Americans need a little break. And this winter, that’s exactly what they’re going to do.

In the 2025 Holiday Travel Survey by Allianz Partners, 84% of people said they were “very confident” that they would travel for a winter holiday this year. Another 9% said they were somewhat confident they’d take a winter holiday trip.

So what do these holiday vacation plans look like? How much are people spending, and what are they going to do? We have the answers.

If you’re planning a trip this winter, don’t forget to protect it with travel insurance. A solid trip protection plan can defend you in case of unexpected delays, last-minute trip cancellations, lost or delayed baggage, covered medical emergencies, and more.

It’s not too late to protect your trip! Get a quote now.

Read more: The Essential Guide to Travel Insurance for Winter Travel

1. Seeing loved ones is the #1 reason to travel this holiday season.

What are people doing on their winter holiday trip? The top response in our survey, by far, was visiting family and friends. That’s what 67% of winter travelers plan to do this year. But catching up with parents, siblings, niblings, and grandkids isn’t the only thing on the schedule. Other goals include cultural experiences (for 20% of travelers) and holiday traditions (also for 20% of travelers). Only around 9% of people in our survey said they planned a winter activity like skiing or snowboarding.

Here are just a few of our favorite holiday traditions worth traveling for:

• Festive Christmas markets: European cities like Prague, Cologne, and Budapest are famous for their magical markets, but you don’t have to go that far. Atlanta, Denver, and Washington, D.C. host a few of the most popular Christmas markets in the U.S.
• Holiday light tours: In Baltimore, 34^th Street in Hampden glows every December for the “Miracle on 34^th Street” In Dallas, the Highland Park neighborhood goes all out every year on its holiday lights. Here’s our guide to where and how to find holiday tacky lights.
• Winter carnivals: These celebrations typically take place in January or February, livening the darkest days of winter. The biggest is the Carnaval du Québec, an extravaganza of night parades, ice sculptures, canoe races, and general rowdy fun. Read more: Five Wild Winter Festivals That Are Worth the Journey

2. U.S. travelers plan their winter holiday trips well in advance—and they don’t spend too much.

Not too many last-minute splurges here! Most holiday travelers are planners, booking their trip 1-3 months ahead of time (42% of people surveyed) or 4-6 months in advance (30% of people surveyed.)  Just 14% made travel arrangements within the past month, while 11% booked travel 7-12 months beforehand.

Americans also aren’t spending a lot on their winter vacation. Around a quarter of travelers say they typically spend $1,000 or less, while 19% spend $1,000 to $2,000. Just 5% typically spend $10,000 or more.

The best time to buy travel insurance is immediately after booking your trip. But even if you’re a procrastinator, you can still protect your travels. Learn more: Is It Too Late to Buy Travel Insurance?

3. For a winter holiday destination, family and friends matter more than weather or cost.

When we asked people what matters most to them when choosing a winter holiday destination, the #1 answer (for 44% of people) was proximity to family and/or friends. The next most popular answers: the cost of travel (24%) and the weather (19%). Maybe that’s why so many people want to know: Where is hot and cheap in winter?

Some of the cheapest warm places to vacation are in Mexico (especially if you opt for non-beach locations, like Oaxaca) and southeast Asia: Laos, Thailand, the Philippines, and Cambodia. In the U.S., consider Puerto Rico for a tropical getaway, or a southern city like Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, or St. Augustine.

4. The majority of American travelers are flying for holiday travel.

Fully 82% of people surveyed said that flying would be their primary mode of transportation for their winter getaway. Just 4% were taking the train, while 6% were driving—half in their own car, and half in a rental car.

• For flights and train journeys, travel insurance can reimburse your losses for a covered delay, trip cancellation, or baggage loss/theft/delay.
• For trips in a rental car, the OneTrip Rental Car Protector provides affordable primary coverage for covered collision, loss and damage up to $50,000, along with 24-hour emergency assistance. (OneTrip Rental Car Protector is available in most states.)

5. Travelers worry—but not too much—about winter travel delays.

Just over half of travelers surveyed said they were “somewhat concerned” about winter weather or delays affecting their travel. 27% said they were “not very concerned,” while 16% were “very concerned.”

So who’s right? That depends on where you’re going. Weather is by far the biggest cause of flight delays, according to the FAA, but the impact is greatest at certain airports. Newark and LaGuardia airports, combined, have the most weather-related delays. Las Vegas, Chicago, and Boston round out the top five.¹ Weather delays peak in early winter.

If winter travel delays mess up your vacation, travel insurance can help. Trip delay benefits can reimburse you for meals, accommodations, lost prepaid expenses, and more following a covered delay.

Need another reason to buy? Every Allianz Travel Insurance plan includes 24-7 access to our team of travel experts. When an unexpected mishap threatens to derail your trip, we’re here to help. Connect with our Assistance team from almost anywhere in the world, via the free Allyz® app or by phone.

**Winter Holiday Travel Intent Methodology: 2,391 Allianz Travel Insurance customers with trip departure dates of 12/7/2025 - 1/2/2026 and a return date by 1/30/2026 traveling at least 100 miles from home participated in the survey.

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