The State of Trip Planning
Real, cited statistics on how people actually plan trips — from booking timelines to the #1 thing group trips fight about. Every number here is sourced; none of it is ours.
- People plan to travel more: 58% expect more than one trip in 2026, and the most common booking window is 1-3 months out (46%).
- AI has entered trip planning fast: 25% of U.S. travelers used it to research travel in 2026, though only 30% said in 2025 they were comfortable planning with it.
- Cost shapes the plan: 79% of Americans worry about rising travel costs, and the budget for the longest summer trip averages $4,069.
- Money is the group-trip flashpoint: 45% of group travelers have had a money conflict, and 82% would overpay to avoid one.
- Crowds are moving the calendar: 66% would consider traveling off-season to ease overtourism.
Travelers are taking more trips in 2026
of U.S. travelers booked their summer 2024 flights and hotel 1-3 months before departure
Source: YouGov| Less than a month before | 26% |
|---|---|
| 1-3 months before | 46% |
| 4-6 months before | 17% |
| More than 6 months before | 11% |
AI has become a trip-planning tool
Deloitte asked American travelers whether they used generative AI to research a trip, and for what.
of U.S. travelers used generative AI to research travel in 2026
Up from 10% in 2024 and 15% in 2025.
Source: Deloitte 2026 Summer Travel Surveyof travelers using generative AI built trip itineraries with it
In-destination activities lead at 58%, then accommodations at 54%.
Source: Deloitte 2026 Summer Travel Surveyof U.S. travelers said in 2025 they were comfortable using AI for trip planning
40% said they were not.
Source: YouGov| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All travelers | 10% | 15% | 25% |
| Gen Z | 13% | 23% | 33% |
| Millennials | 17% | 23% | 36% |
| Gen X | 7% | 13% | 24% |
| Boomers | 5% | 6% | 9% |
Cost is shaping how people travel
of Americans are concerned about rising travel costs
49% are scaling back their travel plans as a result.
Source: Allianz Partners / Ipsosaverage budget for the longest summer 2026 trip, transport and lodging only
Up 17% from 2025.
Source: Deloitte 2026 Summer Travel Survey| Completely preventing travel | 12% |
|---|---|
| Significantly limiting it | 18% |
| Slightly or moderately limiting it | 52% |
| No impact | 18% |
Money is the #1 group-trip conflict
CIT Bank and Harris Poll surveyed 2,000+ U.S. adults in May 2026 and found what they call the "Peace Tax."
of group travelers have had a financial conflict on a trip
72% among Gen Z, 54% among Millennials.
Source: CIT Bank / Harris Pollwould overpay their fair share to avoid a money argument — the "Peace Tax"
90% among Gen Z, 86% among Millennials.
Source: CIT Bank / Harris Pollof Gen Z group travelers have ended a relationship over trip money conflict
Source: CIT Bank / Harris Poll| All group travelers | Gen Z | Millennials | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Had a financial conflict on a trip | 45% | 72% | 54% |
| Would overpay to avoid an argument | 82% | 90% | 86% |
| Overspent because of social pressure | 61% | 80% | 76% |
| Felt pressured into a trip | 41% | 56% | 55% |
Splitting costs fairly without the awkward conversation — try the free group budget calculator.
A list is the cheapest thing you can pack
Radical Storage surveyed 1,511 Americans in September 2024 about what they pack and what they leave behind.
say making a packing list means they forget less
72.9% make one before a trip.
Source: Radical Storage| Toothbrush or toothpaste | 22.0% |
|---|---|
| Chargers | 19.1% |
| Sunscreen | 18.3% |
| Sunglasses | 17.6% |
| Deodorant | 15.5% |
$53 of forgotten basics is an avoidable spend — generate a packing list scaled to your trip.
Crowds are changing when and where people go
YouGov asked U.S. adults about overtourism and what they would change to avoid adding to it.
would consider traveling off-season to ease overtourism
56% would choose lesser-known destinations.
Source: YouGov| Travel off-season | 66% |
|---|---|
| Choose lesser-known destinations | 56% |
| Avoid places already struggling with crowds | 51% |
| Stay in locally owned accommodation | 38% |
| Use public transport | 31% |
Solo travel is booming — but it's not either/or
projected size of the global solo travel market by 2033
Up from $627B in 2026 — a 14.6% annual growth rate.
Source: Grand View Researchof Millennials and Gen Z said they were planning a solo trip in 2024
Source: American Express 2024 Global Travel Trends ReportSources and methodology
Every figure on this page comes from a published survey or market report that discloses who was asked, how many and when. Nothing here is Waiz data.
- AAA
- Conducted by
- AAA Consumer Pulse Survey
- Sample
- n = 5,000, online
- Who was asked
- Adults in AAA Auto Club Group territory, weighted to the adult population
- Fieldwork
- Jan 26 – Feb 5, 2026
- Margin of error
- ±1.4 pts
- YouGov
- Conducted by
- YouGov
- Sample
- n = 1,155, online
- Who was asked
- U.S. adults; booking figures among those who traveled in summer 2024
- Fieldwork
- Aug 26 – 27, 2024
- Margin of error
- Not stated
- Deloitte 2026 Summer Travel Survey
- Conducted by
- Deloitte
- Sample
- n = 4,003
- Who was asked
- U.S. adults; travel figures among the 1,808 who were traveling
- Fieldwork
- Apr 2 – 9, 2026
- Margin of error
- Not stated
- YouGov
- Conducted by
- YouGov
- Sample
- n = 880
- Who was asked
- U.S. travelers who traveled in the past 2 years or plan to in the next year
- Fieldwork
- July 2025
- Margin of error
- Not stated
- Allianz Partners / Ipsos
- Conducted by
- Ipsos
- Sample
- n = 2,001, online
- Who was asked
- U.S. adults 18+
- Fieldwork
- Mar 20 – Apr 14, 2026
- Margin of error
- ±2.7 pts
- CIT Bank / Harris Poll
- Conducted by
- The Harris Poll
- Sample
- n = 2,067, online
- Who was asked
- U.S. adults; figures among those who took a group trip in the past 5 years
- Fieldwork
- May 14 – 18, 2026
- Margin of error
- ±2.7 pts
- Radical Storage
- Conducted by
- Radical Storage
- Sample
- n = 1,511
- Who was asked
- Americans; age and weighting not stated
- Fieldwork
- September 2024
- Margin of error
- Not stated
- YouGov
- Conducted by
- YouGov
- Sample
- n = 1,206, online
- Who was asked
- U.S. adults
- Fieldwork
- Aug 4 – 5, 2025
- Margin of error
- Not stated
- Grand View Research
- Conducted by
- Grand View Research
- Sample
- Market model, no survey
- Who was asked
- Global solo travel market estimate
- American Express 2024 Global Travel Trends Report
- Conducted by
- American Express
- Sample
- n = 8,027, online
- Who was asked
- Adults in 7 countries with a $50k+ income equivalent who travel at least once a year
- Fieldwork
- Jan 31 – Feb 8, 2024
- Margin of error
- ±2-4 pts
Cite this report
Free to quote with a link back. Every chart above has its own link.
Waiz. (2026, October 9). The State of Trip Planning. https://getwaiz.com/state-of-trip-planning
“The State of Trip Planning.” Waiz, October 9, 2026, https://getwaiz.com/state-of-trip-planning.
Waiz. “The State of Trip Planning.” Last updated October 9, 2026. https://getwaiz.com/state-of-trip-planning.
