Americans plan 76% summer travel

Summer travel is still very much on. That’s the simple version. Generali Global Assistance put out new U.S. results from its 2026 Holiday Barometer on April 30, and the picture is pretty clear: Americans still want to go somewhere this summer, and many plan to take more than one trip. But the mood is not carefree. People are spending more, planning harder, and worrying more about what could go wrong. (us.generaliglobalassistance.com) ### What actually changed? The fresh data point is not just “people want vacations.” It’s the mix. Generali’s U.S. release says 72% of Americans expect to take at least one trip between June and September, and 37% expect to take several. The company also says travelers are stretching trip length and budgets higher than last year, which suggests demand is holding up even with a more complicated backdrop. (us.generaliglobalassistance.com) ### How much more are people planning to spend? The average planned summer budget in the survey rose to $3,987 from $3,594 a year earlier. That is a meaningful jump for one season, especially because it comes alongside plans for multiple trips, not just one big splurge. Basically, Americans are not backing away from travel — they’re reallocating around it and accepting that the bill will be higher. (us.generaliglobalassistance.com) ### Is this just one company’s survey? No — the broader direction shows up elsewhere too. AAA said in February that 39% of U.S. adults planned to take more vacations in 2026 than in 2025, based on a 5,000-person Consumer Pulse survey. American Express also said 40% o(us.generaliglobalassistance.com)travel is still one of the last categories people want to cut. (newsroom.acg.aaa.com) ### So why does the mood sound more cautious? Because the risks feel more visible now. Europ Assistance’s global Holiday Barometer says safety is playing a bigger role in destination choice and even in decisions not to travel. Its 2026 release ties that shift to a tense geopolitical backdrop. In plain English, people still want the trip, but they want more control over the trip — where they go, how refundable it is, and what happens if plans blow up. (europ-assistance.com) ### What does “planning with intention” really mean? It mostly means fewer impulsive bookings and more trade-offs. Travelers are mixing shorter getaways, multiple trips, and protection products instead of assuming one big summer vacation will go smoothly. Think of it less like carefree re(europ-assistance.com)ronger interest in protecting plans. (us.generaliglobalassistance.com) ### Could weather be part of this too? Very possibly. The Climate Prediction Center said in mid-April that ENSO-neutral conditions had replaced La Niña and that El Niño was expected to develop during May-June-July. AccuWeather’s early summer outlook is also calling for a hotter, stormier season in parts of the U.S. That does not mean people cancel travel en masse, but it does make flexibility and insurance easier to justify. (cpc.ncep.noaa.gov) ### What should you take from this? The big story is not just that Americans plan to travel. It’s that summer 2026 travel looks resilient and more deliberate at the same time. People are still booking. They’re just doing it with a calculator in one hand and a contingency plan in the other. (us.generaliglobalassistance.com)ncerns-and-protection/))