A California mountain town with a big blue lake at its feet is the place everyone is suddenly searching for. South Lake Tahoe has taken the number one spot in Expedia's Destinations of the Year ranking for 2027, with searches up a striking 195% compared with 2025. The list comes from Expedia's Unpack '27 trends report, built on booking data plus a survey of 26,000 travellers.
The appeal is easy to see. Sitting on the shore of North America's largest alpine lake, the town works in any season: skiing and snowboarding in winter, then boating, kayaking, paddleboarding and hiking once the snow melts. Hikers have a proper challenge in the roughly 16-kilometre climb to Mount Tallac, while the shorter Eagle Falls Trail suits a gentler day out. For an easy lakeside wander without any uphill effort, the paths from Regan Beach deliver water and mountain views in abundance.
There's new hotel news too. Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe has been renovated and now stages outdoor concerts in summer, and Gurney's — the Montauk-based group — is due to open a South Lake Tahoe property in 2027 with lakeview rooms and suites. If crowds worry you, shoulder-season visits should mean quieter trails, viewpoints and restaurants.
The rest of the top ten is a genuinely global mix. Hyogo, the Japanese prefecture that includes Kobe, ranked second after a 95% jump in searches, and earned recognition through Expedia's Smart Travel Health Check for pairing a strong visitor experience with responsible tourism management. Uruguay's Punta del Este came third, up 65%, ahead of Sedona in Arizona and Busan in South Korea. Further down: Holbox in Mexico, Perugia in Italy, the Tweed region of New South Wales, Niagara-on-the-Lake in Canada and Chichester in England.
Europe managed only two entries. Perugia, Umbria's hilltop capital, with its jazz and chocolate festivals, saw searches rise 35%, while Chichester — Roman heritage, South Downs access, West Wittering Beach and nearby Arundel Castle — recorded a 30% increase.
Expedia chief executive Ariane Gorin described 2027 travellers as "more intentional", chasing trips that feel personal and purposeful. In practice that means travellers are spreading out — across alpine resorts, coastal towns, food festivals and heritage sites — rather than all piling into the same headline attractions. The practical advice for anyone eyeing a fast-rising spot like South Lake Tahoe: pick your season carefully and book sooner rather than later, because attention like this tends to fill rooms quickly.
