Christmas hotel stays are getting pricier too, with nightly rates averaging $197, up 18% from last year, according to Hopper’s 2026 Holiday Travel Index. Thanksgiving hotel rates, by contrast, are averaging $170 a night, roughly in line with 2025. The hotel increase adds to an already expensive Christmas travel bill: round-trip domestic airfare for Christmas is averaging $452, up 23% from last year, making the 2026 holiday season the most expensive for travel in a decade, Hopper said.
International trips cost more as well
Airfare to all international destinations has risen compared with last year, with substantial increases to top destinations in Europe, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, according to the index. Domestic hotel rates for Thanksgiving are flat, but Christmas stays are averaging more than they did in 2025. The most popular Thanksgiving destinations in the US are major cities including New York City, Miami and Orlando, Florida, Hopper said, with travellers advised to expect disruption during the busiest travel weeks of the year.
How to soften the bill
Travellers can cut costs by shifting dates away from the December 18 to 20 peak, comparing hotel rates across booking platforms, and considering alternative airports. Packing patience matters too: Hopper warned that disruptions are likely during the busiest weeks, and that prices are expected to rise as departure dates approach. For families weighing a Christmas trip, the combined airfare and hotel math is stark: a family of four flying and staying several nights could pay hundreds of dollars more than last year for the same trip, before food, gifts and ground transport are counted. Thanksgiving hotel rates tell a calmer story, averaging $170 a night in line with 2025, but Christmas is where the pressure builds. Comparing rates across booking platforms, considering alternative airports and shifting a stay by even a day or two around the December 18 to 20 peak can soften the bill. For families locked into school-holiday dates, booking the hotel at the same time as the flight — rather than leaving it until later — is the simplest way to avoid paying the peak twice.
Related: Christmas Flights Average $452, Up 23% in Costliest Decade Run
