Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
November 24, 2025

Holiday Travel Surges 10% as Prices Drop, Eastern Europe Booms

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Original Source

TLDR

  • KAYAK's data reveals travelers can secure holiday trips for less with international flights down 7% and rental cars down 6% compared to last year.
  • KAYAK's analysis shows holiday travel interest increased 10% year-over-year while prices remained stable or declined across flights, hotels, and rental cars.
  • Affordable holiday travel options from KAYAK enable more families to reunite and create cherished memories during the festive season.
  • Eastern European destinations like Warsaw and Prague saw 65-73% more searches as travelers discover festive markets and cultural winter escapes.

Impact - Why it Matters

This news matters because it reveals a rare opportunity for holiday travelers to capitalize on increased accessibility and affordability during what's typically the most expensive travel season of the year. With international flight prices down 7% and Eastern European destinations becoming more accessible through new routes and Schengen Area expansion, travelers can experience culturally rich winter getaways without the usual premium pricing. The timing coincides with KAYAK's new AI Mode launch, making trip planning more accessible for busy travelers. For those who've previously been priced out of holiday travel or settled for less desirable destinations, this combination of strong demand with stable or declining prices represents an unprecedented chance to create meaningful holiday memories while staying within budget. The airport congestion data also provides crucial planning insights that could save travelers hours of stress during peak travel periods.

Summary

According to data from KAYAK, the world's leading travel search engine, holiday travel interest has surged 10% year-over-year, creating an unexpected opportunity for travelers as prices remain stable or even decline across major travel categories. The comprehensive Holiday Travel Forecast reveals this rare combination of heightened demand with favorable pricing, with international flight prices down 7% year-over-year, domestic flights dipping 1%, rental car prices dropping 6% in the U.S., and hotel rates holding relatively steady with only modest increases of 2% domestic and 5% international. Kate Williams, KAYAK travel trends expert and CCO, emphasizes that "interest is strong, but prices are holding steady or lower compared to last year," suggesting that flexibility with dates and destinations could yield significant savings for holiday travelers.

Eastern Europe has emerged as a surprising hotspot for holiday travel in 2025, with Warsaw, Poland seeing a remarkable 73% increase in flight searches and Prague, Czech Republic up 65% year-over-year. This Eastern European renaissance is attributed to new flight routes and the inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen Area, making the region more accessible to U.S. travelers seeking affordable, culturally rich winter escapes featuring festive markets and classic holiday charm. For value-conscious travelers, KAYAK identified significant airfare drops in destinations like Myrtle Beach, SC (down 18%), Tokyo, Japan (down 29%), Venice, Italy (down 18%), and Helsinki, Finland (down 19%), while historical data suggests Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday typically offer the season's lowest fares.

To help travelers navigate the busy holiday season, KAYAK analyzed airport congestion patterns, identifying major hubs including LAX, SFO, BOS, DEN, ORD, JFK, EWR, WAS, DFW, and ATL as projected peak traffic centers during Thanksgiving and Christmas travel periods. The company also introduced its innovative AI Mode, an AI travel planning tool that simplifies trip planning through conversational searches, allowing users to type natural prompts like "Find me a Christmas week getaway for under $500, somewhere warm, leaving from LAX" to instantly receive real-time flight, hotel, and car rental options. As Williams notes, "Having a trip to look forward to at the end of the year is the gift we all need," and KAYAK's tools are designed to make finding that perfect holiday escape easier than ever.

Source Statement

This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Holiday Travel Surges 10% as Prices Drop, Eastern Europe Booms

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