AAA: Warm weather destinations most popular in 2017

THE NEARLY 2,000-YEAR-OLD COLOSSEUM is only one of a plethora of historical and artistic treasures that visitors to Rome can see. / PBN PHOTO/MARK S. MURPHY
THE NEARLY 2,000-YEAR-OLD COLOSSEUM is only one of a plethora of historical and artistic treasures that visitors to Rome can see. / PBN PHOTO/MARK S. MURPHY

PROVIDENCE – AAA Northeast said 42 percent of Americans plan to take a vacation this year, with most planning visits to warm weather destinations in the United States and abroad.

Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and Orlando, Fla., are the top destinations, AAA said.

Approximately 30 percent of U.S. adults say they are more likely to take a vacation this year compared with last year, and many want a new kind of travel experience, AAA said.

“There is a lot of pent-up demand for travel in the new year,” Rick Del Nero, AAA Northeast vice president of travel, said this week. “Whether they’re taking a road trip to a well-known domestic destination or visiting an exotic international locale, today’s travelers are seeking experiences that are unique and immersive.”

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The top destinations for 2017, based on AAA’s travel bookings, are:

International:

  • Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
  • Rome
  • Montego Bay, Jamaica
  • London
  • Nassau, Bahamas

Domestic:

  • Orlando, Fla.
  • Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
  • Anaheim, Calif.
  • Miami
  • Las Vegas

Destinations with the most notable increases in travel bookings include Melbourne and Sydney, Australia; Toronto and Vancouver, Canada; and Cancun, Mexico, AAA said.
Trending this year is experiential travel (travelers want a deeper connection to the cultures, people and traditions of a destination they are visiting), Canada (thanks to its close location and favorable currency rates), and Ireland and Iceland (thanks to low airfares and the perception that the countries are safe).

River cruising and national parks are also popular, AAA said.

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