US winter travellers holidaying for longer

Squaremouth has revealed the list of top 10 winter travel destinations for US travellers, based on data from the sale of travel insurance policies via its platform for trips collected between 21 November 2022 and 8 January 2023.

Domestic travel was most popular (13.82 per cent) with those seeking travel insurance via its platform, followed by Mexico (12.07 per cent).

The company also identified a list of four emerging travel trends among those planning trips over the winter period.

Winter vacations are longer and more expensive

Squaremouth found that the length of trips over the winter holiday period was rising, with an average length of around two weeks.

Additionally, winter trip costs were higher than those taken during other parts of the year, at an average US$6,784 – 57 per cent higher than the cost for an equivalent trip taken in autumn 2022, and 28 per cent higher than for summer 2022.

Antarctica becomes a top destination

Antarctica has entered Squaremouth’s list of top destinations for the first time ever, accounting for 2.63 per cent of total sales over the period. This represents a significant rise above the trends for the past decade – when winter trips to Antarctica represented only 0.47 per cent of all travel insurance sales.

The average trip length for a journey to the southern continent was 17 days. Antarctica also represented the highest average trip costs ($17,975.78) for any destination, almost double the number for the next most expensive destination, Costa Rica ($6,807.11).

Sunny destinations remain popular

Despite Antarctica’s rising popularity, sunnier destinations also remain popular, including Mexico, the Bahamas, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, which together comprised over a fifth of all insured trips (21.11 per cent).

Mexico, in particular, accounted for 12.07 per cent of total insurance sales tallied by Squaremouth for trips during the period.

European trips are rising in popularity

After falling off in popularity following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, both Germany and France have returned to Squaremouth’s top 10 destinations for the winter holiday period – accounting for just over five per cent of all insured trips. This marks the first time since 2019 that both countries have made the list.