International trips are on the rise this year. According to AAA booking data, 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%.
“Travel is in full swing and bookings are incredibly strong, so it pays to plan ahead,” says Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA-The Auto Club Group. “And if you plan to travel overseas, we suggest using a travel adviser like the ones at AAA. We partner with vetted travel providers who have staff in-destination who can adjust plans as needed.”
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.
“River cruises are a popular way to visit multiple international destinations in one trip,” Haas continued. “I just returned from an international river cruise and enjoyed the ease of unpacking once and gliding between destinations.”
10 Ways to Prepare for International Travel
- PRIORITIZE YOUR PASSPORT
You can’t travel internationally without a passport. If you don’t have one, apply ASAP! The U.S. Department of State issues passports and routine service normally takes 8 to 11 weeks. But pandemic-related application backlogs coupled with a surge in travel demand are leading to longer wait times, anywhere from 10 to 13 weeks. Even some expedited services are seeing delays of about 7 to 9 weeks. If you already have a passport, check the expiration date. Some countries require passports to be valid for six months beyond your departure date from the United States. Your destination might also require a travel visa. To give you peace of mind, work with a travel advisor who can ensure you’re not missing…
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