Table of Contents
- Key Findings
- 2025 Travel Budgets Rise Across All Demographics
- Biggest Concerns for Travel in 2025 and Overrated and Underrated Trends
- 2025 American Booking Habits: Where, How, and How Often
- Why US Beaches Are a Top Destination in 2025 Travel Plans
- What Defines the Ultimate American Beach Vacation
- Your Ultimate Beach Vacation Starts Here
- Methodology
Americans are getting ready for the 2025 travel season with bold plans and even bolder budgets. This year’s vacation spending is set to surpass 2024 levels across all demographics, and beach retreats are a top priority for many.
A recent survey by Beach.com reveals how much Americans will spend on travel in 2025, where they’re going, and how they’re booking. It also highlights the travel trends and concerns shaping their decisions and why coastal destinations are a top choice. We also uncovered the key factors that define the ideal beach vacation for Americans.
Key Findings
- The average American plans to spend $1,383 (31%) more on travel in 2025 than they did in 2024.
- Americans rank AI-powered travel tools, set-jetting, and digital detoxing as the year’s most overrated travel trends.
- Beach retreats top the list as Americans’ leading vacation priority in 2025.
- Nearly half (42%) of Americans say the East Coast is their top global beach destination in 2025.
- Americans would pay an average of $4,088 to have a beach entirely to themselves for one day.
2025 Travel Budgets Rise Across All Demographics
Nearly all Americans are preparing for a vacation in 2025 — 97% of respondents say they plan to take a trip this year. As if this finding alone is not enough to demonstrate current traveler enthusiasm, the average American plans to spend $5,915 on travel in 2025. That’s a 31% increase from the $4,532 the average American spent on travel in 2024.
The surge in travel budgets is also not confined to any one group. Respondents from every age, gender, and income group expect to spend more on travel in 2025 than in 2024. Men will spend an average of $1,109 more on travel this year, and women will allocate $1,677 more, positioning women to outspend men by about $770 on average.
Although every generation plans to spend more on vacations in 2025, the generational divide is striking. Gen Z expects to spend 23% more, or an average of $5,553, on travel this year, but Baby Boomers are going really big and plan to spend an eye-popping $12,462, a 52% increase over 2024! Millennials expect to spend the least amount, at an average of $4,812 per person.
Realistically, these figures could be conservative estimates, as 53% of those surveyed said they always go over budget on travel spending.
Biggest Concerns for Travel in 2025 and Overrated and Underrated Trends
Americans are eager to travel this year but are also adapting to a changing landscape of the travel industry with new concerns. Despite — or perhaps because of — Americans’ expectations to spend far more on travel in 2025 than in 2024, travel costs are their primary concern. More than 3 in 4 cite travel costs as a top concern this year, followed by travel disruptions (38%) and physical safety (28%). Only 8% of Americans say they have no worries about traveling this year.
We also asked respondents for their opinions on so-called travel trends that often dominate market research and media storytelling in the travel industry at the start of the year. Buzzwords like “set-jetting, digital detoxing, and calmcations” can generate a lot of hype, but we were curious which ones Americans think are overrated.
Respondents ranked AI in travel (such as AI-powered travel tools), set-jetting (traveling to locations featured in movies or shows), and digital detoxing (disconnecting from devices while on vacation) as the most overrated travel trends in 2025. However, they ranked traveling off the beaten path, digital detoxing, and solo travel as the most underrated trends this year. Digital detoxing is clearly one of the more polarizing travel trends in 2025.
2025 American Booking Habits: Where, How, and How Often
In terms of booking behaviors, hotels remain a favorite among American travelers, with 43% of those surveyed selecting them as their preferred type of accommodation. Nearly a quarter of respondents (24%) say vacation rentals are their preferred stay, and 15% say resorts are their top choice.
Even though traveler budgets are soaring, it doesn’t necessarily mean Americans are taking more vacations this year. It could suggest that Americans are now prepared for higher travel costs and still plan to maintain their usual travel habits. Responses to our questions about booking frequency could reflect that. Half of Americans plan to book a hotel or vacation rental just 1–2 times in 2025, while 34% expect to make 3–5 bookings. Only 1 in 10 Americans plan to make 6 or more hotel or vacation rental reservations in 2025.
