a fascinating destination that is now connected to the UK via direct flights again, as of spring 2025.
However, it’s a clear win for Switzerland, with cities Basel and Zurich seeing an astronomical rise in interest. This is likely a result of Switzerland hosting the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 – plus a rise in ‘coolcations’, where travellers escape the scorching temperatures across southern Europe.
The top trending international destinations
10. Madeira (+90%)
9. Olbia (+90%)
8. Alghero (+90%)
7. Rio de Janeiro (+135%)
6. Tbilisi (+145%)
5. Cairns (+155%)
4. Nha Trang (+160%)
3. Sapporo (+160%)
2. Basel (+185%)
1. Zurich (+225%)
The top trending domestic destinations
10. Aberdeen (+45%)
9. Exeter (+50%)
8. Country Antrim (+50%)
7. Lincoln (+55%)
6. Bath (+55%)
5. Bishop’s Stortford (+60%)
4. Windsor (+70%)
3. Dundee (+75%)
2. Norfolk (+90%)
1. Birmingham (+105%)
As well as revealing the top trending international and domestic destinations, Expedia’s Summer Travel Outlook Report has revealed some interesting stats that could save travellers cash or make the journey as peaceful as possible.
The cheapest dates to fly this summer are Sunday 8 June and Thursday 12 June, while the most expensive are Saturday 19 July and Saturday 26 July – conveniently coinciding with the start of the school holidays.
Stressy travellers may want to travel on Wednesday 27 August and Sunday 31 August, currently the quietest days to travel during the summer period. Friday 20 June and Friday 25 July are the days to avoid, when airports are set to be busiest.