Summer 2025 International Travel Guide

Summer is right around the corner and Americans are ready to grab their passports and hit the skies! Demand for international travel during the summer months continues to grow as Americans increasingly look to destinations in other regions of the world for their vacations. As of mid-May, there are more than 240,000 international flights scheduled to depart from US airports for international destinations this summer, an increase of 4.3% compared to summer last year. 2024 marked the busiest summer for international flights since 2019, and 2025 is shaping up to be even busier!

The top destination regions for American travelers looking to go abroad are Europe and Asia, which together capture nearly three quarters of search demand for summer international trips. Both Europe and Asia are capturing more share of search demand this summer than they did in 2019, showing the continued strength of the regions.

Airfare & Accommodations 

Europe

Airfare from the US to Europe is averaging $817 per ticket this summer, down 10% compared to prices last year, or about $96 per ticket. Fares are in line with prices available to Europe in the summer of 2019, marking a return to pre-pandemic pricing for travel to Europe. 

Travelers looking to book accommodations for stays in Europe can expect to pay an average of $275 per night, but will see a range of prices depending on where they travel. As in the US, prices for stays surge over the weekend, so travelers should avoid Friday and Saturday night stays in big cities whenever possible to save on costs. Travelers will pay a 50% premium on average, or about $112 extra to stay on a saturday night compared to a wednesday night in Europe.

Prices vary dramatically by the city you visit within Europe, so consider visiting the higher priced cities during the week days, and escaping to smaller cities with lower weekend rates on the weekend of your trip! Check out these off the beaten track destinations in Europe for significantly lower accommodation prices than many major cities. 

Most Booked Destinations in Europe

Hopper app users are booking trips this summer to London, Rome and Paris, the top destinations in Europe for American travelers. Dublin, Ireland, which offers lower airfares is also popular, as is Athens, Greece.

Asia

With demand for trips to Asia continuing to grow this summer, fares are averaging $1,328 per round trip ticket in June, July and August. Fares are down 13% compared to last year which materializes as $191 in savings per ticket for Americans looking to to the region. Though prices have dropped substantially compared to last year, they remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic averages. Prior to 2020, airfare to Asia during summer months averaged just over $1,000 per ticket consistently for 3+ years. 

Travelers looking for accommodations in Asia will find the average nightly stay costs around $170 per night, though there is a significant range in prices depending on the country you visit and the exchange rate to the USD. The price range for high quality accommodations in Asia is large, with different countries offering 5 star experiences for anywhere from $30 per night to $1,000 per night in luxury resorts. Destinations in Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand can offer great deals on accommodations compared to higher priced major cities. 

As in other parts of the world, weekend stays are more expensive throughout Asia, with travelers paying more than double on average for a weekend stay compared to a Tuesday or Wednesday stay. 

Most Booked Destinations in Asia

Hopper users headed to Asia this summer are headed to a range of Asian and southeast Asian destinations like Tokyo, Manila and Ho Chi Minh City. 

Haven’t booked your trip yet? Here’s how to hack your international trip.

If you haven’t booked your summer trip yet, now is the time to book before prices rise even more! We’ve rounded up our tips and tricks for making the most of your travel budget. 

[1] Fly on weekdays to save as much as $506 per ticket

• Europe: Headed to Europe for a week? Skip the weekend to weekend flights and book a trip leaving and returning on a day early in the week, like Tuesday to Tuesday. Travelers can save $179 per ticket or about 10% off peak travel date prices by shifting to early in the week days. 

• Asia: Departing for your trip and returning from your trip on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday compared to any other day of the week will save you hundreds per ticket. For trips of similar lengths, travelers to Asia can find $506 savings per ticket by shifting travel dates to early in the week. 

[2] Shift international trips from June into late August/September to save as much as $432 on round trip airfare 

The last two weeks of June are the most popular weeks of the summer for travelers from the US to go abroad. Airfare to top destinations across Europe and Asia is high during the month of June as demand surges. Shifting travel to late August or September can reveal substantial savings for savvy travelers. 

• Europe $283 Savings per ticket | Shift summer trips to Europe from the second half of June to the second half of August or September to save an average of 33% off round trip airfare to Europe, or about $283 per ticket.  Airfare after the week of August 18th will average below $600 per round trip ticket!

