What happened to “over the river and through the woods”?
It looks like many of us are planning to venture farther than Grandma’s house for Thanksgiving, according to Google Flights’ travel tracking tools — unless Nana and Pop Pop live in Disney World.
Orlando ranked No. 1 on a list that claims to reveal our deepest desires — and travel plans — for the upcoming National Gratitude and Indulgence Day.
And the Mouse House wasn’t the only city on Google’s list that seemed a little too fun to have everyone heading off to spend a few restless nights on sofa beds with their families.
For example, the resort town of Cancun, known for its all-inclusive resorts and sandy beaches, comes in second — although everyone may be heading there to sample the turkey dishes the Yucatan Peninsula is known for.
According to the American Bird Conservancy, the Mayans revered the ocellated turkey, a bird typical of the region, which wears a festive outfit. This bird is found on local tables all year round, in various forms.
Google Flights said the list was compiled based on the frequency of travel queries between November 24 and December 1. Here’s the full list of the top ten most searched destinations.
Top 10 Destinations for Thanksgiving 2024
- #1 Orlando
- #2 Cancun
- #3 New York City
- #4 Tokyo
- #5 London
- #6 Miami
- #7 Paris
- #8 Los Angeles
- #9 Las Vegas
- #10 Honolulu
Thanksgiving week can be notoriously difficult for travelers — and this year, the hordes are likely to be even larger, as passenger numbers at U.S. airports have already broken many records for 2024.
The Sunday after Thanksgiving is once again expected to be the busiest day of the year at all airports, according to Nerdwallet, which said the number of travelers that day is once again expected to set a new record.
On the other hand, the Thanksgiving rush usually gives way to one of the most affordable times of year to go out: the first half of December.
The quiet period between the two major American holidays is sometimes touted as one of the best times to travel to any place that isn’t a holiday shopping hotspot, at least — thanks to lower airfares, better hotel rates and plenty of room to roam.
