Bing Crosby will do a lot of his usual crooning about being "home for Christmas" on radios, smartphones and MP3 players this December, but many Americans will nonetheless be taking wing — or taking to the rails or road — to spend the holidays someplace other than around the family hearth. Online travel agency Expedia.com examined its "holidata" (or holiday data) to determine where most people are headed, along with what it will cost you.
"For the December holidays, we found booking air travel [seven to] 13 days in advance of departure could lead to meaningful savings," said Sarah Gavin, Expedia.com senior editor and travel expert, in a statement. For even more discounts, Gavin recommends bundling your spending and saving by booking an entire travel package combining air, hotel, car and even activities. "When doing this simple task, travelers can save up to $600," she said. "Think of these savings as a bonus holiday gift that can help put a little something extra under the tree."
CNBC.com shares Expedia.com's top 15 Christmas travel destinations in the following slides.
Source: Expedia.com
15. Tokyo
Average daily rates, Dec. 23–26, 2016
All hotels: $171
3-star hotels: $148
4-star hotels: $412
5-star hotels: $1,084
Source: Expedia.com (as of Nov. 30, 2016)
14. San Diego
Average daily rates, Dec. 23–26, 2016
All hotels: $126
3-star hotels: $146
4-star hotels: $135
5-star hotels: $188
Source: Expedia.com (as of Nov. 30, 2016)
13. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Average daily rates, Dec. 23–26, 2016
All hotels: $739
3-star hotels: $417
4-star hotels: $476
5-star hotels: $4,673
Source: Expedia.com (as of Nov. 30, 2016)
12. Paris
Average daily rates, Dec. 23–26, 2016
All hotels: $160
3-star hotels: $104
4-star hotels: $155
5-star hotels: $233
Source: Expedia.com (as of Nov. 30, 2016)
11. Kissimmee, Florida
Average daily rates, Dec. 23–26, 2016
All hotels: $152
3-star hotels: $149
4-star hotels: $361
5-star hotels: $173
Source: Expedia.com (as of Nov. 30, 2016)
10. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Average daily rates, Dec. 23–26, 2016
All hotels: $791
3-star hotels: $142
4-star hotels: $1,278
5-star hotels: $1,400
Source: Expedia.com (as of Nov. 30, 2016)
9. Anaheim, California
Average daily rates, Dec. 23–26, 2016
All hotels: $161
3-star hotels: $174
4-star hotels: $620
5-star hotels: N/A
Source: Expedia.com (as of Nov. 30, 2016)
8. London
Average daily rates, Dec. 23–26, 2016
All hotels: $212
3-star hotels: $97
4-star hotels: $149
5-star hotels: $414
Source: Expedia.com (as of Nov. 30, 2016)
7. Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Average daily rates, Dec. 23–26, 2016 (Expedia.com found that average daily rates at hotels in Playa del Carmen are down 15 percent this year from the same time in 2015.)
All hotels: $425
3-star hotels: $226
4-star hotels: $544
5-star hotels: $1,110
Source: Expedia.com (as of Nov. 30, 2016)
6. Honolulu
Average daily rates, Dec. 23–26, 2016
All hotels: $342
3-star hotels: $240
4-star hotels: $758
5-star hotels: $892
Source: Expedia.com (as of Nov. 30, 2016)
5. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Average daily rates, Dec. 23–26, 2016
All hotels: $552
3-star hotels: $305
4-star hotels: $614
5-star hotels: $773
Source: Expedia.com (as of Nov. 30, 2016)
4. Orlando
Average daily rates, Dec. 23–26, 2016
All hotels: $175
3-star hotels: $147
4-star hotels: $202
5-star hotels: $386
Source: Expedia.com (as of Nov. 30, 2016)
3. Cancun, Mexico
Average daily rates, Dec. 23–26, 2016
All hotels: $524
3-star hotels: $309
4-star hotels: $633
5-star hotels: $789
Source: Expedia.com (as of Nov. 30, 2016)
2. New York
Average daily rates, Dec. 23–26, 2016
All hotels: $234
3-star hotels: $180
4-star hotels: $205
5-star hotels: $395
Source: Expedia.com (as of Nov. 30, 2016)
1. Las Vegas
Average daily rates, Dec. 23–26, 2016
All hotels: $104
3-star hotels: $80
4-star hotels: $93
5-star hotels: $187
Source: Expedia.com (as of Nov. 30, 2016)