Hawaii makes list for best summer destinations of 2022

HONOLULU (KHON2) – Summer is just around the corner and people are looking to book their vacations for 2022. Hawaii is a very popular place to book a week-long vacation, but is it the most popular place in the country?

WalletHuba free credit scoring company, recently ranked the best and most popular places to book a summer vacation for 2022, and Hawaii made the top ten list.

First was Orlando, Florida, followed by Washington, DC, Tampa, Florida, Austin, Texas, Salt Lake City, Utah, Los Angeles, California, and Honolulu, Hawaii.

Despite being in a two-year pandemic, many Americans are feeling ready to book and take their vacation this summer. Many people chose to stay at home or do popular staycations in 2020 and 2021.

However, with many Americans vaccinated and many people who have recovered from COVID have now “heard” that immunity is vacationing this summer, it should be close to pre-pandemic levels.

Nearly 80% of American travelers are planning a trip in 2022, according to the study. WalletHub ranked 100 of the most densely populated metro areas on metrics such as travel costs, local costs, attractions, weather, activities and safety.

With Honolulu making the top ten list, airline fares could skyrocket in the summer months. Eve Marie Ruhlman, a professor of recreation and tourism at California State University East Bay, said those flying in and out of Hawaii should be prepared for crowded flights.

“Airlines will definitely continue to overbook flights because more people than ever are canceling flights or changing plans at the last minute, and at the end of the day the airline industry is a business,” Ruhlman said. “The government really shouldn’t get involved in blocking an airline’s decision to overbook; Airlines are aware of their choices and are also aware of the consequences of their choices (travel vouchers and declining customer satisfaction).”

Ruhlman also believes more people will travel, but many people still aren’t ready to travel like they did before the pandemic, and stays may remain.

“I think more people will be traveling this summer, but they’re more likely to stay local because of the increase in gas costs and the increase in the cost of goods,” Ruhlman said. “You also have a percentage of Americans who are unable to travel due to the travel restrictions in place and are therefore choosing to travel domestically or internationally.”

To read WalletHub’s full report listing the best places for summer vacation 2022, go to theirs website.