Sun-and-sand still rules the American winter, but TripAdvisor's latest winter travel index shows some interesting shifts in where US travellers are booking December, January and February trips. The data, based on year-over-year search and booking growth, mixes classic Caribbean beach towns with a couple of European heavyweights.
Mexico comes out strongest, landing three spots: Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, and Playa Mujeres — the latter a quieter resort strip just north of Cancun that many travellers book without realising it's technically a different destination. The Dominican Republic scores twice as well, with Bavaro (the resort zone just outside Punta Cana that's usually bundled into Punta Cana deals) at number three and the upmarket Cap Cana area at number eight.
Aruba also grabs two entries: Palm–Eagle Beach and the capital, Oranjestad. Practical bonus there — the two spots are barely four miles apart, roughly a ten-minute taxi or bus ride, so you can easily base yourself at the beach and still wander into town for dinner and shopping.
Then there's the surprise: Paris at number five and London at number seven. Both rank especially high for Thanksgiving-week travel, when fares and hotel rates dip well below their Christmas and New Year peaks. If you've been waiting for a cheaper window to see the City of Light in winter dress, the American holiday week is it.
The one splurge entry is Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos, at number six. It's often called one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, and it prices accordingly — nightly rates can hit $400 per person, flights cost more than to most other Caribbean islands, and getting around the island isn't cheap either. TripAdvisor puts overall trip costs on par with Paris or London, though meals on the ground tend to be surprisingly affordable. In other words: budget hard for the bed and the flight, then relax a little once you're there.
The broader takeaway from the index is that Americans aren't just fleeing the cold — they're splitting between tropical escapes and proper winter-wonderland city breaks, with destinations offering history and festive atmosphere (Quebec City is cited as a rising star) gaining ground alongside the usual beach staples.
Why it matters for you: if you want sun without peak-season prices, the December-through-February window still offers variety — Playa Mujeres and Bavaro give you resort comfort at slightly lower profiles than their famous neighbours, while Thanksgiving week is the sweet spot for a European city break before holiday rates spike.
