Travelers hop to warmer destinations for Easter

Thu, Mar 30th 2023 08:40 pm

Orlando remains top destination for local travelers

By AAA of Western and Central New York

AAA Western and Central New York chose National Virtual Vacation Day to announce the top destinations for Easter travelers as pandemic-style virtual vacations are being replaced with international getaways, cruises and beach destinations. More than three years since the pandemic began, travel has gone from hold to bold as travelers try to make up for lost time.

“Travelers are truly prioritizing their vacations,” said Brian Murray Sr., manager of travel at AAA Western and Central New York. “This spring, we saw international travel increase 30% over last year, while overall spring travel surpassed prepandemic levels. Now travelers are already making plans for 2024 and 2025.”

Murray noted that many families are also taking multigenerational vacations. A recent AAA national survey found that more than 40% of U.S. adults with spring break plans were traveling with three generations.

With many area schools closed the week before Easter, eager travelers are heading out to warmer destinations. Here’s a look at top destinations booked for Easter (April 1-8) through AAA Western and Central New York:

√ Orlando — theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort, along with cruising out of Port Canaveral (also ranked first last year)

√ Miami and Fort Lauderdale — cruising to the Caribbean (Fort Lauderdale was second last year and Miami was sixth)

√ Cancun (all-inclusive vacations, up from eighth last year)

√ Punta Cana (all-inclusive vacations, down from third last year)

√ Nassau (up from 10th last year)

√ Montego Bay (down from fourth last year)