Google Map Shows Every State’s Top International Vacation Destination

01.05.2024 - 10:35 / forbes.com

When it comes to favorite summer vacation destinations that require a passport stamp, Americans are, well, all over the map with their preferences, according to new findings from Google. Search data breaks down the most Googled international summer vacation spots by each U.S. state, and Italy emerges as the No. 1 sought-after summer vacation in the most states, according to Google Trends. Several Caribbean hotspots as well as some Canadian destinations, like Vancouver, Whistler, and Mont-Tremblant, are also on the leaderboard.

The search data that was collected and analyzed from March 30 to April 29, 2024 shows that Italy is the most favored international vacation destination in 20 states, with residents from California to New England states, and many in between, looking for a dose of la dolce vita this summer.

Travelers, of course, have a number of vacation itinerary options in Italy, from wine tasting in Tuscany to private boat tours and sipping limoncello spritzes along the Amalfi Coast to lounging on the beaches of Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot, plus some alternative ways to explore the country. For an extended stay, Italy also became the latest country in the EU to launch a digital nomad visa.

New this year, Venice became the first city in the world to charge a fee for daytrippers, which has some locals worried that it will turn the famous city into a theme park. The entry fee is charged on peak tourist days, though there are several exemptions.

After Italy, Tokyo, Japan is a top searched summer travel destination, with seven states including Hawaii keen on summer travel to the capital of Japan. Tokyo hosts several festivals throughout the summer, including the Sumida River Fireworks Festival that happens the last Saturday in July. Adventurous types can also summit Mt. Fuji, which, according to the Japanese National Tourism Association, is open to hikers from early July to early September.

The map also shows warm-weather destinations popular among summer travelers, including Cancun, Bermuda, and Turks and Caicos.

The Bahamas was the top-searched summer vacation spot among residents in five states, including Illinois, Alabama, West Virginia, Delaware, and North Carolina.

The Bahamas boasts 16 major islands that offer different types of vacations, from the luxury Baha Mar resorts in Nassau to a more secluded getaway at Caerula Mar Club, a design-forward, boutique stay with suites private villas on South Andros, one of the most uninhabited major islands in the Bahamas that’s fringed by the Andros Barrier Reef. The design-forward hotel was transformed by Bryan and Sarah Baeumler of HGTV fame.

Costa Rica’s beaches and rainforests rose to the top of vacation searches for residents in Colorado,