Americans have spoken: this winter they will flock to the Caribbeanaccording to TripAdvisor’s latest travel report.
The travel platform Winter travel index 2024-2025 revealed that four of the five top destinations U.S. travelers choose for the winter season are in this region.
Good news for Mexican hoteliers and others involved in the tourism industry: Cancun claimed the top spotfollowed by Punta Cana, Cabo San Lucas And Playa del Carmen. Paris was the only non-Caribbean destination to make the top five.
Other popular winter getaways on this list include London, Puerto Vallarta, Aruba, San Juan (Puerto Rico) And Bavaro, (Dominican Republic).
Americans who choose to stay home this winter will gravitate to iconic destinations such as New York, Las Vegas, Orlando, Honolulu, Key West (Florida), New Orleans, Anaheim, Chicago, Miami Beach and Sedona (Arizona).
The report draws its insights from a survey of 4,850 customers conducted early this fall, combined with TripAdvisor traffic data.
It is striking that 53 percent of respondents plan to spend more on travel this year, especially on ‘travel experiences’. Another notable finding is that many view travel as a “non-negotiable” expense, even prioritizing it alongside other financial considerations.
All this comes as welcome news for Cancun’s tourism industry, which has faced challenges due to natural phenomena such as the mass arrival of sargassum. In addition, the opening of Tulum Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport will divert traffic from Cancun in 2024.
In September, we reported on the infamous decline in international arrivals at Cancun International Airport (CUN).
From January to August, this transport hub welcomed an impressive 22.4 million passengers – numbers unmatched by any other country in Latin America. However, this still meant a decline in visitor numbers of 5.5 percent compared to the same period last year.
This trend was largely driven by a significant decline in the number of American passengers, many of whom chose to fly directly to Tulum.
At the time, tourism industry experts attributed the drop in arrivals to several factors, including “pent-up fatigue among Americans who have visited Cancun several years in a row.”
Furthermore, the rise of emerging destinations in the Caribbean and Europe has attracted travelers looking for new green lands.
It didn’t help that a 12-year-old boy was murdered in Cancun, a tragic incident that received extensive media attention in the United States and deterred some potential tourists.
To address these and other security concerns, the local government deployed 600 Marines from SEMA in October to enhance the safety of tourists through land and sea patrols.
With their support, Governor Mara Lezama wants to tackle the problems “the root causes of crime, consolidating the National Guard, strengthening intelligence and investigative capabilities, and improving coordination within the Security Cabinet alongside federal entities,” to ensure the safety of both tourists and locals, Lezama said.
Why you should visit Cancun this winter
Influenced by the beautiful Caribbean Sea, Cancun offers some of the best weather during the winter months. Temperatures fluctuate between 75°F and 85°F (24°C to 29°C) with low humidity, making it perfect for tanning on the beach or taking part in outdoor adventures.
Another advantage is the minimal rainfall compared to summer, complemented by a refreshing sea breeze that keeps the weather pleasantly comfortable.
With so many Americans heading to Cancun this season, be sure to secure your flights and preferred accommodations as soon as possible as the best hotels fill up quickly.