Vrbo Unveils 2020 Travel Trend Report: Same-city stays, beaches in Portugal on the rise

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Nov 20, 2019, 12:00 ET

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Trendsetting U.S. travelers are heading to the coasts of Portugal, the tranquility of Cherry Log (Georgia) and… right next door. Vrbo®, the go-to place for families and friends to book vacation homes, cabins and condos, unveiled these and other findings today in the 2020 Vrbo Trend Reportⁱ. Based on insights from Vrbo's global travel demand data, the report explores where American families and groups of friends are likely to make memories in 2020. The report also reveals accommodation choices people are making – including unique places to stay like houseboats, yachts, Airstreams and RVs.

Here's a look at the top trends:

On the Rise: Same-City Stays: Travelers in cities across the country are booking vacation rentals in their own backyards – not to be confused with staycations, which involve staying at your own home. Vrbo analyzed rental demand data in Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta and a number of other urban destinations, and found that the single largest "traveler" origin market for each city was that same city.

"'Cele-cations' — when people seek accommodations to host and spend time with groups of family and friends for milestone events like weddings, birthdays and anniversaries — may be fueling the trend of people booking vacation homes in the same cities where they live," said Melanie Fish, Vrbo travel expert.

Surf's Up, Portugalⁱⁱ: Seaside locales in Portugal took three of the top five spots on Vrbo's list of hottest international beach destinations for American travelers:

Chania, Greece
Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
Porto, Portugal
Lisbon, Portugal
Catania, Italy

Up-and-Coming Travel Destinationsⁱⁱⁱ: Vrbo examined the fastest-growing domestic vacation destinations based on average annual travel demand growth over the past three years. Vrbo's top picks include:

Terlingua, Texas (travel demand up 75%) – a short hop to Big Bend National Park
Bella Vista, Ark. (travel demand up 70%) – situated in the Ozarks near majestic lakes
Westport, Wash. (travel demand up 60%) – located in Grays Harbor County, surrounded by a bay to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west
Cherry Log, Ga. (travel demand up 50%) – sits in the heart of Chattahoochee National Forest
Edisto Island, S.C. (travel demand up 45%) – a charming beachside retreat that's an hour's drive from Charleston

"This is the third year in a row travelers' desire to be outdoors has filled the up-and-coming destinations list," said Fish. "Clearly people want the comforts of a home away from home while soaking in scenery."

The Next Wave of Unique Accommodations: In addition to barns, castles and treehouses, properties on wheels and properties that float join the ranks of unusual accommodations travelers are booking. Travel demand for houseboats, yachts, RVs and Airstreams is up 30% year-over-year on Vrbo.

View the full report here.

About Vrbo
In 1995, Vrbo introduced a new way for people to travel together, pairing homeowners with families and friends looking for places to stay. We were grounded in one purpose: To give people the space they need to drop the distractions of everyday life and simply be together. Since then, we've grown into a global community of homeowners and travelers, with unique properties around the world. Vrbo makes it easy and fun to book cabins, condos, beach houses and every kind of space in between.

Vrbo is part of Expedia Group and offers homeowners and property managers exposure to over 750 million visits to Expedia Group sites each month. To learn more, visit www.vrbo.com.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

ⁱ Source: The 2020 Vrbo Trend Report is based on domestic and international Vrbo demand for the 12-month period ending August 31, 2019 (except as otherwise indicated).

ⁱⁱSource: Vrbo vacation rental demand, September 1, 2016-August 31, 2017 vs. September 1, 2017-August 31, 2018 vs. September 1, 2018-August 31, 2019.

ⁱⁱⁱSource: Vrbo vacation rental demand, September 1, 2016-August 31, 2017 vs. September 1, 2017-August 31, 2018 vs. September 1, 2018-August 31, 2019.

SOURCE Vrbo