In 2022, travelers sought out pools, beaches and iconic cities as their top destinations.
With destinations such as Spain, Australia and New Zealand trending for 2023, give the gift of international travel with an Airbnb gift card this holiday season.
For those who plan to gather in-person with loved ones again, consider hosting while away to earn some extra cash.
Airbnb is wrapping up the year with a bow, revealing the stays, categories, and destinations that topped the charts in 2022, sharing our annual holiday travel trends, and providing a sneak peek at what 2023 has in store for travel.
Top Categories for 2022
In 2022, travelers found themselves sitting poolside or catching rays on a sandy beach. Both of these water-related Categories came in at the top spots, with Tropical, Beachfront, Surf Spot and Lake Houses also making appearances.
Based on bookings from May 11 through September 30, these were the top 2022 travel categories for US guests:
- Pool
- Beach
- Iconic City
- Tropical
- Countryside
- Beachfront
- Cabin
- Surf Spot
- Lake House
- Ski Destination
And just in time for holiday travel, the Airbnb 2022 Winter Release, introduced six new Categories this month, which are sure to join the ranks of most popular:
- New – Homes added to Airbnb within the past 10 weeks.
- Top of the world – Homes around 10,000 feet above sea level, often with stunning views.
- Trending – Highly-rated homes that received more listing views compared to the previous week.
- Adapted – Homes adapted for wheelchair access, with verified step-free paths into the home, bedroom and bathroom.
- Play – Homes with basketball courts, game rooms, miniature golf, water slides and more.
- Hanoks – Traditional Korean homes constructed of natural materials.
The return of international travel
In 2022, It’s clear that the newfound flexibility offered by remote and hybrid work has led to a revolution in how we travel –especially when it comes to international destinations.
The reopening of the largest inbound travel market in the world also unlocked pent-up demand from international travelers eager to reconnect with loved ones or visit their favorite stateside destinations once more.
Between November 8, 2021, and September 30, 2022, stays of 28 nights or longer have been the fastest-growing trip length among foreign travelers to the US. In addition, more than 30 percent of international guests to the US this past year have been between the ages of 30 and 40. In the year since US borders reopened to international travelers, Airbnb Hosts in more than 7,500 different destinations across the US have welcomed international guests.
As cross-border travel has returned to the US over the past year, the most international guests have come from the following five cities:
- London, United Kingdom
- Toronto, Canada
- Paris, France
- Seoul, South Korea
- Mexico City, Mexico
Besides the US, travelers crossed seas and continents to visit other foreign destinations which included locations ranging from Asia to Australia, and Europe to South America.
The following locations became the top trending global destinations that caught travelers’ attention, based on searches on the platform in 2022:
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Sydney, Australia
- Málaga, Spain
- Seoul, South Korea
- Melbourne, Australia
- Itapema, Brazil
- Angra dos Reis, Brazil
- Capão da Canoa, Brazil
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Brisbane, Australia
‘Tis the season for sunshine getaways
For the upcoming holiday season, travelers are continuing to escape the cold to warmer getaway destinations, still favoring pool, beach, and tropical destinations. In the US, the top Categories for check-in dates between November 23 and December 31 are as follows:
- Pool
- Beach
- Tropical
- Countryside
- Iconic city
- Ski destination
- Cabin
- Surfing
- Beachfront
- Lake house
From Terlingua, TX to Malibu, CA, here are some of the most wish-listed stays from the Top Categories of 2022 to help provide some wanderlust inspiration for your upcoming travel planning.
Looking ahead to 2023
If you’re still searching for the perfect holiday gift. If you’re hoping to put your passport to use, consider exploring one of these top trending travel spots for 2023 international travel.
- Málaga, Spain
- Sydney, Australia
- Melbourne, Australia
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Queenstown, New Zealand
- Florianópolis, Brazil
- Porto Seguro, Brazil
- Perth, Australia
- Salvador, Brazil
