Vacation News » Barcelona Edition | By Monsef Rachid | September 8, 2023 7:44 AM ET
According to AAA booking data, international trips are on the rise this year. International travel is up more than 200% compared to 2022. Hotel bookings are seeing the biggest jump, up more than 300% over last year. The spike in demand is driving up airfares. Ticket prices for international trips are up more than 30%.
"Travelers are making up for lost time and are willing to spend more to see the world," said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of Travel at AAA.
"If you do your homework and rely on travel experts, there are deals to be had. But the key is giving yourself plenty of time to plan ahead."
Europe and Canada are the most popular international destinations, per AAA's data.
London tops the list, with a nearly 350% increase over last year. Rome, Paris, Dublin, and Barcelona are other European hot spots.
Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary are the most popular Canadian destinations.
"There's nothing like going abroad. Personally, I just renewed my passport for a long overdue trip to see family in the United Kingdom," Twidale added. "There's excitement this year for international travel but also a lot of questions about everything from passports to travel insurance."