Cozy stays, beaches and Japan top our 2023 winter & holiday travel trends

Key Takeaways

  • This winter, travelers are seeking warm beaches, bustling cities, and snowy chalets.
  • Trending destinations for families span the streets of Tokyo to the beaches of The Bahamas.
  • With the borders re-opened to international travelers, guests are setting their sights on Asia-Pacific countries from Japan to Thailand.
Winter Listing for Holiday Travel

Key Takeaways

  • This winter, travelers are seeking warm beaches, bustling cities, and snowy chalets.
  • Trending destinations for families span the streets of Tokyo to the beaches of The Bahamas.
  • With the borders re-opened to international travelers, guests are setting their sights on Asia-Pacific countries from Japan to Thailand.

Just in time for the busy, holiday travel season1, Airbnb is releasing its annual winter travel trends, revealing trending2 destinations, most booked categories, and stays that travelers are searching for and booking this upcoming season. From warm weather destinations in South America to bustling cities in Japan, travelers are seeking memorable stays in every corner of the globe – the perfect way to create those core memories this holiday season.

Trending destinations worldwide

This winter season, guests are setting their sights on dreamy destinations in Asia-Pacific and South America, from Osaka, Japan to São Paulo, Brazil. With Japan easing border restrictions just last year in October 2022, it’s no surprise that one of the country’s gems, Osaka, is one of the trending destinations for this winter and holiday season. The following locations are just some of the trending global destinations that are catching travelers’ attention, based on worldwide searches from January 1, 2023 to September 15, 2023 for winter and holiday travel.

  • Osaka, Japan
  • Hong Kong
  • Québec City, Canada
  • Taipei, Taiwan
  • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Hanover, Germany
  • Wānaka, New Zealand
  • São Paulo, Brazil
  • Muang Pattaya, Thailand
  • Tokyo, Japan

From a Scandinavian-inspired loft in Hong Kong, to an ocean view home with an infinity pool in Brazil, here are the most wishlisted stays in our top trending destinations this winter:

Trending family destinations worldwide

Globetrotting families3 are ready to pack their bags and explore new destinations this holiday season, spanning the streets of Tokyo to the beaches of The Bahamas. The diverse representation of destinations demonstrates that Airbnb has something for every type of family. In fact, families can get an Airbnb with two bedrooms and one bathroom for less than the price of one hotel room at a major chain4. Playfully captured through our recent Get an Airbnb ad, Airbnb offers families the space and privacy they want, at the value they need. 

Below are some of the trending destinations by families for check-in between November 1 and December 31, 2023, based on global searches from January 1, 2023 to September 15, 20235.

  • Tokyo, Japan
  • Québec City, Canada
  • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Puerto del Carmen, Spain
  • São Paulo, Brazil
  • La Plagne-Tarentaise, France
  • Crucecita, Mexico
  • Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
  • Tignes, France
  • Nassau, The Bahamas

US travelers seek sun soaked stays

From Oaxaca, Mexico to Nassau, The Bahamas, US travelers are searching for warm weather getaways this winter and holiday season. Below are some of the trending international destinations US travelers are searching for the upcoming season based on global searches from January 1 to September 15, 20236

  • Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
  • San Salvador, El Salvador
  • Oaxaca, Mexico
  • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Havana, Cuba
  • La Fortuna, Costa Rica
  • Nassau, The Bahamas
  • Cali, Colombia
  • Culebra, Puerto Rico
  • São Paulo, Brazil

The US cities trending this winter & holiday season

From Colorado Springs, Colorado to Ludlow, Vermont, the list of US cities trending this winter might be surprising. However, as Airbnb continues to help disperse travel globally, we’re seeing more people opt for smaller cities and towns, beyond urban centers and traditional tourist spots. 

Below is an interactive map of some of the top trending cities7 in the United States for this winter and holiday season.

Most booked categories for winter and holiday stays

This winter and holiday season, travelers are turning to Airbnb Categories, searching for poolside stays, good surf by the beach and places to play golf, perfect for family travel. Airbnb Categories allow guests to discover millions of unique places to stay around the world, with homes in over 60 different categories based on their style, location, and other factors. Based on bookings from January 1 through September 15, 2023, these were some of the most booked 2023 Airbnb Categories for US guests.

  • Amazing pools
  • Beach
  • Tropical
  • National parks
  • Iconic cities
  • Amazing views
  • Golfing
  • Cabins
  • Countryside
  • Surfing

Listening to our community

In Airbnb’s recent fall 2023 update, the company highlighted key platform improvements made over the past year, based on community feedback around pricing, cleaning fees, customer service, and better search and filters. These improvements will help travelers have a more seamless travel experience with Airbnb this holiday season and beyond. 

Guests can also rely on these Airbnb holiday travel hacks to find the perfect stay for any budget, and any vibe.

1Winter and holiday time period defined as November 1 – December 31 in this post
2Calculated by growth in global searches in 2023 thru Sept. 15, for checkin between Nov. 1 – Dec. 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022
3Families are defined by searches that involve one or more baby/child
4Comparing Airbnb’s Q1 2023 ADR for two bedroom, one bathroom listings to an average ADR for Marriott, Hyatt and Hilton based on publicly available Q1 2023 financial reporting.
5Calculated by growth in global searches in 2023 through September 15, for check-in between November 1-December 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022.
6Calculated by growth in US searches in 2023 through September 15, for check-in between November 1-December 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022.
7Calculated by growth in US searches in 2023 thru Sept. 15, for checkin between Nov. 1 – Dec. 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022.