• Asia $432 savings per ticket | Save 31% or $432 per round trip ticket to Asia by shifting travel from June to any week from the second half of August through September. Airfare from the week of August 18th on will be below $1,000 per round trip ticket! 

[3] Travel off the beaten path

Europe and Asia will be packed with tourists during the summer months meaning more crowds, longer lines and higher prices. One of the best ways to save money and have a more authentic experience when abroad is to weave in travel to smaller or lesser known destinations. Explore local towns outside larger cities like Paris and Tokyo, many accessible by train or short bus rides. When possible, eat and shop at local businesses to support local economies. 

[4] Work backwards from your total travel budget

Travelers going abroad should always work backwards from their overall travel budget when planning a summer vacation. Though airfare is often the first part of the trip Americans book, it’s just one of many expenses that builds the overall travel budget. 

• Europe: Though airfare to Europe is down compared to previous years, fares over $800 on average can still feel inaccessible to some travelers. Being flexible on where in Europe you travel to can unlock significant savings for travelers looking to get more out of their travel budget. Consider visiting Portugal, a top destination in its own right, but also a great deal destination for those looking for a lower cost of accommodations, eating out and experiences. Albania and Bulgaria, well off the beaten path, offer rich culture, history and incredible beaches and mountain ranges, all for much less than stays in major European cities. 

• Asia: For those travelers who have sticker shock seeing airfares over $1,300 to destinations in Asia, it’s important to remember that the cost of accommodations, food and experiences while in certain countries will be substantially lower than in other countries around the world. The US dollar remains strong compared to the Thai bhat, Vietnamese dong and the Japanese yen, meaning your travel dollars will go further once you arrive. 

How to combat disruption on your 2025 Summer Vacation

Summer travel brings the joys of longer vacations and exploration of new parts of the world, but it also typically brings more crowds, longer lines at security and passport control and even higher disruption rates at airports. US airports typically see a surge in disruptions in June, July and August compared to quieter months. On average, 28% of departing US flights have been delayed or cancelled on departure in the month of July compared to an average around 20% in spring and an average under 20% in fall. 

You can’t control travel disruptions but you can prepare for it! Here are our top tips for mitigating the impact of disruption on your trip: 

When you’re planning

• Add Trip Protection: For long haul trips, especially those with layovers, it's smart to add trip protection to your travel plans. Some travel providers, like Hopper and its partner airlines, offer Disruption Assistance which allows you to rebook a new flight immediately, regardless of carrier, if you’re delayed, canceled by the airline or you miss a connection. This is a foolproof way to ensure you get to your destination as quickly as possible, if your trip gets disrupted!

• Book with flexibility: Travelers may want to consider adding extra flexibility to their upcoming travel plans in case they want to make last minute changes. Travelers should take advantage of plans like Cancel for Any Reason or Change for Any Reason available through some airlines and Hopper. With these plans, you can instantly cancel or change your itinerary without incurring any additional fees.

• Take the first flight of the day: In general, flights departing after 9am are 2X more likely to be delayed than departures scheduled between 5-8am. To avoid travel disruption, fly as early in the morning as possible.

• Build in a buffer day: Don’t leave it to chance! Particularly major trips or if you’re flying to a major event (wedding, concert etc), it's always better to be safe by baking in an extra day to get to your destination. This way you’ll have some wiggle room, should any delays or disruptions interfere with your travel plans. 

Day Of Trip

• Sign up for alerts & check flight status before you go to the airport: You’ll want to know about delays and cancellations as early as possible. On most carriers, passengers can sign up for text, email, and/or in-app notifications about any changes to their itinerary including delay and cancellations.

• Know what options you have available: Know what other flights are headed to your destination the same day as your trip in case you’re disrupted and need to get on another flight. This is especially important when you’re traveling internationally, as there may not be as many options available to you! Be sure to check airline policies, many carriers will waive change fees if there is a weather advisory or give compensation/travel credit if your flight is canceled within a few hours of departure.

• Keep it to carry-on luggage: If you have layovers on your trip especially, consider packing a carry-on bag instead of or in addition to checked baggage. When you experience delays, cancellations or missed connections, you may find yourself stranded without access to your checked luggage. Whether it’s toiletries, a change of clothes or medication, be sure to keep a few essentials in your carry on in the event you’re separated from your bags for longer than expected. 

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