Extreme temperatures have led travelers to seek cooler destinations. And the word that describes this trend is “coolcation.”
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, heat waves are increasing in frequency, duration, and intensity, impacting where people choose to vacation, especially during the hot summer months.
“When we think of vacation, we often think of beaches and tropical getaways,” an Expedia spokesperson told CNBC Travel. “But a cool vacation means choosing a destination with milder temperatures, which means bringing a light sweater instead of a sun hat.”
According to Expedia, from January to June 2024, searches for flights to Finnish Lapland increased by 705%. Online travel agency data showed flight searches were also left to Canada, specifically Banff (65%) and Lake Louise (55%).
Home rental website Vrbo reports that cool places are among the top 40 most booked destinations this summer, including Breckenridge, Colorado. White Mountains, New Hampshire. and the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.
Californian Stephanie Glaetzer said she is planning a family trip to Whistler this summer.
“We live in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, where we experience extreme heat most of the summer with highs well over 100 degrees,” she said. “While traveling, we want to be comfortable, experience all that a city has to offer, and escape the intense heat at home.”
Southern European heat
European cities such as Rome and Madrid are high on the list of popular summer destinations. But rising temperatures in southern Europe are hitting the summer travel season hard.
Italian authorities have issued heat warnings for 12 cities this summer as temperatures reached triple digits in some areas.
Tourists cool off in Rome, Italy on July 21, 2024.
Massimo Varricchia | Null Photo | Getty Images
“The average temperature for the entire summer from June to August was 3 to 8 degrees Fahrenheit above the historical average for southern Italy,” Jason Nichols, chief international forecaster for the weather website AccuWeather, told CNBC. wrote in an email to. “From late July to August, there were several heatwaves across Italy and the Balkans.”
As a result, tourism is increasing in Northern Europe.
“The whole of Northern Europe has really grown rapidly over the last two years,” said Delphine Combs, product executive at travel agency Scott Dunn. “Norway has emerged as a top five travel destination in Europe, rising eight places from 2022.”
He said Scott Dunn is increasing its summer travel options to Finland, Sweden and Switzerland to accommodate increased demand.
“Until recently, these destinations only offered winter and festival items,” Combs said.
According to Visit Finland, more than 4.8 million foreign tourists visited the Nordic country in the past 12 months. According to the report, the number of registered foreign guests from January to June 2024 increased by 9% from the previous year, with the largest numbers coming from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the United States, and the Netherlands.
Please book early
Combs had a suggestion for American travelers looking for a cool getaway.
“Be open to traveling to places where Americans aren’t the main tourists,” she says. “Unlike the Mediterranean, many of the coolcation spots aren’t filled with Americans, creating an interesting atmosphere that perhaps allows for a more cultural experience.”
Travel agency Nordic Visitor says more travelers are searching for flights to Finnish Lapland, where summer temperatures average between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Patrick Prull | Picture Alliance | Getty Images
Combs also recommends making reservations early. “Many of the cooler, less touristy destinations are experiencing fewer quality hotels.Increasing demand is starting to outstrip hotel inventory, causing prices to soar or waiting until the last minute to fill availability. It’s either gone.”
Sarah Steele Rogers and her husband, who currently live on the Caribbean island of Anguilla, booked a trip to Estonia in September to beat the heat.
“It’s always hot in the Caribbean, so cool-weather destinations are more appealing than ever to enjoy the flavors of fall,” says Steele-Rogers. “Little things like being able to walk long distances without sweating on your clothes are things you don’t miss until they’re gone.”