Spring Break in Washington, D.C., lasts for several weeks. It begins around March and ends mid-April. AAA data indicates that most people are seeking warm climates, with Florida topping the list. Orlando, Fort Lauderdale Miami and Tampa are all in the top 10.
Stacey Barber is the vice president of AAA Travel. “Spring Break cannot come fast enough for families living in colder climates,” she said. Florida is a popular destination at this time of the year due to its theme parks, beaches and cruise ports. New York, Chicago and other iconic American cities are popular destinations for many travelers. For those planning European holidays, be aware of the new requirements that will take effect in this year. This is especially true if London appears on your itinerary for Spring Break.”
Eight of the 10 top cities on the list are located in Europe. Rome comes in first, followed by London then Paris. Barcelona and Madrid, two Spanish cities, are also included on this list. Aruba, a Caribbean island, is also a top Spring Break location, along with Tokyo, Japan. Travel to Asia has boomed in the last year. More Americans are interested in experiencing all of Asia’s countries.
This year, flying to Spring Break locations is costlier than in 2024. AAA data shows that the average domestic roundtrip flight this Spring Break is $820, up 7 percent compared to last year. The international ticket, however, costs $1,440, an increase of 2 percent. This Spring Break, hotel rooms in the United States cost an average of $660. International hotels are about 4% cheaper at $740. Rental car prices in the United States are about the same as they were last year. The average rental cost is $645. The average international car rental is 5 percent less expensive this Spring Break, at $615. Hertz, AAA’s partner in car rentals, said that the most popular destinations for Spring Travel car rentals were also Florida (Orlando and Miami), Los Angeles, Denver and Oahu.
The number of cruise passengers is on the rise. AAA cruise forecast predicts 19 million U.S. passengers will take ocean cruises in 2018, marking the third consecutive year that cruise passenger numbers have reached a record. Most popular cruises depart from Fort Lauderdale Port Canaveral and Miami. These are three of the busiest ports for cruise ships in the world. The demand for cruises is increasing, as is their cost. Domestic Cruises are now 27 percent more costly than last year. The cost of international cruises has increased by 3 percent. The top international cruise destinations are the Persian Gulf and Mexican Riviera. European rivers such as the Danube or Rhine also make the list.
The Best Domestic Spring Break Destinations
- Orlando, Florida
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Atlanta
- Miami Florida
- New York
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Anaheim/Los Angeles, California
- Tampa Florida
- Chicago, Illinois
- Charlotte, North Carolina
Best International Spring Break Destinations
- Oranjestad, Aruba
- Lisbon (Portugal)
- Dublin is Ireland
- London
- Paris
- Barcelona (Spain)
- Madrid
- Amsterdam
- Rome, Italy
- Tokyo
