European travel intentions for spring and summer 2026 have reached their highest level since 2020, with a survey by the European Travel Commission showing that 82% of Europeans plan to take at least one trip between April and September. The finding is all the more striking given the economic uncertainty that has defined the first half of the year—higher energy costs, persistent inflation in several member states, and a cost-of-living squeeze that has constrained discretionary spending in many households.

The Numbers Behind the Optimism

The headline figure is encouraging, but the detail tells a more nuanced story. The proportion of Europeans planning at least two trips has declined to 57%, down from 64% in the same survey last year, while the share planning just one trip has risen to 39%. This points to a pattern of “shorter but more purposeful” travel—fewer holidays overall, but a greater investment in the ones that are taken. Average trip length has contracted to 4 to 6 nights for 38% of respondents, making multi-city itineraries within a single destination the preferred approach.

Budget discipline is also evident. More travellers are setting caps of under €1,000 per trip and actively choosing destinations and accommodations that fall within those limits. Southern and Mediterranean countries—Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Croatia—are the primary beneficiaries, as they offer strong weather, cultural richness, and infrastructure that does not require expensive currency conversions or long-haul flights.

Domestic Travel and the Luxury Segment

Not all the action is international. Affluent American travellers are increasingly redirecting their summer plans toward domestic destinations, with luxury hotel bookings for summer 2026 running more than 20% above prior-year levels. Average daily rates for these bookings have risen approximately 40%, reflecting strong pricing power among premium domestic resorts in New England, coastal Maine, and mountain destinations in the Rockies and Pacific Northwest.

What This Means for Travellers

If you are planning a European or domestic US trip this summer, the window for securing preferred accommodations is narrowing rapidly. Booking lead times have lengthened across the board, and popular destinations in Portugal and southern Spain were largely sold out for peak periods by mid-March. Travellers with flexible dates should consider shoulder-season windows—late May or early September—which offer equally favourable weather and significantly more availability.