We also asked respondents about the types of trips they intend to prioritize in 2025. From mountain escapes to small-town visits to big urban getaways, vacation priorities can be as diverse as the world — or maybe not! Beach retreats top the list as Americans’ leading vacation priority in 2025. Urban getaways are a distant second, with only 18% of respondents choosing them as a top priority, followed closely by 15% opting for national parks and wildernesses.
Why US Beaches Are a Top Destination in 2025 Travel Plans
Coastal escapes are making waves in American 2025 travel plans, and domestic shores are in the spotlight. Americans aren’t hitting the beach just once in 2025; nearly two-thirds of respondents say they’re taking up to two beach vacations. Another 13% say they’re hitting the beach 3–5 times. In fact, our survey reveals that Americans would pay an average of $4,088 to have a whole beach to themselves for one day!
So where are all these beach bums headed? To the East Coast! Nearly half (42%) of respondents say the U.S. East Coast is the global beach destination they’re most likely to visit in 2025. In fact, a near supermajority (59%) of Americans prefer American beaches over international beaches. The top three reasons for their U.S. beach preferences are proximity, familiarity, and natural beauty.
The U.S. West Coast is the #2 destination Americans say they are most likely to visit in 2025, while the Caribbean is a close third. It’s not just proximity and familiarity that factor into American beach destination decision-making — nearly 1 in 3 Americans are willing to travel up to 5,000 miles for their ideal beach vacation. Luckily for many, those ideal destinations appear to be pretty close to home!
What Defines the Ultimate American Beach Vacation
It’s hard to take something as nuanced and subjective as the ultimate beach vacation and boil it down to a few data points that describe it — but that didn’t stop us from trying! However, there are a few points most Americans agree on. Cleanliness is the top non-negotiable beach must-have, followed closely by sandy shores and then pleasant weather.
If a clean beach is as important to you as it is to most Americans, consider participating in a beach cleanup at your preferred beach to help keep these ultimate destinations pristine and enjoyable for everyone!
Americans of every generation prefer a secluded atmosphere when it comes to their #1 ideal beach vibe. Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers rank family-friendly beaches as their #2 vibe, while Gen Z prefers a more adventurous vibe for their #2. Regardless of the atmosphere, Americans rank walking the shore, enjoying the views, and swimming as their favorite beach activities.
Perfect vibes and activities aside, over two-thirds of Americans choose their beach destinations based on family and friend recommendations. 55% use online reviews, posts, and rankings, and just under one-third take recommendations from social media to pick their beach vacation spots.
Your Ultimate Beach Vacation Starts Here
As Americans chart their trips for 2025, beach vacations are at the forefront of their plans. From secluded coastline escapes to family-friendly beach fun, the demand for coastal getaways is sky-high in 2025, with particular sights set on the East Coast. With stunning sandy shorelines to walk along, clean, breathtaking views to soak up, and pleasant-weather swimming opportunities, it’s not surprising that American travelers are craving a coastal retreat this year.
At Beach.com, we know that a great vacation starts with a great destination. Yet a truly great beach getaway is not just about where you go — it’s also about the beauty of these coastal escapes. That’s why we organize and encourage beach aficionados to participate in beach cleanups, helping to keep these shorelines pristine for everyone to enjoy.
Our mission is to guide you to the best beach vacations, whether you’re looking for a quick, nearby beach trip or planning your ideal once-in-a-lifetime dream beach vacation. Relax knowing that our expertly curated selections, like these must-visit California beach towns, are here to help make vacation planning easier for you. So what are you waiting for? The shore is calling — let’s go!
Methodology
We surveyed 1,007 Americans on January 29, 2025, about their 2025 travel plans, including budgets, opinions on travel trends, top trip priorities and concerns, intentions for beach-related trips, and more. Respondents ranged in age from 18–77 years old, ranged in income from <$24,999 to over $150,000, and were 50% female, 49% male, and 1% nonbinary.
Tags: United States of America
