RICHMOND, Va., October 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether gathering around the dinner table with loved ones or trading turkey for tropical temperatures, Americans are preparing to take flight this Thanksgiving. According to the latest Top Thanksgiving Destinations report* from travel insurance provider Allianz Partners, New York City and Cancun have topped the list as the most popular domestic and international destinations, respectively, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

While popular destinations draw holiday travelers, new survey findings** from Allianz Partners suggest that who travelers are visiting for Thanksgiving may matter more than where they're going. Among surveyed U.S. customers who purchased travel insurance for Thanksgiving-period trips, nearly 62% cited proximity to loved ones as the most important factor in choosing their destination, while the median insured trip cost came in at $875.

A Full Plate of Domestic Favorites

New York takes the biggest slice of the travel pie, claiming the No. 1 spot among domestic destinations, with Orlando and Seattle following at No. 2 and No. 3. Dallas takes fourth place, while Phoenix rounds out the top five.

Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Fort Lauderdale complete the domestic top 10, with a mix of bustling metropolitan hotspots and sunny escapes for travelers looking to celebrate the holiday.

Sun-Soaked Escapes Continue to Entice International Travelers

For Americans heading abroad, Mexico and the Caribbean are serving up plenty of tropical escapes this Thanksgiving. Cancun claims the No. 1 international spot, followed by San José del Cabo at No. 2 and Punta Cana at No. 3. London takes fourth place, while Aruba's Oranjestad rounds out the top five.

Montego Bay, Paris, Puerto Vallarta, Nassau and Mexico City complete the international top 10, highlighting a mix of beachside retreats and bustling cultural destinations for travelers looking to spend the holiday overseas.

Making Room for Seconds (and Extra Vacation Days)

Beyond the destination rankings, Allianz Partners' 2026 Thanksgiving Travel Intent Survey reveals that holiday travel is overwhelmingly driven by connection. Two-thirds (67%) of surveyed policyholders are traveling primarily to visit family or friends, while others are hitting the road to celebrate special occasions, including weddings, birthdays and anniversaries, or to attend sporting events.

However, Thanksgiving isn't just about the holiday itself. Nearly one-third (32.4%) of respondents are either planning to add vacation days to their Thanksgiving trip or are considering doing so. One in five (20%) have already decided to extend their getaway, with those surveyed policyholders planning a median trip length of eight days, compared to six days for holiday-only travelers.

Respondents also show strong confidence in their holiday plans, with 90.5% of surveyed policyholders reporting that they are very confident their Thanksgiving trips will take place. Many are also planning ahead, with 68.6% reporting that they booked their trips between one and six months before travel.

"Thanksgiving travel has always been about bringing people together, and this year's findings show just how much Americans value those connections," said Emily Hartman, General Manager at Allianz Partners. "Whether travelers are heading home to see family, escaping to a sunny destination or extending the holiday into a longer vacation, having travel protection in place can help them feel more prepared for unexpected disruptions and focus on making memories with the people who matter most."

Travel Smart This Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving marking one of the busiest travel periods of the year, Allianz Partners encourages travelers to plan ahead and consider travel insurance to help protect their holiday investments. Depending on the plan selected, travel insurance may provide benefits for covered trip cancellations, travel delays, baggage issues and emergency medical situations.

Travelers planning longer getaways should also review their policy details to ensure their coverage aligns with their full travel itinerary, including any additional vacation days.

Allianz Partners offers travel insurance through most major U.S. airlines, leading travel advisors, online travel agencies, hotel companies, cruise lines and directly to consumers. For more information on Allianz Partners and available travel policies, please visit http://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/.   

_{^{*Thanksgiving Destination Methodology: The data of U.S. travelers’ 2026 Thanksgiving travel plans was gathered by analyzing the number of customers that went through the online booking process of airfare and package paths for customers generating itineraries for roundtrip flights departing from U.S. airports from 11/21/2026 – 11/26/2026 and returning 11/27/2026 – 12/1/2026 and purchasing Allianz Global Assistance Travel Insurance. In total, just over 145K itineraries were analyzed using this methodology.}}                            

**Thanksgiving Travel Intent Methodology: 1,524 Allianz Travel Insurance customers with trip departure dates of 11/20/2026 - 11/26/2026 and return dates of 11/26/2026 - 12/2/2026 traveling at least 100 miles from home participated in the survey.